CEO Sales Huddle with Che Brown

In the bustling world of business, even the smallest hiccups can create massive challenges. Imagine not being able to complete a sale just because you can’t accept a credit card.  This was the problem faced by Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Square, when a $2,000 sale of his handblown glassware hit a roadblock. It wasn’t just a personal inconvenience; it was a business barrier that many faced—sellers...

Once upon a time, a company called Tiny Speck created a computer game called Glitch. But, guess what? The game was a big flop! Imagine working so hard on something, and it doesn’t turn out the way you hoped. Tiny Speck faced a problem – their game didn’t attract enough players, and they had to shut it down in 2012. Here’s the interesting part: Glitch was a unique game with no fighting involved, se...

In the early 20th century, Henry Royce faced a series of challenges – family bankruptcy, his father’s death, and limited education. Yet, amidst adversity, Royce harbored a dream of creating something extraordinary. The struggle was real, but so was his determination. Did you know that Rolls Royce’s founder, Henry Royce, once purchased a beat-up French car? Instead of throwing in the towel, he saw...

Play-Doh’s story begins with an unexpected problem. Once a successful cleaner for coal residue on wallpaper, it faced a dilemma as demand plummeted with the rise of natural gas heating. The company, Kutol, was on the brink of bankruptcy, highlighting the challenges businesses can encounter when relying on a single product or strategy. In times of crisis, Joe McVicker stepped in to save the sinking...

In 2011, Pat Brown, a former Stanford professor, embarked on a mission to tackle one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues: meat production. The challenge was clear — people are addicted to meat, and breaking this addiction seemed impossible. With the meat industry contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and land degradation, a solution was needed. Fast forward to 2019, Impossible Foo...

Late one night in 2008, Leah Busque Solivan faced a common problem – an empty dog food bowl for her beloved yellow lab, Kobe. But this predicament ignited a spark, leading her to envision a solution that would change her life and revolutionize an entire industry. The world wasn’t yet familiar with the “sharing economy.” Uber and Airbnb were just concepts, and DoorDash hadn’t even emerged. TaskRabb...

In the quaint city of Waterford, Ireland, the story of Waterford Crystal began with George and William Penrose in 1783. Little did they know that their crystal-making venture would face its share of challenges. Fast forward to the 19th century, and the entire glass-making industry in Ireland was on the verge of collapse. This setback marked a turbulent time for Waterford Crystal, and the productio...

Once upon a time, Pandora, the magical music streaming service, faced a challenge. Before the days of its success, founder Tim Westergren encountered a sea of undiscovered talent in the music world. There were great sounds waiting to be heard, but no way for these artists to get discovered. The problem was clear: the music industry needed a way to connect talented musicians with eager listeners. B...

You’re the proud owner of a Ferrari, one of the world’s most luxurious cars. But there’s a catch—your prized possession keeps breaking down, and every visit to the Ferrari factory ends in frustration. This was the problem faced by Ferruccio Lamborghini, an Italian tractor tycoon, and it was the start of a remarkable journey. In the aftermath of World War II, Lamborghini turned his wartime skills i...

Imagine leaving your home country, moving to the U.S. with a dream, only to find yourself working odd jobs just to make ends meet. This was Chang’s reality. From a janitor to a gas station attendant, he faced financial struggles and personal sacrifices. The interesting fact? His first store, Fashion 21, started with a mere $11,000 and a 900-square-foot space in LA. But here’s where the story takes...

Running a retail business, especially one focused on plus-sized fashion for African American women, was a challenge for James Rhee when he took over Ashley Stewart in 2013. The brand was struggling, and the market was not giving these women the attention they deserved. The plus-size women’s apparel market is a $30.7 billion business, but Ashley Stewart faced two challenges—catering to full-figured...

In the vast sea of business, even giants like Nikon faced turbulent waters. The company, originally known as ‘Nippon Kogaku Kogyo Kabushikigaisha,’ soared during World War II, providing vital equipment to the Japanese military. However, post-war challenges loomed large, and Nikon’s singular focus on cameras proved detrimental as competitors diversified into new markets. Nikon’s struggle intensifie...

