I had a good, productive day today because of the list. The list doesn’t appear; you must create it. Once created, it won’t do anything on its own; you must use it. If unused, it becomes irrelevant, though it can shame if you view it after inactivity. There are good lists and bad lists, mostly […]
My youngest son served in the United States Marine Corps and then went to college and had a relatively short career in sales. Searching for the purpose and camaraderie he had in the Marines, he decided in his late 30s to become a firefighter—not easy as there are 100 applicants for every opening, but he […]
In a recent blog, I suggested that people keep an “I wonder…” list of questions. After traveling to Cuba last month, I came back with a few additions. Two are: “Why do we still have an embargo against Cuba when it doesn’t appear to be doing any good?” (my research says there’s no good reason, […]
I just talked with a talented CEO who doubled his top line in less than three years. He built the senior team he wants and “ran” his business in keeping with his values, one of which is empowering his people to do their job. Unfortunately, a private equity firm that values control over empowerment owns […]
Two of the most frequent comments I hear about leaders are, “She needs to focus on execution” and “He’s not good at holding people accountable.” I’ve heard permutations of these in almost every organization I’ve supported and executive I’ve coached. When I ask specifically what that means, I often get blank stares. So, let’s break […]
All the leaders I’ve worked with understand that getting things done through others is their job. The most thoughtful also understand that this happens by encouraging commitment, not control. Commitment is an emotional connection to work. Committed people are “dedicated” and “willing to go above and beyond expectations.” Leaders can count on and trust committed […]
I’m on a flight with my window shade open, looking at clouds, field patterns, a river, and communities. I wonder where the roads go, which community that is, what their major industry is, whether that river has trout. I also wonder why only one other person in my section has their window shade open. I […]
One of the top concerns for CEOs at this point in time is political uncertainty. Biden or Trump[*]? And then there are all the downstream races, the effect on administrative polices, trade and labor implications, let alone defense spending and our position in the world. If you are like many of my clients, it drives […]
“In the short run, the market acts as a voting machine; in the long run, it becomes a weighing machine.” —Ben Graham, Warren Buffett’s mentor It’s shortly after lunch as I write this, and I’m confident I’m in the top 5% of healthy eaters on the planet. For the last two meals. Most would agree […]
A recent Andy Kessler column in The Wall Street Journal caught my eye (“Profit Can Be Your Purpose: Why do Millennials and Gen Zers want their work to provide psychic rewards?” March 3, 2024). I often like Kessler’s articles and appreciate his humor on this topic. Example: “Looking for work now is about finding your […]