Lessons From a $6 Million Banana

by Skip Prichard

It started as a banana. Ordinary, yellow, and taped to a wall. But somehow, it sold for $6.2 million. It wasn’t the banana or the duct tape that held value. It was the way people looked at it, highlighting the power of perception and leadership. This story teaches leadership lessons: to see potential where others might not, to reframe ordinary situations into extraordinary opportunities, and to stay curious and question assumptions. Effective leadership involves noticing what others overlook and unlocking hidden value in people and processes. Click HERE to read the article in its entirety for greater insights.

25 Ideas to Make 2025 Extraordinary

by Mark Sanborn

This article offers practical and inspiring strategies to enhance both personal and professional life in the coming year. Key suggestions include prioritizing uninterrupted thinking time to improve decision-making, creating environments that foster deep thought, and engaging in focused, distraction-free work. Sanborn also emphasizes the importance of challenging assumptions, diversifying knowledge sources, and leading by example. Additionally, he encourages personalizing customer interactions, recognizing outstanding service, and turning complaints into opportunities. These ideas aim to foster continuous improvement, innovation, and a culture of passionate doers. Click HERE to learn more.

What Rising Inventory Means for the 2025 Housing Market

by Mike Simonsen

Mike Simonsen analyzes recent housing data and discusses the significant increase in housing inventory, which is nearly 27% higher than the previous year. This trend is expected to continue into 2025, providing more options for homebuyers and reducing competition. While inventory is rising nationwide, some regions like the Midwest and Northeast still have tight markets. The increase in available homes is moving the market closer to pre-pandemic levels, and by the end of 2025, inventory is projected to grow by an additional 15%. This shift could stabilize home prices and offer more opportunities for buyers. Click HERE to learn more.

All Those 2025 Mortgage Rates Forecasts Are Now Wrong

by Mike Simonsen

In late December all the 2025 mortgage rate forecasts were published. Unfortunately, all of them are already wrong. Most housing market analysts expect mortgage rates to spend the year with a 6 handle. The most optimistic predictions assume 2025 will see mostly low 6s for the 30-year fixed rate mortgage. And yet with pesky inflation data not falling as quickly or as far as expected, Fed chair Jerome Powell suddenly changed his language in the Fed meeting on December 19th. The bond market got spooked and mortgage rates jumped back over 7%. What will the year hold for mortgage rates? Click HERE to learn more.

6 Questions to Find Out How Your Employees Are Really Doing

by Rebecca Knight

Employee wellbeing is under serious strain. Roughly 60% of workers say they’re struggling with engagement, and one in five report feeling lonely, according to Gallup. This is no small issue for managers: employees who aren’t thriving are less productive, less committed, and more likely to have a negative effect on your company’s bottom line. Do you know how your employees truly feel about their roles, work, and relationships? Asking the right questions in focused one-on-one settings is key to making sure you’re in tune with your people. This article outlines six questions to try to move beyond surface-level interactions. The more you recognize your team members as people with ambitions and dreams — not just cogs in the machine — the better you’ll understand how they feel about their jobs and futures. Click HERE to read on.

6 Takeaways From Big Banks' Final 2024 Analyst Session

by Steve Cocheo

After a tumultuous year, the investment community had one last shot at banking leaders before the country went into holiday mode. Here is a sampling of what the leaders of seven major banks had to say during the 2024 Goldman Sachs U.S. Financial Services Conference:

1. Regulatory Outlook: Bank leaders are not expecting significant regulatory rollbacks despite potential changes in administration. They anticipate some easing of frivolous lawsuits but foresee continued focus on liquidity requirements.
2. Basel III Endgame: There are concerns about the timing and implementation of the Basel III Endgame rules, which are still undergoing revisions.
3. Branching Strategies: Major banks provided updates on their branching strategies, emphasizing the importance of physical branches even in a digital age.
4. Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): The outlook for M&A remains cautious, with banks focusing on strategic acquisitions rather than large-scale mergers.
5. Consumer Credit: There was discussion on whether a consumer credit 'snapback' has been delayed, with mixed views on the future of consumer credit trends.
6. AI Adoption: Bank of America highlighted the significant impact of its AI-based virtual assistant, Erica, which has effectively filled roles equivalent to thousands of employees.

These takeaways provide a comprehensive view of the current priorities and challenges facing major banks as they navigate the evolving financial landscape. Click HERE to learn more.

Why Old Bank Marketing Models Will Fail in 2025 — And What to Do Instead

by Garret Reich

We're living in an age where the average household juggles 17 connected devices and traditional customer data is riddled with errors. New approaches to consumer segmentation are emerging that combine granular data analysis with sophisticated identity resolution, promising more precise targeting across channels. While the technology is evolving rapidly, the core challenge remains constant: how to deliver relevant messages to increasingly distracted consumers who expect personalized experiences. Recent analysis from TransUnion highlights a significant shift in how businesses need to understand and reach their target audiences. The marketing landscape has evolved well beyond basic demographic segments — pushing toward more sophisticated, data-driven approaches to consumer profiling. Click HERE to learn more.

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