Theme:– “The Year of ‘Brandemonium’
Where Hopes & Dreams Become Real on Breakout Teams” (Old-School Flava)

“Lights, Camera, Shack-tion!” That’s the caption on the live stream of Shake Shack. Rumors are the ‘fast-casual’ burger chain is weighing an IPO. Meanwhile, the women’s beauty line of Carol’s Daughter is coming out of Chapter 11. What Lisa Price did for Carol’s Daughter, Danny Meyer did for Shake Shack.

They both had interesting beginnings. Price started making her products in the kitchen of her Brooklyn apartment. Meyer’s idea for a burger joint first started with a hot dog stand in New York. After a period of trial and error then things took off. Their expansion saw an infusion of money from angel investors.

It hasn’t been a ‘cake walk’ of a journey. Ms. Price remembers selling her products at flea markets. Women kept asking about other kinds of products, beyond the one’s she had available. They’ve taken their businesses through the highs and lows by listening to the customers and responding to the market.

The secret to their success holds true for dreamers and career climbers. It’s found in the ‘hustle and flow’ mentality that has seen them through. Carol’s Daughter is bouncing back from bankruptcy with an entrepreneurial spirit. Shake Shack is blazing new trails and reaching new heights with a teamwork ethic.

Carol’s Daughter has grown from nickel and dime sales to multi-million dollar brand. Shake Shack has grown from shakes and fries to an international burger chain. The flagship store in NYC is seen on their live stream with long lines of waiting customers. They both started off with a few dollars and a dream.

Theme:– “The Year of ‘Brandemonium’
Where Hopes & Dreams Become Real on Breakout Teams” (New-School Flava)

“Lights, Camera, Shack-tion!” Found on their live stream caption. The ‘fast-casual’ burger chain weighing IPO. As told by folks in the know. Meanwhile Carol’s Daughter files Chapter 11 not 9. To turnaround women’s beauty line. Lisa Price is for what ladies purses pack. As Danny Meyer is to the burger Shack.

With interesting beginnings under their belt. And a passion for what in their gut felt. Price started in her Brooklyn kitchen. After putting away the cooking mitten. Meyer’s idea was a hot dog stand. Which began to make money in the grand. After trial and error along the way. Their expansion came on investor day.

Hasn’t been a ‘cake-walk’ to say the least. Had to pinch pennies and forgo the feast. Ms. Price started selling at the flea market. Before landing retail shelves in Target. Women’s feedback pointed to even more. Giving her a sense of customer score. Through highs and lows for moving sales out the door.

Secret to their success true for dreamers. Even for career climbers driving beemers. Found in their ‘hustle and flow’ mentality. And also buzz from well-known celebrity. Carol’s Daughter says bankruptcy is back in the past. Entrepreneurial spirit will make them outlast. As Shake Shack boosts rating with teamwork cast.

Carol’s Daughter no longer just nickel and dime. Now a multi-million dollar brand in its prime. Shake Shack no longer just about french fries. Now an international burger chain on the rise. NYC Flagship store with line of customers in waiting. Both started with a few dollars and a dream in the making.      

Tip: A few dollars and a dream can take you from idea, to emerging startup to breakout enterprise.

Talkback: Who would be willing to invest some dollars and a dream in Shake Shack or other gut idea?

Theme:– “The Year of ‘Brandemonium’
Where Hopes & Dreams Become Real on Breakout Teams” (Old-School Flava)

The electric slide is something you do on the dance floor. It starts with a few steps to the right, then to the left. Some more steps forward and then backward. That’s how it goes for getting your groove on. But business/career reinvention is a little different. So can Ivanka Trump stop the Atlantic City Casino slide?

In the past few years ‘Do-AC’ has been the marketing slogan. The region has seen a drop in revenues as visits fall and casinos close. Mayor Don Guardian knows Atlantic City has seen better days. But he thinks it’s too soon to write them off. Careers, businesses and cities have come back from hard times before.

Think back to the pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson when revenues hit the skid and nosed-dived due to product recalls. The turnaround was gradual and methodical. It’s as if the executive team knew the secret of (re)inventing your brand. Think like a CEO, lead like a Mayor and flow like a MVP champion.

