When you're setting professional goals, be SMART about them. SMART goals are key to improving performance at work. At 9 Clouds, we set SMART goals during our quarterly reviews to give us a benchmark for success — something… More

Want to listen instead of reading? Click here for audio of this post: Meet Madison Rowley. He has the world's best beard. This is not a subjective opinion. Rowley is the two-time world champion “bearder”: Yes,… More

The way we live and work is quickly changing. Increasingly, creativity is required to compete. Learn to attract creativity to your business or community. More

From squishy armchairs that recline for napping to floral, mid-century dining seats, I grew up sitting in a lot of different chairs. I curled up and read books in chairs. I sat for hours doing… More

At 9 Clouds, we strive to have a smart workplace. The inbound marketing methodology is about doing things better — giving people great content instead of bombarding them with obnoxious claims. But that isn't just… More

This month, you're in for a few butt jokes. It's time for another 9 Clouds monthly roundup! November was serious, comical, confusing, and full of innovation announcements — all at the same time. It's like the Jell-O… More

Three 9 Clouds employees biked across South Dakota. We, too, need to clear our mental cache to create transformative work and avoid the end of reflection. More

Amidst the uncertainty about what driverless cars will mean for our roads and dealerships, we do know one thing: People are intrigued. Whether they're skeptical or eagerly waiting for the tech to become available, the… More

The best businesses provide a tiny group of people exactly what they want. The best communities provide a large group of people as much of what they want as possible. Identify whether you are a… More

A culture of innovation spurs entrepreneurship and inspires intrapreneurship. Our businesses can and should encourage intrapreneurship to better cannibalize ourselves. Our communities can and should promote an entrepreneurial ecosystem to better push intrapreneurs to innovate. An innovative culture… More

Reach outside of your industry and culture. The fusion of ideas will help you write the rules and build your empire. More

The most important goal for your business is getting your customers to the outcome they desire. What you sell should help them get there. That is the best way to increase customer loyalty. That’s the… More

When I was growing up, my mother enjoyed taking the typical “first day of school” photo. Even after all her kids graduated, she still took a picture of herself since she worked at a high school (she’s… More