From the minute we engage with other humans (and even pets!) our parents tell us, “Be nice!” This is intended to be a catchall for don’t hit, scream, cry or make someone else feel bad. “Now look at what you did! Little Lisa is crying! Be nice!” As we get older, we’re rewarded for being […]
A friend recently sent me a video in which someone in the back seat of an airplane filmed the pilot and co-pilot chatting during an approach to landing. The gear-warning horn was blaring so loudly that they had to shout over it to hear each other. The video ends with the sound of metal on […]
Are you humming the old Johnny Rivers song? “There’s a man who lives a life of danger. … They’ve given you a number and taken away your name. …” (guitar riff here) Sorry, I’m not talking about that kind of agent, but someone who can be just as dangerous! A good friend owns a firm […]
Hold people accountable in your organization I recently had coffee with a fraud. He looked good, smelled good, dropped names and used buzzwords like a pro. However, he was a chocolate bunny … sweet on the outside and hollow on the inside. These characters can deflect blame like a superhero deflects bullets. All fluff and […]
When I started flying high-performance aircraft at high altitudes many years ago, my friend and I decided to conduct a test. Above 12,500 feet, you’re required to have oxygen (OK nitpicker pilots … between 12,500 feet and 14,000 feet, you can noodle around for half an hour without it). We took a non-pressurized airplane to […]
“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once.” — Albert Einstein In business, we talk a great deal about “return.” Return on investment, cash-on-cash return, return on equity and return on invested capital are a few. However, whether you’re a CEO or a sales rep, perhaps your most important measurement […]
The business wisdom of Will Rogers A friend sent me an e-mail the other day with some quotes from Will Rogers. My father-in-law used to say things like, “Let’s mount up!” when we were supposed to get in the car to go to dinner, so it struck a chord with me. After rereading it today […]
I was recently in a hotel conference center and watched several firefighters rush to the aid of a woman who had blacked out. Firefighters deserve everyone’s adoration. Firefighting in business, however, can become an addiction that deserves little respect, as it is self-absorbed behavior that rewards a lack of planning. Remember the movie Backdraft where […]
Some time ago I was on the board of an organization that had a very affable, bright leader who was loved by his team. However, during a particularly challenging period, he was seen by the board as non-strategic and in over his head. As one board member remarked, “He doesn’t lead; he presides”. Since that […]
I love getting older! Okay, not all elements. My knees hurt from the five surgeries I have had and I sometimes forget my wife’s name—but age brings experience and perhaps a reduced level of concern about what others think. I don’t blush as often as I used to when I say, “I don’t know.” I […]