April 18, 2017 marked the 75th anniversary of the dramatic bombing of Japan that followed the attack on Pearl Harbor. On that day in 1942, at 8:20 in the morning, 16 B-25 bombers under the command of Jimmy Doolittle took off from the USS Hornet 750 miles from Japan. In 1942, most experts found the […]
Heroes Don’t Have Comfort Zones Read More »
Early in 1998, my doctoral committee met to approve my dissertation proposal. Or, at least I thought that was the goal of the meeting. As it turns out, they met to discuss all the reasons for their disapproval: My research thesis was inconsistent; I had proposed a flawed research methodology; and I had formulated inane
How to End Indecision Read More »
Prior to the Patriots’ stunning comeback in Super Bowl 2017, quarterback Tom Brady answered the question about what makes his team so special: “Mental toughness.” He could have said exceptional physical strength, training, and superior talent, but he didn’t. What team that makes it to the Super Bowl doesn’t embody these? Mental toughness involves something
Are You Tough Enough? Read More »
In 2016, Wells Fargo fired more than 5,000 employees who learned the hard way that carrots don’t work—at least not in the long run. Decision-makers tied a substantial piece of these employees’ compensation to steep sales targets and made reaching them a condition of continued employment. They saw movement, if not true motivation. Even when
Why Carrots and Sticks Don’t Motivate Read More »
Each year I aspire to teach my clients lessons that will help them improve their personal and professional lives and their businesses. But what many of them probably don’t realize is that I simultaneously learn as I teach. And even though I’ve been consulting for more than thirty-five years, each year and each client has
Ten Lessons Clients Taught Me in 2016 Read More »
In Henry IV Part 1, Owen Glendover, the leader of the Welsh rebels joins the insurrection against King Henry. Glendower, a man steeped in the traditional lore of Wales, claims to command great magic. Therefore, mysterious and superstitious, he sometimes acts in response to prophecies and omens. In the play, Glendover boasts to Hotspur, “I
Ten Ways to Tie a Strong Strategy to an Equally Strong Succession Plan Read More »
Want to make your company a better place to work? Understanding the benefits of using humor appropriately is the first step, actualizing this knowledge the second. Here are some ways humor can help your organization become a place that the best people can do their best work—and have fun while they’re doing it: Diffuse a
Be More Funny; Make More Money Read More »
1. Get in front of buyers every week. Buyers are the people who can tell you “yes,” the people who can sign the check without getting anyone else’s approval. Identify these people through Linkedin, referrals, vendors, subcontractors, and anyone else who can help you figure out where the next job lies. Each year, make a
Five Secrets for Developing Your Business Read More »
On August 2, 2016 the Rio Olympics gave us a gift—the perfect metaphor for the intersection of absurdity and danger—a kayaker capsized after hitting a rogue sofa in Guanabara Bay. Apparently, although highly skilled and highly trained, this particular kayaker had no knowledge or training for what he should do should he encounter submerged furniture
The Importance of Couching Your Strategy Read More »
During the Roman republic, the river Rubicon marked the boundary between the Roman province of Cisalpine Gaul to the north-east and Italy proper to the south. The river distinguished not only the geographic boundaries for the province but also the military restrictions for governors and magistrates. Therefore, rulers required generals to disband their armies before entering Italy, and if a
Are You Tough Enough to Cross the Rubicon? Read More »
