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Bad inputs result in bad outputs. If your customer insights are flawed, they are going to result in flawed product, branding, marketing, messaging, advertising, business strategy and even business model. If you aren’t doing your customer research right. You are signing up for failure. Here are the 5 most avoidable and yet common mistakes we have observed and our recommended ways of avoiding them. This is how Customer Research is Done Right. #customerresearch #customerinsights #UX...

A candid conversation with Gen-Z. Just as Gen-Z began their entry into the workforce, they experienced the pandemic, shifting global trends, and massively new ways of working. Born digital and more in touch with their purpose than previous generations, Gen-Z brings new expectations of what they expect from work, work life balance, and their own role in the world. If you’re a leader, manager, or employer, you’ll benefit from hearing what they want in this candid conversation. Connect wit...

When was the last time you called any customer service and were helped immediately? It certainly wasn’t in the past 2 years. Why must we hold for hours, and once we finally get a hold of an agent, why does the service almost never meet our expectations? To find out we asked a few business leaders to their “why” behind the current state of customer service. Combining their root cause with our expertise we developed some actionable tactics that will help you improve your customer service. Join ...

If you're not leveraging the minds of the future in your company, you could be missing out on a lot of untapped potential. At refine+focus, we've learned it's not just about hiring for enthusiastic young individuals but crafting an experience that is fulfilling for all parties involved. It takes time and effort, but it's worth it when it's executed well. Understand the key elements to an internship program that fuels your company and your interns with Zach Braiker and Purnima Tha...

As Gen Z gets older, we are learning more and more about why they choose to purchase. It isn't just about product quality anymore, but about brands' reputation and actions. By listening to the real-life stories and favorite brands of Gen Z women, we gain insights that statistics simply cannot provide. From thoughts on authenticity to campaigns that have had a lasting impact, we've found it's the intention of brands that matters most. Listen as Purnima Thakre, Fallon Renehan, and...

Hobbies don't have to be isolated from the rest of life. In fact, letting the skills and feelings that hobbies inspire can be an incredible advantage to the work you produce in your company. Engaging in meaningful activities helps to unlock our creative and curious side. We've found that hobbies look different for everyone: why we choose the ones we do, how we approach them, what time of day we feel inspired. We've even invited a few friends to help us answer these questions. Lis...

Research shows that 91% of women believe advertisers don’t understand them. A company that misses the mark on marketing to women has a large disadvantage given that women control 70-80% of consumer purchasing decisions. So what does missing the mark look like? Pink it and shrink it, overgeneralizing, selective empowerment to name just a few. Women are waiting for brands to understand and speak to their complexity, their many roles, and their deepest desires. Personally, we think ...

Not all questions are created equal. While no question is a bad one, some are those that clarify while some are the keys to unlocking a new business opportunity. Marketers know that the framing of the question can largely impact the response, so how exactly do you create the question that gives you an authentic answer? What does an authentic answer entail? These are great questions, and we are so glad you asked. Experts in market research and distilling the truth, Zach Braiker an...

You’ve done the research, planned the plan, and developed a strategy. You've followed Zach and Purnima's guidance for 13 episodes. You’re ready to move into the action phase. Inevitably you're thinking, "What if something goes wrong? What if we have to change the plan? What if the plan fails?" Understand the process of plan to action with masters of plan success and plan failure, Zack Braiker and Purnima Thakre. With 16 years of creating strategic plans for a variety of companie...

Innovation can extend to every area of life, it is not isolated in an office. The nuances of techniques, spices, ratios, even the design of the kitchen can be a way to unlock the nuances of ideation. Even the courage to attempt a recipe can translate to overcoming the fear of innovation. The diversity of cuisine can teach us the many ways a company can collaborate. It’s at the point of fusion, where different traditions, practices, and ideas intersect, that unexpected value can be foun...

Once is chance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is...a serial innovator. It is not about waiting for an idea to strike you in the shower or a dream to show you the solution. In reality, it is 5 basic components of your work environment that turn one successful idea into many. Especially in our current climate, being innovative is not just a plus, but a necessity to survive changing and adverse circumstances. Learn as Zach Braiker and Purnima Thakre uncover these 5 key ti...

We are all for spontaneity at refine + focus, but not when it comes to strategic planning. Would you go schedule a meeting without a topic, pitch an idea without having an idea, take a hike in the mountains without any gear? We hope not! So why do so many forget to plan their strategic plan? Today we revise the cliche 'from plan to action' to be 'plan your planning, plan, act.' While it seems highly meta, Zach Braiker and Purnima Thakre will make the concept and process simple. Take a...

We know you are more than the job title under your LinkedIn username, more than the company you work for or own, and more than the college you graduated from. You are a unique accumulation of experiences, talents, passions, and goals that got you to that job title, that company, that diploma. It seems obvious to note these things, but forgetting the human side of those within your network is a common fault of inauthentic networking –a.k.a. purely transactional networking. Learn...

You have 60 seconds to pitch your business to a fast-paced world...1,2,3, go! What would you say? How would you make your audience stop, listen, rewatch, and like? How would you convince them to follow? We know this sounds terrifying, but fear is a small price to pay for free marketing. This new and continually growing channel uses a sophisticated algorithm under the name "For You." Little did TikTok know, this algorithm is every marketer's dream for reaching an audience with genuine ...

We miss the days of spontaneous interactions with coworkers in the break room, visitors at our desks to ask how our day is, and elevator conversations with strangers that become friends. These small connections are the spice of life. We're here to tell you that you don't have to give up on this necessary seasoning! Replace the walk to the break room with a Facebook search and you might just end up in an online community that shares your passions. Better yet, replace the elevator ride u...

The word is creativity—not an inherent trait, but a skill that anyone can build. It’s vital to generating novel ideas that push boundaries and drive innovation, and it makes for dynamic and predictive problem-solving. It is small and everyday changes that produce the best results, and a commitment to two key lifestyles: diversity and curiosity. Learn as Purnima Thakre and Zach Braiker, bodybuilders in creativity, walk through how and why to harness this extremely important skill. ...

When you think of frameworks, chances are you think of lines, boxes, broad labels, arrows, and the word “ugh.” Maybe you think of the feeling of having to decide which framework for when, who, what objective, and, again, the word “ugh.” In reality, we often think in mental frameworks that we aren’t aware of, and we simply have to find the framework that speaks to us. The more work the framework does, the less you have to do! Listen as Zach Braiker and Purnima Thakre share ...

Think of your favorite brand. What is the reason for your loyalty? Chances are it stems from feeling heard, listened to, respected, or represented in the products and services they create. While many companies see the world shifting towards a customer-centric approach, few have the knowledge and tools to identify who their customers are. Hundreds of customer segments purchase your product, but the challenge is getting them to stay. With years of customer segment research and cre...

Get curious about curiosity. How do we shape it? How can we leverage it? What are its limitations and strengths? What does it take to foster a curious environment? In the modern world, curiosity is not just a buzzword. It is an essential component of innovation, ideation, and progress, and the research proves its benefits– research that came about through curious inquiry. That ‘ah-ha’ moment we all hope for isn’t just an answer, sometimes it is simply the right question. Find ou...