Leadership Quote: People Don’t Want to Hear Your Story…

by Elisa Spain Comment Closed

This month’s leadership quote:

“People don’t want to hear your story, they want to hear their story through you.”

–Nicholas Tremulis

My husband is a big fan of Nicholas Tremulis, a Chicago musician who plays a unique mix of rock, R&B, and pop. Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to see him live in a small venue. Between songs, Nicholas told us his story and the story of his music.

He talked about song writing with this quote. When I heard it, it resonated for me as not just about songwriting, but about leadership, in particular the coaching part of the essential roles of a leader. I like to tell stories and I read this quote often to remind me why I do, and to remind me only to tell stories for this purpose.

Why Vistage Works

Elisa K. Spain

Vistage Confidence Index Chicago Update

by Elisa Spain Comment Closed

As reported earlier in April, CEOs nationally continue to voice optimism about their future financial prospects and plan to increase their investments and expand their labor force. Although the Vistage CEO Confidence Index retreated from the decade high recorded at year-end 2017, it remains quite favorable.

Here in Chicago, while CEO’s are still confident, expectations are a bit lower than nationally.

Below are Chicago Area Survey Highlights for Q1 2018 Vistage CEO Confidence Index Survey.

30% of CEOs expect the economy to improve in the year ahead (vs. 35% nationally)

47% of CEOs expect to increase investments in the year ahead (vs. 51% nationally)

76% of CEOs expect to increase revenue in the year ahead (vs. 79% nationally)

52% of CEOs plan to expand their workforce in the next year (vs. 64% nationally)

52% of CEOs thought the national economy had improved in the past year (vs. 62% nationally)

58% of CEOs expect rising profits in the year ahead (vs. 66% nationally)

Here is a link to the full report.

Why Vistage Works

Elisa K. Spain

Q1 2018 Confidence Index: CEO Confidence Index Slips in 2018

by Elisa Spain Comment Closed

The Q1 Vistage CEO Confidence Index – The confidence of CEOs from small and midsize businesses (SMBs) has slipped in the past quarter but remains high, according to new data from Vistage.

The Vistage CEO Confidence Index measured 105.8 in Q1 2018. By comparison, the index was 110.3 last quarter (Q4 2017) and 106.8 one year ago (Q1 2017). The Q1 2018 survey had 1,712 respondents.

To calculate the index, researchers account for factors including CEO opinions on current economic conditions, expected economic conditions, expected changes in employment, planned fixed investments, expected revenue growth and expected profit growth. The index has a strong track record of predicting GDP growth.

In his analysis of the results, Dr. Richard Curtin of the University of Michigan expressed a positive outlook. “Although the Vistage CEO Confidence Index retreated from the decade high recorded at year-end 2017, it still remains quite favorable,” he said. “The decline in confidence was mainly due to a moderation in the pace of growth expected for the national economy during the year ahead.”

 

Q1 2018 Vistage CEO Confidence Index highlights include:

  • 62% of CEOs said the economy had recently improved, a decline from last quarter’s 66%.
  • 35% of CEOs expected the economy to post additional gains during the year ahead, down 10 points from 45% last quarter.
  • 64% of CEOs planned to expand their workforce in the year ahead.
  • 79% of CEOs expected increased revenues in the year ahead.
  • 66% of CEOs expected increased profits in the year ahead.
  • 54% of CEOs expect to increase investment expenditures in the next year.

Why Vistage Works

Elisa K. Spain

Q4 2017 Confidence Index: CEO Optimism Surges to Decade Peak

by Elisa Spain Comment Closed

The Q4 Vistage CEO Confidence Index was nearly equal to the second and third quarters of 2017, suggesting that optimism among small business CEOs has stabilized.

Q4 2017 Vistage CEO Confidence Index highlights include:

  • 66% of CEOs of CEOs said the economy had recently improved, a significant increase from last quarter’s52%.
  • 45% of CEOs expect the economy to post additional gains during the year ahead, up 13 points from 32% last quarter.
  • 71% of CEOs plan to expand their workforce in the year ahead.
  • 83% of CEOs expect increased revenues in the year ahead.
  • 67% of CEOs expect increased profits in the year ahead.
  • 54% of CEOs expect to increase investment expenditures in the next year.

Chicago Area Survey Highlights:

  • 37% of CEOs expect the economy to improve in the year ahead (vs. 45% nationally)
  • 46% of CEOs expect to increase investments in the year ahead (vs. 54% nationally)
  • 83% of CEOs expect to increase revenue in the year ahead (vs. 83% nationally)
  • 70% of CEOs plan to expand their workforce in the next year (vs. 71% nationally)
  • 59% of CEOs thought the national economy had improved in the past year (vs. 66% nationally)
  • 62% of CEOs expect rising profits in the year ahead (vs. 67% nationally)

Why Vistage Works

Elisa K. Spain

Today Is Giving Tuesday

by Elisa Spain Comment Closed

Today is #GivingTuesday, a day dedicated to giving back. On #GivingTuesday, nonprofits, families, businesses and students around the world come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

Last year, many of you made #GivingTuesday an incredible success for Cara, a mission I am passionate about. What began as a humble effort four years ago, to raise $10,000 with a $5,000 challenge grant, grew to over $60,000 last year. I am grateful for your support.

Inspired by last year’s success, we took a deep breath, asked others to join us, (myself, Kevin Krak, Vistage Member and CEO of Gallant Building Solutions, Amanda and Benjamin Wilson and The Coleman Foundation), and set our most ambitious goal ever, a $100,000 Giving Tuesday Grant. We will match nearly every dollar of the first $50,000 raised.

My relationship with Cara began several years ago when a friend invited me to experience Morning Motivations. I discovered on this day how similar Vistage’s mission, of increasing the effectiveness and enhancing the lives of CEOs and Executives, is to Cara’s mission for its students. We’re both about uncovering the leader within and inviting them to become their best selves. Cara does it by unlocking hope and opportunity. Or as I have become fond of saying “Cara not only ‘teaches a man to fish’, they provide the pole”.

In addition to coaching Maria Kim, Cara CEO, and member of Vistage, for the first time this year, I have had the opportunity to coach and mentor a Cara student named Kyle. Last month, I wrote about Kyle and one of Cara’s many successful graduates in a blog titled Perspective.  Kyle is a highly educated, Princeton undergraduate and NYU MBA, and had a stellar career until his life fell apart and he was lucky enough to find Cara.

Through my work with Kyle, I am discovering firsthand how Cara transforms lives. And the beautiful part is, Cara’s job and life skills training works for anyone who is motivated to achieve the results they want. In Kyle’s words:

“This community has changed my life, loved me and shown me I still have value to offer, despite my mistakes. I now believe the person who is on this resume is still me; and I am going out on my own, standing on the foundation that Cara built”.

Like all well run Vistage companies, Cara measures their performance. They produce hundreds of jobs each year, at retention rates over 20 points higher than national norms. They also produce a profound $6.2 million annual social impact and a 597% social return on investment.

Would you consider making a donation this year for #GivingTuesday? Your gift will be matched 100%, and you’ll be helping a motivated person get back to work.

Click Here to give today and your gift will go twice as far.

Thank you in advance for joining us for a Giving Tuesday donation to the Cara Program, or to the social purpose organization of your choice.