Maybe that’s the formula Atlantic City will have to try. Johnson & Johnson did it through diversifying of business line. The things near to their core were kept and the rest sold or sent to the dump. They also went with a system-wide approach to standardizing the manufacturing platforms across the company.

So Ivanka as Trump EVP might not be the go-to person on casino ops. She’s just as busy honing her entrepreneurial chops. Her passion is with fashion accessories and women’s shoe line. Biz execs know (re)inventing your game/brand takes a value-adding entrepreneurial spirit and team-player work ethic.      

Theme:– “The Year of ‘Brandemonium’
Where Hopes & Dreams Become Real on Breakout Teams” (New-School Flava)

The electric slide starts to right to the right. Then goes to the left to the left. Forward motion like quick step. Then backward strut is all that’s left-over. Well, biz/career rewind is a different kinda makeover. That’s how you roll shaking your groove hide. But can Ivanka Trump stop the Atlantic City Casino slide?

Past few years ‘Do-AC’ was the slogan. Campaign to change image from the dungeon. A sharp drop in revenues and in visit. With casinos closing minute by minute. Mayor Don Guardian says AC’s seen better days. Knows it’ll take more than a family that prays. For careers, biz and cities to re-invent pay raise.

Think back to pharma company J&J. Revenues hit the skid with no time to play. Turnaround after recalls was more gradual. Going from nose-dive to revamp was methodical. Exec team knew a few secrets for (re)inventing the brand. Think like a CEO, lead like a Mayor and flow like MVP on award stand.

Maybe that’s a formula for Atlantic City to try. No time to complain, point fingers or cry. J&J diversified their business line. Core products stayed close, others spun off the vine. Plus, they went with a system-wide approach to manufacturing. Changing company platforms put them back in the winning.

Ivanka as Trump EVP might not be casino’s head. Those operations in AC being left for dead. She’s just as busy with her own fashion and shoe wear. Honing her entrepreneurial chops year after year. Biz execs know (re)inventing yourself is no picnic. Takes a value-adding entrepreneurial spirit and teamwork ethic. 

Tip: (Re)inventing your career, biz or brand takes a value-adding entrepreneurial spirit and team-player work ethic.

Talkback: So does Atlantic City stand a chance with more competition and the rise in online gaming?

Theme:– “The Year of ‘Brandemonium’
Where Hopes & Dreams Become Real on Breakout Teams” (Old-School Flava)

Jim Justice (yes that’s his name) is a big-shot with a common touch. The owner of the Greenbrier Resorts in West Virginia invested his own money to build a training camp venue for the New Orleans Saints. Those who know him aren’t surprised. This billionaire’s generous gift provides everyday folks a lift.

Justice and his staff say it’s a good business decision. The idea’s inspiration moved him to throw his weight into the project. It didn’t hurt that he earned his wealth the blue-collar way. He accumulated his fortune in coal-mining and agriculture. That’s a recipe for lending a hand and burrowing the land.

The idea came about when head coach Sean Payton reached-out to Justice after a golf game. Who knows what was said but he committed 30 million dollars to make it happen. The financial incentive might have something to do with the fact that Justice is a long-time Saints fan. Plus, the return is priceless.

So Justice’s “sod squad” put things in motion. They moved earth, concrete and steel to finish the project in 100 days. They found the motivation to complete this assignment because it has a double impact. The complex’s medical institute will also be where other sports athletes get hands-on physiotherapy care.

The Saints began their training camp with access to three fields and a 3000-seat arena. Their three-year contract with the venue will allow them to practice away from the Bayou’s summer heat. In addition, it will give local kids and West Virginia fans a chance to have fun experiencing the pros up close and personal.

Theme:– “The Year of ‘Brandemonium’
Where Hopes & Dreams Become Real on Breakout Teams” (New-School Flava)

Jim Justice, (yes that’s his name). A big-shot with common touch who doesn’t play the game. Owner of Greenbrier Resorts vacation spot. A West Virginia native with lots of money in the pot. Spending some to build training camp for NFL Saints. A billionaire’s gift giving folks a lift from the bricks to the paints.