In 1837, Charles Lewis Tiffany founded Tiffany & Co. with a modest $1000 advance from his father. At first, they sold ‘stationery and fancy goods,’ not jewelry. The brand faced the challenge of establishing itself in a market dominated by European aesthetics. This early struggle mirrors the challenges CEOs may encounter when entering competitive markets or industries. In 1845, Tiffany & Co...

Imagine running a theme park where the excitement is supposed to be infectious, but suddenly, your customer numbers drop by a whopping 2 million in just a year. That’s the dilemma Six Flags, the Texas-based theme park, found itself in. The CEO spilled the beans, revealing that part of the issue was rowdy teenagers turning the park into what felt like a cheap daycare center. The attendance took a n...

Back in 1993, Jack in the Box faced a crisis that not only jeopardized their sales but also put the very existence of the company at risk. An E. coli outbreak linked to their hamburgers led to the tragic deaths of three children and infected 400 people across three states. The fast-food chain found itself in a dire situation, facing not just a loss in sales but a threat to its survival. The strugg...

Chick-fil-A faced challenges like any growing business. Opening its first location in 1967 with a mere 384 square feet, founder Truett Cathy had to crack the code on a unique chicken sandwich. But challenges weren’t just in the kitchen; even with a winning product, sustaining growth presented hurdles. Did you know that Chick-fil-A almost halted their famous “Eat mor chikin” campaign due to the Mad...

In the fast-paced world of business, even the most successful companies face challenges. Take Chipotle Mexican Grill, for instance, a rapidly growing restaurant giant. Despite its popularity, Chipotle realized it needed a fresh strategy to stay connected with customers who were increasingly relying on their phones for everything, including their dining choices. The problem? Adapting to the evolvin...

Burberry, known for its expert craftsmanship and embraced by celebrities and royalty, found itself on the brink of extinction. Despite all the hallmarks of a luxury brand, they were plummeting in revenue, caught in an identity crisis that nearly brought them to their knees. The brand that once symbolized luxury was now associated with ‘Gangwear.’ Wearing Burberry’s signature check could get you ba...

In the early 2010s, Jessica Alba faced a challenge many parents could relate to – the struggle to find safe and natural products for her newborn. The mainstream options caused skin reactions, leading her to realize the alarming ingredients in everyday items. This revelation sparked a desire for change in the consumer goods market. The journey wasn’t a red carpet walk for Jessica Alba. In an era wh...

Imagine despising grocery shopping so much that you vow not to set foot in a store until you can order everything from an app. That was Apoorva Mehta’s struggle, and it sparked an idea that would change the way we shop. The problem? Busy lives, long lines, and the lack of time for traditional grocery shopping. Mehta, the brain behind Instacart, understood the importance of speed, accuracy, and con...

Imagine your business booming during the holiday season, with orders pouring in like never before. Now, picture the chaos that could ensue if your distribution center is overwhelmed, struggling to keep up with the increasing demand. This was the challenge L.L.Bean faced with nearly 60% of its orders cramming into a six-week holiday period. Something had to change. L.L.Bean’s distribution centers w...

Imagine being rejected by seven prominent Silicon Valley investors. It happened to them. In 2008, when Airbnb was just starting, investors were skeptical, throwing rejection letters left and right. Fast forward to today, and Airbnb is valued at over $25 billion. So, what was the turning point? Now, here’s where the story gets interesting. Airbnb, faced with the struggle of financial survival, did...

Imagine this – small businesses struggling to fulfill a flood of delivery orders, lacking the infrastructure to meet the demand. DoorDash faced this challenge head-on when it began as Palo Alto Delivery. The dilemma? Small businesses, like the local macaroon shop, couldn’t handle the volume of orders due to staffing issues. This was DoorDash’s lightbulb moment, realizing a need for logistics to su...

In 2012, Lyft founders Logan Green and John Zimmer faced a common challenge: navigating the competitive ride-sharing market dominated by Uber. The problem? Establishing a unique position in a crowded space and capturing market share while staying true to their original vision. The struggle intensified when Lyft, initially an on-demand carpooling service born from the Zimride platform, faced the da...

In the early 2000s, when the mobile revolution was just taking its first steps, nobody could have predicted the impact a small camera company called GoPro would have on the world. GoPro’s founder, Nick Woodman, initially aimed to create wrist straps for photographers, hardly hinting at the massive success that lay ahead. During Woodman’s travels to surfing spots in Australia and Indonesia, he face...