Isolate the “But”

You know what I’m talking about … the infamous and dangerous word “but.” There are two versions of “but” that we love to use. First, is the “but” that virtually negates everything we said before it: I don’t want to complain, but … I don’t want to sound negative, but … I love your […]

Communication and Commitment

CWhen it comes to communication as leaders and team members, we have six different ways of “communicating” about things we want to do or accomplish, but only one of these choices is a clear commitment that invokes personal integrity and accountability. This is also true when it comes to personal […]

Trust Starts With You

Here’s a truth that I’ve learned in business and in life – it’s all about trust. Trust is the problem. Trust is the opportunity. Trust is the gap. Trust is the answer. No matter how you label your issues or challenges (e.g. communication, feedback, accountability, teamwork, etc.), it always comes […]

Lead Like a Parent

If you’re like many leaders, your first response to this title is this: “Exactly, I have to lead like a parent because my people act like children.” If that’s your response, think again … if your people are acting like children, then they’ve likely been made to feel like children […]

Are You Clear?

Over the past couple of years, it has become more and more clear that clarity (pun intended) plays a vital role in the achievement (or non-achievement) of my goals and objectives. If I’m not clear what I specifically want to achieve, then my odds of achieving them are significantly reduced. […]

It’s Time to Give Up

No, I have not lost my mind. Well, at least not in the way that you might think. You’re probably wondering how I (a person with such a positive and optimistic way of seeing and experiencing life) am suggesting that we give up. The key is in what I’m suggesting […]

Don’t Wait for Time – Claim It!

You’ve experienced it before – you’re finishing up a significant project (at work or at home), finishing up school, stepping off of a board or otherwise freeing up time. You’re excited about no longer having to invest the time that you have been on whatever you’ve been engaged with. You’re […]

The Answers Are In Your Stories

There’s no doubt that we all would benefit from some form of training and development, personally and professionally. Similarly, I’m confident that many of your team members would benefit from more training and development, and they certainly would benefit from having a mentor. Life and leadership is definitely a matter […]

Lessons From The Martian

I love movies, and I learn a lot from them. As Steve Martin (Davis) brilliantly offered to Kevin Kline (Mack) in Grand Canyon (1991), “That’s part of your problem: you haven’t seen enough movies. All of life’s riddles are answered in the movies.” With that thought in mind, I invite […]

Keep It Simple©

No, I am not writing about the already tired and overused K.I.S.S. concept (Keep It Simple, Stupid), at least not in the way that you’ve read about it before. However, I am suggesting that you focus on simplicity in how you think, believe and decide because simple is the only […]