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The Systematic Business Storyteller
What happens when you combine a criminal…
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Articles by William
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The Threat Assessment Framework That Saves Small Businesses
The Threat Assessment Framework That Saves Small Businesses
Every day, small businesses face threats they don't even recognize. Here's how to spot them before they become…
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Crisis Management: What 11 Years in Security Taught Me About Business Continuity
Crisis Management: What 11 Years in Security Taught Me About Business Continuity
When a crisis hits, most business owners freeze. Security professionals are trained to act.
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The 3-Layer Defense Strategy Every Small Business Needs
The 3-Layer Defense Strategy Every Small Business Needs
In security, we never rely on a single point of failure. Your business shouldn't either.
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Why Former Security Leaders Make the Best Business Resilience Coaches
Why Former Security Leaders Make the Best Business Resilience Coaches
While other businesses panic during market downturns, my clients stay calm. Here's why my security background gives…
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The Digital Marketing Edition
The Digital Marketing Edition
Welcome back! It's been a little while ..
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Integration and Implementation - Bringing It All Together for Maximum Impact
Integration and Implementation - Bringing It All Together for Maximum Impact
The Systematic Storyteller Framework: Where Investigation Meets Strategy Meets Narrative After four articles exploring…
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The Power of Narrative - Using Creative Writing Principles to Inspire Organizational Change
The Power of Narrative - Using Creative Writing Principles to Inspire Organizational Change
The Story Your Business Is Really Telling Every business tells a story, whether intentionally or not. The question…
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Strategic Frameworks - Applying Business Management Expertise to Create Sustainable Growth
Strategic Frameworks - Applying Business Management Expertise to Create Sustainable Growth
Beyond the MBA Textbook: Real-World Strategic Implementation My MBA and BS in Business Management, with a concentration…
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How to Become the Hero of Your Own Business Story
How to Become the Hero of Your Own Business Story
Every business owner is the protagonist of their own story. But most are stuck in the middle chapters, unsure how to…
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The Investigative Mindset - How Criminal Justice Principles Transform Business Problem-Solving
The Investigative Mindset - How Criminal Justice Principles Transform Business Problem-Solving
The Case of the Missing Revenue: A Business Detective Story When a client called me about their stagnant growth, I…
Activity
20K followers
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William Ballard, MBA reposted thisWilliam Ballard, MBA reposted thisCanada-based South Bow, the pipeline’s operator, also agreed to invest an estimated $40 million in efforts aimed at preventing future accidents, according to the agency’s statement. Read more (no sign up necessary):Keystone Pipeline Owner Reaches $26.8 Million Settlement With US Over 2022 RuptureKeystone Pipeline Owner Reaches $26.8 Million Settlement With US Over 2022 Rupture
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William Ballard, MBA reposted thisWilliam Ballard, MBA reposted thisMost people don't fail because they lack effort. They fail because they never defined (clearly, specifically, in writing) what they were aiming at. Clarity is the starting point of all achievement. And it begins with one decision. The Goals Quick Start Masterclass helps you make that decision. Link in bio.
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William Ballard, MBA shared thisStuds Terkel spent most of his adult life doing something that most people consider a basic social skill: listening. But Terkel did not listen casually. He listened with the kind of total, unhurried, reverential attention that makes the person being listened to feel that nothing else in the world matters as much as what they are about to say. He took that listening into steel mills, diners, unemployment offices, hospitals, and living rooms. He listened to factory workers describe the quiet indignity of repetitive labor. He listened to veterans remember wars that the official histories had already smoothed into narrative. He listened to ordinary Americans talk about money, race, failure, hope, and the small dignities that make a difficult life worth living. Then he transcribed what he heard — with minimal editorial intrusion, letting each voice carry its own weight, rhythm, and truth — and published it. His 1974 book Working, based on interviews with more than a hundred Americans about their jobs, became a landmark of American nonfiction. His book Hard Times, about ordinary experiences of the Great Depression, preserved testimony that no academic historian could have elicited. His oral history of World War II, The Good War, won the Pulitzer Prize. Terkel did not win the Pulitzer because he was a brilliant analyst or an elegant stylist, though he was both. He won it because he understood something most writers spend their careers missing: the world is full of stories that will never be told unless a writer is present enough, quiet enough, and humble enough to stop talking and truly listen. His listening was an act of love. And the writing it produced reflected that. Read More HERE: https://bit.ly/4f81rIk #Writing #Writer #Writers #WritersOnWriting #TheWritersLife #WritersLife #Medium #ListeningYou Hear With Your Ears, But a Writer Listens With Their HeartYou Hear With Your Ears, But a Writer Listens With Their Heart
