The following is an excerpt from my book, “Never Kick a Cow Chip On A Hot Day” (2016) Morgan James Publishing. Most executives squander too much of their most valuable resource, their time.Here is how to get a good return on that asset. Getting a Return On Your Time The $59 time-management seminar I went […]
The following is an excerpt from my book, “Never Kick a Cow Chip On A Hot Day” (2016) Morgan James Publishing. The final chapter is titled, “Balancing For Big Shots.” Here is part of my answer to the question, “How do I balance my life as an executive?” Selfishness Has A Bad Rep… Did you […]
“Every CEO has an open flank.” —Ram Charan No one is great at everything. CEOs who think they must know everything (or think they do know everything!) are on a fast track to disappointment and failure. Most CEOs know this and plug the hole by gaining knowledge or hiring to fill in for their weakness—if […]
Brevity has its limitations Simplifying messages is a talent that’s extremely valuable in an executive. Framing issues quickly and getting to the essence is a skill that comes more naturally to some than others. But it’s valuable and learnable, whether you’re an executive or on your first job. Brevity, however, has its limitations. “Go, team, […]
There’s always something wrong. Perfection doesn’t exist in business. Perhaps it doesn’t exist anywhere, but there are some spots on the planet that might be close: Glacier National Park, the Tetons, chairlift KT-22 at Squaw Valley or a 20-inch cutthroat trout on the first cast. Business, however, is a system, and what’s most important is […]
A recent annual ski trip with guys I worked with years ago produced many interesting conversations. But the one right before we boarded airplanes to head off to homes in three states was particularly interesting. We were all still engaged in business in some capacity. We talked, however, about how a couple of talented people […]
What do your customers hate about you? If you answer that and find a solution, you’ll likely grow. Some time ago a story about Elon Musk caught my eye. He saw that there was a complaint on social media about people leaving their Tesla cars at the charging stations longer than required, causing new arrivals […]
Judge a Man by His Questions “It is easier to judge the mind of a man by his questions rather than his answers.” —Pierre-Marc-Gaston de Lévis Think about your day yesterday. What questions did you face? If you’re like many busy executives, they were probably along the lines of: -Did the Western division get its […]
Are you prepared to lead with just your own skills? Three days after Christmas the temperature was slightly above freezing. After spending the bulk of the previous three days in the house, I went for a bike ride. On my previous ride, my bike computer showed a low-battery symbol. Sure enough, it was dead by […]
“Freedom from the desire for an answer is essential to the understanding of a problem.” —Jiddu Krishnamurti, Indian philosopher I had an epiphany a dozen years ago when I transitioned from CEO to consultant and coach. I’d spent the previous 25 years looking for answers — the faster the better! Ready, fire, aim! Provide clarity […]