Remember that first day at your new job? You spoke to friends and family the night before; you were brimming with excitement. You could hardly sleep, and when the morning alarm rang, you jumped out of bed with enthusiasm. It felt like a sunny day, even though the clouds were out, and you practically skipped … Read more
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What Was: “That’s the way we’ve always done things.” What Is: “Don’t rock the apple cart; if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” What’s Next: “I wonder what would happen if we took an entirely different route…” When you think about your own organization, what percentage of energy, focus, and brainpower do you spend in … Read more
During the time of British rule of colonial India, the government became concerned that too many deadly cobras roamed the streets. The leaders came up with what appeared to be a clever solution – pay a bounty to any citizen who brought forward a dead cobra. The “cash for snakes” program worked like a charm for a … Read more
One day while living in Nairobi, Kenya, Kenton Lee found himself walking to church next to a young girl. He noticed that, despite their lengthy walk, her shoes were far too small for her little, but growing, feet. He felt sorry for her and wondered why such injustice existed. To him, shoes seemed like such … Read more
“It ain’t about the notes you play,” legendary trumpeter Miles Davis once proclaimed. “It’s about the notes you don’t play.” In the art world, the unused space around a painted object is known as white space and is considered equally important to the image itself. The open space frames the work, providing the necessary contrast to allow … Read more
When you study the best-of-the-best, they share a common trait across industries, age, geography, gender, and skill set. Top performers are lifetime learners. Instead of hanging up their studies upon completion of formal education, they embrace a love of learning for the long run. They devour books, lectures, and workshops to improve their game. This … Read more
A map is certainly a handy tool to help you reach your destination. When the map is accurate, you can sit back and follow your course, no thinking required. Your brain can really take a vacation if you’re using the GPS guidance in your car or from Google Maps. When the system tells you exactly … Read more
While studying jazz composition and performance at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, a weathered professor taught me a valuable lesson. With the wisdom of a Tibetan Monk, this sage jazz cat whispered to me with understated confidence, “What you learn today, you’ll play in six months.” He was referring to an idea gestation … Read more
In just 60 seconds, Taylor Swift sold out all 18,200 seats at Madison Square Garden. Her music, and the experience she creates for fans, is irresistible. Fistfights have broken out as eager customers battle it out to get a pair of Nike limited editions kicks. In contrast, think about the cover band in the lobby … Read more
My flight landed in Norfolk, Va., 45 minutes late. On that bright and sunny day, I’m told by the airline it was “Due to a delay from the inbound aircraft.” Oh thanks, that made me feel much better. Anyway, I had a car service scheduled to meet me at baggage claim. They knew I was … Read more