Caring Over Courage

Leadership is not always easy. In fact, it often involves taking risks. One way to think about leadership is that it’s like walking into and through a fire. You can usually tell when you are leading because you feel the heat or sense the risk. If leadership was easy, everyone […]

Carved In Stone

Recently, I was walking downtown with a friend and I suggested that we should cross the street, even though there wasn’t a crosswalk. Yes, it was jaywalking. I followed up by saying what I’ve said many times – that I see most rules as more like suggestions, and I added […]

The Business of Life

I recently wrote a blog about the difference between making a living and making a life, in which I encouraged people to focus on making a life (which includes making a living) rather than merely focusing on making a living. From this you might wrongly surmise that I see business […]

Are You at a Shift Point?

If you’re my age or older, there’s a pretty good chance that at some point you learned to drive a manual transmission (aka a stick shift). It’s also likely that you’re familiar with terms like “3-on-the-tree” and “four on the floor.” If you’re younger than fifty, it’s less likely that […]

Alone in the Crowd

I am blessed with many friends of different shapes and sizes, and the natures of my friendships are as different as the friends themselves. I am also blessed with many intimate friendships and deep connections, and when we are together our conversations are rich, authentic and vulnerable. This also includes […]

Seven Questions that Will Transform Your Life

Yes, that’s what I said – questions that will transform your life, and also your business and relationships. Why so confident, you ask? First, because I believe in the power of questions – well-framed questions – to elicit more impactful solutions and to heighten awareness. Second, because the brilliant philosopher […]

Lead Like Patton – NOT

General George Patton was in many ways an incredible leader and one who certainly had a significant impact on the outcome of World War II in Europe. While General Patton definitely utilized some leadership approaches worthy of modeling, some of his other tactics are not well suited for leadership today. […]

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 […]

What Is Calling You?©

A few months ago, I was having a conversation with several close friends (all business owners), and one of them asked this question: Who here considers what you do to be a calling? Of the seven business owners, I was the only one who said “I do.” I was initially […]

Eagle Wisdom©

On a recent trip to Vancouver Island, BC, I had the opportunity to meet Jill, an avid kayaker. She shared with me many different wildlife experiences she has had while kayaking. The most memorable was her story of watching an eagle swoop down to snatch a large salmon out of […]