On paper, companies are logically consistent: Yet execution still breaks down. Not randomly, but predictably. Because between strategy and behavior sits a force most organizations underestimate: Incentives determine what people actually do when no one is watching. And when incentives conflict with strategy, incentives always win. Here are ten points to consider: 1. The Real Architecture of Execution Every organization operates […]
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Every year, I meet business owners who ask essentially the same question. “Our products are good. Our people work hard. So why aren’t we growing?” It is a fair question. What’s interesting is that another company, in the same industry, serving the same customers, often grows much faster. Same economy. Same regulations. Sometimes even the same suppliers. Yet the results […]
A few weeks ago, I noticed something while passing by a familiar spot. A milk tea shop that used to be there had closed down. In its place, a new one had opened. Same type of business. Same location. Same kind of customers passing through. On the surface, it looked like a simple replacement—one business out, another in. But it […]
I walked into a meeting with a cup of Zu’s coffee in my hand. It was early December, when Starbucks lines grow longer and planners quietly signal participation in a shared ritual. The person beside me smiled and asked, “Do you like Zu? No Starbucks planner this year?” I laughed and answered honestly. The lines were too long for my […]
It’s tempting in business to chase the next campaign, launch a discount, or offer a flash promotion. But often, these are solving symptoms, not solutions, like painting over a crack while ignoring the foundation. In a low-trust economy like the Philippines, this approach is risky. Customers are skeptical. Partners are cautious. And trust, once broken, can take years to rebuild. […]
December 26 often passes unnoticed in the Philippines. After all, the lechon is still here, and the holiday lull has settled in. But for Christians, it’s St. Stephen’s Day, a time to reflect not just on faith, but on how we serve others. I’m reminded of this most Sundays when I take my 92-year-old mother to St. Stephen Church. Every […]
Public awareness around corruption and social justice is at an all-time high across much of Asia, including the Philippines. Wealth and power, once flaunted without question, are now being cast in a more critical light. For years, social media made ostentatious displays of wealth feel routine. Few questioned the sources of that luxury, and many influencers posted without considering the […]
How do Filipino brands break through the noise and build lasting loyalty in a culture where urgency and ritual coexist? The answer lies in two deeply symbolic marches that shape the Filipino experience: the urgent protest and the enduring pilgrimage. One is loud and immediate, the other slow and reverent. Together, they offer not only insight into the Filipino psyche […]
Too many entrepreneurs treat networking, marketing, or content as magic fixes. We join clubs, attend meetups, post daily, hustle hard. But no matter how busy you seem, if your business model is flawed, nothing sticks. I’ve learned this after mentoring thousands of entrepreneurs and guiding teams at Mansmith & Fielders. Let me show you why so many fail despite the […]
Most marketing leaders pride themselves on discipline: detailed calendars, tightly defined KPIs, and precisely allocated budgets. These are signs of a well-oiled machine. But what if that very structure is what’s holding your business back? The danger is subtle but real: over-optimized marketing plans are slowly suffocating innovation. Rather than acting as launchpads for growth, many plans become rigid scripts, […]