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William Ballard, MBA shared thisIn the 1960s, Toni Morrison was working as an editor at Random House in New York. She was good at her job — exceptionally good. She understood language, structure, and story with a precision that made her one of the most sought-after editorial minds in American publishing. But there was a problem: the books she most wanted to read did not exist. The stories she wanted — novels that centered the interior lives of Black women, written with the seriousness and craft that had always been reserved for other subjects, other voices, other experiences — were simply not being written. Or if they were, they were not being published. The gatekeepers of American literature had decided, without much deliberation, that those stories were not the kind of thing the market wanted. Morrison did not wait for someone else to write them. She did not submit a proposal and hope for a champion. She sat down, after the children were in bed and before the sun came up, and wrote the book herself. The Bluest Eye, her first novel, was published in 1970. It was not a commercial success. It was something far more important: it was the beginning of a body of work that would eventually earn Toni Morrison the Nobel Prize in Literature — the first Black American woman to receive it. She did not wait for permission. She did not wait for market conditions to improve or for a champion to emerge. She identified what was missing in the world, recognized that she was the one who could provide it, and started. That decision — to act rather than wait — is the purest definition of initiative. Read More HERE: https://bit.ly/4wH4DSo #Writing #Writer #WritersOnWriting #WritersLife #Medium #TheWritersLifeA Successful Writer Never Waits for Opportunity to KnockA Successful Writer Never Waits for Opportunity to Knock
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William Ballard, MBA shared thisMost people define wealth by what they can see — the cars, the houses, the bank statements. But here’s the truth that separates the genuinely successful from the perpetually frustrated: real wealth is built from the inside out. The wealthiest, most fulfilled entrepreneurs and business owners I’ve worked with don’t just have better strategies. They have better habits — habits that govern how they think, how they work, how they see the world, and how they move through it. These aren’t habits you’ll find in a productivity app or a LinkedIn hustle thread. They’re foundational. They’re the kind of habits that, once established, compound over time into a life and a business that most people only dream about. In this article, I’m breaking down five wealthy habits that every entrepreneur and small business owner needs to develop — not because they’ll make you rich overnight, but because they’ll make you the kind of person capable of building lasting wealth. Read More HERE: https://bit.ly/3QOu9pG #WealthHabits #Habits #Wealth #WealthBuilding #SpiritualHealth #Money #FinanicalFreedom #PersonalFinance #Finance
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William Ballard, MBA shared thisMost people spend their entire lives wondering why the wealthy seem to operate in a completely different universe — one where money multiplies, time expands, and opportunity knocks on cue. They assume it’s luck. Or inheritance. Or some secret handshake passed down through elite social circles. But here’s the truth no one wants to say out loud: wealth is not a destination — it’s a set of decisions. And the gap between those who build generational wealth and those who stay trapped in a cycle of financial struggle isn’t as mysterious as you’ve been led to believe. It comes down to three fundamental differences in how wealthy people think, how they value their time, and how they evaluate every financial decision before them. Let’s break it down. https://bit.ly/4h9Hxiz #Wealth #WealthBuilding #Business #PersonalFinance #Money #Substack #Finance #FinancialFreedom3 Key Differences Between Wealthy & Poor People (And How to Close the Gap)3 Key Differences Between Wealthy & Poor People (And How to Close the Gap)
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William Ballard, MBA reposted thisWilliam Ballard, MBA reposted thisTODAY'S #LEADERSHIP LESSON IS ON #LAWOFNAVIGATION In his book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, #JohnMaxwell discusses the Law of Navigation, which says that anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course. Have the ability to seize the moment and see the moment. Those who navigate are flexible and can adjust to things that come up today. If you take care of today really well, tomorrow will have a high degree of success.Take Care of Today and Tomorrow Will Have a High Degree of Success | MWMTake Care of Today and Tomorrow Will Have a High Degree of Success | MWM
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William Ballard, MBA shared thisAfter many years of studying successful people, I’ve found some significant clues—especially from the Wealth Builder himself, Donald Trump. Have you ever wondered why Donald Trump works as much and as hard as he does? Why, in his 70s, he only needs four to five hours of sleep before he is ready to go again? I’ll share eight of his most important business lessons in this article. Read on because you are in for a real treat. Read More HERE: https://bit.ly/4450rj8 #Trump #Business #WealthCreation #Wealth #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship
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William Ballard, MBA shared thisIn today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the ability to think like an entrepreneur has become essential for success across all industries. With entrepreneurs filing 5.2 million new business applications in the US in 2024—a 48.6% increase over 2019—the entrepreneurial mindset has never been more critical. As the World Economic Forum predicts, adaptability and innovation will be among the top skills employers seek; mastering entrepreneurial thinking patterns becomes a competitive advantage that can transform both individuals and organizations. Read More HERE: https://bit.ly/4gjeM2G #Entrepreneur #Entrepreneurship #Business #EntrepreneurialThinking #SmallBusiness #SmallBiz
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William Ballard, MBA liked thisWilliam Ballard, MBA liked thisThe most impactful leaders never stop investing in themselves. Every step you take to grow your leadership expands your ability to serve others.
