by Steve O'Bryan | Jan 23, 2026 | Strategic Planning, Uncategorized
At Blue Pen Strategy Group, we spend a lot of time helping organizations slow down just enough to make better decisions. Not more decisions. Better ones. One of the most useful frameworks we return to again and again is the “Where to Play / How to Win” concept,...
by Steve O'Bryan | Jan 4, 2026 | Music Publishing, Strategic Planning
A Clayton Christensen–inspired look at long-term innovation, disruption, and how not to confuse motion for meaning Introduction: Why Tactics Can’t Save a Flawed Business Model In the world of sheet music publishing—whether sacred, educational, choral, or...
by Steve O'Bryan | Dec 28, 2025 | Music Publishing, Strategic Planning
If you’re a music publisher or composer, you’ve probably heard terms like “sales funnel” thrown around by marketers. But what is a sales funnel, really—and how can it help you sell more sheet music? Good news: it’s not as complicated as it sounds. What Is a Sales...
by Steve O'Bryan | Dec 14, 2025 | Music Publishing, Strategic Planning
A Stage-Based Guide for Sheet Music Publishers (Who’d Rather Be Composing Than Planning) Let’s face it: most people who start a sheet music publishing business aren’t in it for the spreadsheets. You’re a composer, an arranger, a music educator. You’ve got ideas to...
by Steve O'Bryan | Dec 7, 2025 | Strategic Planning
Real tactics from Netflix, Costco, and Amazon that you can use—today Look—You Don’t Need a 300-Person Marketing Team to Win Let’s just get this out of the way: Big brands don’t win because they’re big.They win because they execute with clarity, build culture, and stay...
by Steve O'Bryan | Nov 9, 2025 | AI, Strategic Planning
When people hear Artificial Intelligence, it can sound like something meant for big tech companies — complicated, expensive, and light-years beyond the reach of a small business. But here’s the reality: AI is already here, it’s easier than you think, and it’s built...