Justice and staff says it’s a good business decision. Inspired to throw his weight into project’s vision. Didn’t hurt that wealth earned the blue-collar way. With some “old money” he used it to pay. Built his fortune in agriculture and coal-mining. Lending a hand, burrowing the land from sun-up to moon’s rising.

Head coach Sean Payton is how things came about. After a golf game to Justice he did reach-out. Who knows what in the world was said. But Justice put-in 30 million almost off the top of his head. Financial incentive more than money in a pan. Priceless returns ‘cause Justice is a long-time Saints fan.

Sod squad did their part to put things in motion. They moved earth, concrete and steel, just not the ocean. Turned on motivation completing project in 100 days. It had a double impact beyond the training camp phase. Complex’s medical institute remains year-round. With physiotherapy care to keep athletes sound.

Saints began camp with access to three fields. This shows how much power and money Justice wields. A 3000-seat arena and a three-year signing sheet. Allows Saints to practice away from the midday Bayou heat. Giving kids and fans a chance to have fun. Seeing the pros play under the West Virginia sun.

Tip: Inspiration primed with money can spark the motivation to move a business idea from dawn to sunny.

Talkback: Who got more attention in sports recently, Ray Rice, Stephen A. Smith or Jim Justice?

Theme:– “The Year of ‘Brandemonium’
Where Hopes & Dreams Become Real on Breakout Teams” (Old-School Flava)

Coming this fall to an Apple store near you.. MobileFirst by IBM. Years ago putting them together would be unheard of. Back then it was the battle of the PC versus the MAC. It might have even been “no love” for IBM from Steve Jobs. But now, the best of Apple and the best of IBM say let’s make a deal!

The recently announced partnership brings Apple’s mobile computing and IBM’s enterprise solutions in marriage. That’s like saying apps from IBM will run on iPhones. In addition, mobile devices from Apple will be sold by IBM to their corporate customer base. That’s an iWin for cloud services and iEnterprise.

Both CEOs are looking more to the future than the past. They see how market evolution is opening doors for new innovations. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO describes the business collaboration as transforming enterprise. It’s also turning strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats into risk/reward conversion.

That’s Wall Street lingo for “money, money, money!“ Could there also be the aspect of “value, value, value” for Main Street? What happens in corporate can be scaled for the “mom & pop” market. Plus, this partnership is a lesson in “enterprise refresh” for reinventing a stalled career or giving a business new life.

The deal brings two mega businesses together to serve an emerging solution. Putting egos aside, the CEOs started something that’s likely to be watched by others like Google and Microsoft. It’s said that nothing from nothing leaves nothing. But the magic of enterprise starts with a passion for something.

Theme:– “The Year of ‘Brandemonium’
Where Hopes & Dreams Become Real on Breakout Teams” (New-School Flava)

Extra, extra, coming this fall. IBM in Apple stores at your beckon call. MobileFirst by IBM is the new hook-up. Might leave others feeling shook-up. PC and MAC as one unheard-of in years past. But this looks like something that will last. No love at first sight, let’s keep it real. Apple and IBM say let’s make a deal.

Apple mobile and IBM enterprise in a fling. A partnership together like a marriage ring. Apps from IBM running on iPhone. Puts corporate customers in the tech zone. Apple to sell IBM devices in-store. IBM to market iTunes and even more. That’s an iWin for the service cloud. Sure to make folks iEnterprise proud.

CEOs looking to future ahead. Not stuck in their current bread. Seeing market evolution in opening doors. With new innovations from ground floors. Apple’s head guy says collab to transform. Biz enterprise value from the norm. Strengths, weaknesses opportunities, threats. Risk/reward uptick into heights unseen yet.

That’s Wall Street lingo for big money, money, money. Putting bucks in the bag like nuts and honey. Could there be value for the Main Street hop? Things can be scaled for the local “mom & pop.” A lesson in “enterprise refresh” for stalled careers. Or for giving a business new life in the coming years.

Deal puts two mega shops in fusion. To serve an emerging biz solution. With egos aside, this bond is likely to be watched. By Google and Microsoft before similarly being hatched. They say nothing from nothing leaves nothing.  But the magic of enterprise starts with a passion for something.

Tip: The magic of enterprise is not just thinking big but also starting small with a passion for something.

Talkback: If you had to put two former business rivals together, who would they be?