Beautiful Business

In a recent conversation, I engaged with a CEO who shared their experience of feeling overwhelmed by the imposition of an external "brand process" by an agency, a phenomenon they termed as being "agencied." This encounter sparked a profound reflection on the alignment between brand and culture, as the CEO emphasized the importance of delving into the essence of their organization rather than adher...

Born dyslexic, I navigated an uphill battle in Catholic school, wrestling with learning difficulties exacerbated by strict teachers. But adversity birthed creativity. Now, I leverage those early struggles as a professional synthesizer, distilling complex conversations into actionable insights for business leaders. My advice? Hone your synthesis skills through active listening and distillation. It'...

Imagine possessing immense power, one that demands wisdom and kindness in its use. Surprisingly, the one under your sway isn’t a distant figure—it’s you. In a tranquil Delaware evening, a profound realization hit me under the starlit sky: the key to happiness lay within my grasp. This taught me the importance of self-control, understanding that while we can’t change the past or control others, we...

We often rely on past experiences to protect us, creating a metaphorical armor. While this armor symbolizes strength, it can sometimes block the connections vital for our growth, especially in our professional lives. Despite the competitive nature of work, authenticity and vulnerability are not just valuable but essential, creating environments where trust and collaboration thrive. Reflecting on a...

In our fast-paced lives, we often encounter situations—whether it's a challenging project, an infuriating email, or the chaos of social media—that send our stress levels soaring. In these moments, rather than pushing forward, the secret to gaining clarity and control is to hit the pause button. This pause acts like an oasis, allowing our slower, rational thoughts to catch up to our quick emotional...

In this episode, Steven Morris and Bob Burg discuss: The ROI of focusing on giving value  The difference between value and price  The law of compensation  Putting people first while you influence Why it’s important to be authentic  Key Takeaways: When you focus on serving others, they will trust you and would want to get to know you. Eventually, they’ll want to do business with you and tell others...

In this episode, Steven Morris, Denise Lee Yohn, and Adam Bryant discuss: Creating a purpose statement and tracking your progress  Is your purpose statement a part of the strategy or just a marketing exercise?  Why we shouldn’t generalize about the workforce  Creating a fusion of strategy, purpose, and values as a business leader Key Takeaways: Almost every business will claim that they have a cle...

In this episode, Steven Morris, Charlotte Lockhart, and Michael Bungay Stanier, discuss: How employers should partner with employees  Three elements that need to be balanced to make a goal that matters Why does your goal need to be daunting?  Lessons learned from the pandemic for employers  Key Takeaways: As employers, we have to remember that we borrow our people from their lives. Someone has a l...

In this episode, Steven Morris and Dr. Kevin Sansberry II discuss: The Four “Horsemen” of Workplace Masquerade Did the pandemic make workplaces intolerable?  Practicing self-love and positive self-talk The most important values of a leader    Key Takeaways: Remember the four “horsemen” of workplace masquerade: facades conformity, cultural theatre, courage, and avoidance. People avoid being their a...

In this episode, Steven Morris and Dorie Clark discuss:  How to approach and carve out an “indirect career path” that is still anchored in who you are The importance of making time for long-term planning and then following through with it Applying strategic thinking without disrupting the day to day flow The importance of serendipity in business and how to leave space for it   Key Takeaways: Dorie...

In this episode, Steven Morris and Gene Early discuss: The journey to one’s self Paradox of vulnerability Experiencing agape Elders and leaders   Key Takeaways: Our origin story is so important, it’s the narrative that we live - though not always articulated or aware of. It’s a narrative that gets created through an event or a series of things that brings out a compelling motivation. Vulnerability...

In this episode, Steven Morris, Libby Wagner and Owen Ó Súilleabháin discusses: Commodifying arts and the artistry of conversation What does artistry really mean? Reverence and humility Beauty in business, in leadership and in life   Key Takeaways: Conversation is an artform and it’s more studied in companies or businesses. Artistry is the impulse and the yearning to create. It’s the genius that v...

In this episode, Steven Morris and Sarah Santecroce discusses: When work doesn’t feel like work Learning from the pandemic A better way to market your business Evolution of marketing    Key Takeaways: You know you’re doing something right when your work feels good and when you profit from it in multidimensional ways - not only in monetary value, but in meaning, in life, and in impact on others.  P...

In this episode, Steven Morris discusses: The role and responsibility of designers and creatives Leading with awareness and authenticity Experiencing vulnerability and doing meaningful work How business should impact others    Key Takeaways: Creatives have a greater responsibility to understand the impact they have on the people they influence.  Giving yourself a licence to be seen as a Human is a...

In this episode, Steven Morris and Nicolas Petit discuss: The engine of corporate culture Movement: bringing humanity to the workplace Taking advantage of organizational network analysis The hidden strength of weak ties   Key Takeaways: Corporate culture transforms all according to what behaviors and stories are spread from peer-to-peer. Let your mission be more than just following orders, achievi...

In this episode, Steven Morris and Jenny Blake discusses: The Great Recalibration Tips for overgiving people pleasers Finding your zone of genius Trusting your intuition    Key Takeaways: You don’t have to leave your job in order to recalibrate. But it does take some honesty to recognize that what you’re doing is already draining you - at that point, it might be necessary to make a change towards...

In this episode, Steven Morris and Chris Cooper discusses: What is Elevation and why is it important? Key things that leaders must know  Income-focused businesses versus Beautiful Businesses Creating a legacy with your business   Key Takeaways: Elevation is an inner journey in the leader to be the best version of themselves and to inspire their members to be the best version of themselves too. It’...

In this episode, Steven Morris and Gay Hendricks discuss: Living to inspire others to live their best life Breaking through your upper limit  Loving yourself and loving others Making relationships work   Key Takeaways: The great joy of life is being able to do what you most love to do while you’re doing things that inspire other people to do what they want to do Recognize your upper limit - know w...

In this episode, Steven Morris discusses: What is Presenteeism? The issue with presenteeism Absenteeism versus presenteeism Creating business with both meaning and profit Key Takeaways: The Beautiful Business (book) offers an antidote to both Absenteeism and Presenteeism. Presenteeism is when people show up in work, but are not productive in the job which happens because of many factors like burno...

In this episode, Steven Morris and Denise Lee Yohn discuss: Importance of aligning your brand identity with your internal culture Understanding leaders and how to lead effectively Reconciling faith or belief with career Having good personal branding versus showing your genuine self Advice for younger people or those who aspire to level up their career Key Takeaways: Cultivating a strong brand iden...

Welcome to Beautiful Business, the podcast where functional evolves into beautiful. Many business owners strategize the purpose and function of their business, but few strive to make it “beautiful.” Each week, listen in as Steven Morris and his guests discuss brand, culture, and business strategies that will create new ways to shape your beautiful business. If you are ready to evolve your business...