Good. Better. Best.
We pause at this time each year in the United States to celebrate Labor Day. It was first celebrated in New York in 1882 as a tribute to the prosperity and well-being of our country after what was certainly a long summer of agricultural and manufacturing labors. While most of you reading this haven’t worked the field this past summer, we can all use this occasion to reflect on our own personal labors, take stock of how we’ve spent our time and energy over the past year, and to perhaps look ahead to what’s next. Read more...
Widgets or Gizmos?
I recently got to revisit my youth and participate in a good old-fashioned field day. From the basketball lay up competition to the rubber chicken slingshot, the day was full of all manner of competitions. But nowhere did my team need to work together more than during the three-legged race. If you’ve ever had your leg tied to someone else’s, you understand the importance of moving in the same direction as your partner. Read more...
The Winning Team
Even if you’re not typically a soccer fan, it’s hard not to catch a bit of soccer fever during the FIFA World Cup. The composition of a soccer team demonstrates the first of the key mindsets of effective collaboration. If an entire team was comprised of the most accurate strikers, they’d score a lot of goals, but wouldn’t be able to defend their own goal against the opposing team. Read more...
1 + 1 = MORE
The prominence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is gaining increasing attention as computing power, speed and size continue to advance. “AI” relates to computers simulating intelligent human behavior in order to reach successful outcomes. By computing standards 1 + 1 = 2, but I would argue that there are times when the more intelligent answer to 1 + 1, is something much greater than 2. Read more...
Busy is the New Fine
You may have noticed that you haven’t heard from us in awhile. We’ve been busy. I’ve been busy. I am always busy. Recently, I read the book More or Less by Jeff Shinabarger and was challenged by his chapter on our use of time, along with the rest of the book. Read more...
Reruns
Do you ever, at times, feel like you’re living a rerun of your life? Do you find yourself learning the same lesson over and over again, in a slightly different way? Hopefully you’re a better student of life than I am, but I’m guessing that I am not alone.
Almost a year ago, I wrote about how I struggled to learn the value of failure as a means to growth through the Design Thinking process (read the original post). Read more...
Disney or Bust!
Our team is in Orlando with a client this week, and getting off the plane, we couldn’t miss the fact that we are near Disney World.
If you’ve spent any time with us, you probably remember that Disney is our metaphor for our ultimate destination in our leadership journey. It’s the answer to questions like “who do you want to be?” Read more...
A Challenge to Lead
I just got off the phone with one of our favorite clients, Stuart Gulley, the president of Woodward Academy (an independent prep-school in Atlanta). He shared a story with me about a challenge he and the whole community faced recently. His story brought tears to my eyes (all be they manly tears) and I wanted to share it with you. Read more...
Gold Stars
Gold stars—small, shiny, colorful symbols of achievement used to motivate children for years. Whether it is for good behavior, completing chores or doing well on an assignment, gold stars are valuable and worth showing off. But what if gold stars weren’t just for children?
As we wrap up the first month of this new year, I’ll admit that I’m working hard to become healthier in 2014. Read more...
Commitments and Confessions
It’s January 8. One week after New Year’s Day. Confession time—how many of you have already broken your New Year’s Resolutions? How many of you knew that you would break it, so you didn’t even bother to make one? Research shows that of the 45% of Americans that make resolutions:
- 25% give up by the first week (TODAY!)