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William Ballard, MBA liked thisWilliam Ballard, MBA liked thisOne thing I’ve learned about leadership is if you want to be the best leader you can be, you have to become familiar with sacrifice. Great leaders know that you have to give up to go up!
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William Ballard, MBA liked thisWilliam Ballard, MBA liked thisJust finished "Strategic Thinking (2017)" by Dorie Clark! Check it out: https://lnkd.in/gHKDG3WW #strategicthinking.
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William Ballard, MBA liked thisWilliam Ballard, MBA liked this21 Laws Of Leadership Credits to @Rachel Turner , follow for more insightful content. 👇 If this helped, share it with someone who needs it. Here's the original post: Leadership isn't innate. It’s built on principles. Discover the 21 laws every great leader lives by [according to John Maxwell]: 1. Law of the Lid: Leadership ability determines a person's level of effectiveness. 2. Law of Influence: The true measure of leadership is influence—nothing more, nothing less. 3. Law of Process: Leadership develops daily, not in a day. 4. Law of Navigation: Anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course. 5. Law of Addition: Leaders add value by serving others. 6. Law of Solid Ground: Trust is the foundation of leadership. 7. Law of Respect: People naturally follow leaders stronger than themselves. 8. Law of Intuition: Leaders evaluate everything with a leadership bias. 9. Law of Magnetism: Who you are is who you attract. 10. Law of Connection: Leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand. 11. Law of the Inner Circle: A leader's potential is determined by those closest to him. 12. Law of Empowerment: Only secure leaders give power to others. 13. Law of the Picture: People do what people see. 14. Law of Buy-in: People buy into the leader, then the vision. 15. Law of Victory: Leaders find a way for the team to win. 16. Law of the Big Mo: Momentum is a leader’s best friend. 17. Law of Priorities: Leaders understand that activity is not necessarily accomplishment. 18. Law of Sacrifice: A leader must give up to go up. 19. Law of Timing: When to lead is as important as what to do and where to go. 20. Law of Explosive Growth: To add growth, lead followers; to multiply, lead leaders. 21. Law of Legacy: A leader's lasting value is measured by succession. -------
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William Ballard, MBA liked thisWilliam Ballard, MBA liked thisStarbucks is investing in coaching, and it's paying off in more ways than one. Stores that participated in the test run saw improved customer experiences, more consistent business performance, and greater capacity and mental clarity for existing store leaders and managers. The company now plans to hire thousands more coaches and, ultimately, would like to have one at each store. This is great for Starbucks, but it could be great for so many other companies too. Starbucks is recognizing that their best asset isn't their coffee or their environments: it's their people. And when you invest in people, you don't just positively impact the customer experience or the bottom line - you make the world a better place. The model is already working well at Starbucks. And it's there for any company to adopt for themselves. https://lnkd.in/edYRHvSvStarbucks plans to hire thousands of new ‘coffeehouse coach’ rolesStarbucks plans to hire thousands of new ‘coffeehouse coach’ roles
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William Ballard, MBA liked thisWilliam Ballard, MBA liked thisI stopped doing AI webinars. Here's why. After 50 years of speaking, I've learned that people don't change their behavior because of information. They change because of experience. So my team tried something different. Instead of presenting slides about AI, we started diagnosing real businesses LIVE, on camera. Seven business owners per session. We find their biggest AI opportunity and demonstrate the solution in real time. The business owners who participate call it "the most valuable 75 minutes they've spent on AI." The observers say they leave with more actionable ideas than any course they've taken. We're running another session soon. Space is limited. We keep these intentionally small. If you'd like to be considered, fill out the short application: https://bit.ly/4wpxZ7K Two minutes. That's all it takes.
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William Ballard, MBA liked thisWilliam Ballard, MBA liked thisCanada-based South Bow, the pipeline’s operator, also agreed to invest an estimated $40 million in efforts aimed at preventing future accidents, according to the agency’s statement. Read more (no sign up necessary):Keystone Pipeline Owner Reaches $26.8 Million Settlement With US Over 2022 RuptureKeystone Pipeline Owner Reaches $26.8 Million Settlement With US Over 2022 Rupture
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William Ballard, MBA liked thisWilliam Ballard, MBA liked this“You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water” For the past two years, this quote has stuck with me. It’s a reminder that growth rarely comes from staying comfortable. It comes from saying yes to new opportunities, embracing uncertainty, and trusting that each challenge is preparing you for what’s next. Looking back on the past two years in RTX’s Operations & Supply Chain Leadership Development Program, I can confidently say that’s exactly what this experience has been. Throughout the program, I had the opportunity to take on three incredible roles: • Cell Lead – Pratt & Whitney F119 | East Hartford, CT • Inventory & Warehouse Supervisor – Collins Aerospace Military Landing Gear | Fort Worth, TX • Item Repair Manager – Pratt & Whitney Engine Sustainment Operations | Oklahoma City, OK While I learned a tremendous amount about the technical side of the business, my biggest takeaway has been the importance of understanding people. Whether it’s listening to the customer, collaborating across functions, or leading a team, taking the time to understand different perspectives is what drives meaningful results. I’m excited to share that after completing the program, I’ll be returning to Collins Aerospace, Military Landing Gear in Fort Worth, TX as a Materials, Planning, and SIOP Supervisor. Here’s to taking the next step!
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Education
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Licenses & Certifications
Publications
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Executive Contributor
Brainz Magazine
See publicationExecutive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
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Entrepreneur Column
Entrepreneur
See publicationEntrepreneur Media's contributors are handpicked and invited because of their knowledge and valuable insight into their areas of expertise.
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Medium Column
Medium.com
See publicationMedium is a home for human stories and ideas. Anyone can share insightful perspectives, helpful knowledge, and wisdom with the world here.
Courses
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Business Communication and Critical Thinking
BCOM/275
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Contemporary Business Communication
COM/140
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Contempory Writers and Publishing
ENG 540
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Corporate Finance
FIN/571
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Criminology
ADJ/215
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Fiction Fundamentals
ENG 529
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Finance for Business
FIN/37
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Financial Management in The Small Business
FIN/375
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Grad Studies in English Language
ENG 550
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Human Capital Management
HRM/531
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Literary Theory
LIT 500
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Management Theory and Practice
MGT/230
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Non-Fiction Fundamentals
ENG 530
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Operations Management
OPS/571
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Organizational Development
MGT/311
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Organizational Leadership
LDR/53
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Seminar in American Literature
LIT 650
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Seminar in Writing Instruction
ENG 670
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Small Business Marketing
MKT/431
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Small Business and Entrepreneurial Planning
MGT/465
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Small Business: Structure, Planning, Funding
MGT/401
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Story and Concept
ENG 520
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Strategic Planning and Implementation
STR/581
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Studies in Place & Setting
ENG 532
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Studying the Craft
ENG 510
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Victorian Literature
LIT 510
Languages
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English
Native or bilingual proficiency
Organizations
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Professional Photographers of America
Member
- PresentPPA’s mission is to create a vibrant community of successful professional photographers by providing education, resources and industry standards of excellence. We're the world's largest nonprofit photography association organized for professional photographers, by professional photographers, and you help us be 30,000 strong...present in more than 50 countries! PPA is your go-to resource for elevating your craft and maintaining a profitable business. It's your link to online education, live…
PPA’s mission is to create a vibrant community of successful professional photographers by providing education, resources and industry standards of excellence. We're the world's largest nonprofit photography association organized for professional photographers, by professional photographers, and you help us be 30,000 strong...present in more than 50 countries! PPA is your go-to resource for elevating your craft and maintaining a profitable business. It's your link to online education, live classes, business assistance, and equipment insurance. It's your peer-to-peer support group, your advocate for copyright protection, and your source for news and info about the industry.
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