In business (and life), you are constantly faced with challenges that seem insurmountable. Your inner voice says “it can’t be done,” and you may give up before even trying. The thing is – obstacles can be shattered with a creative solution if you take the time and effort to approach them in an unconventional way. … Read more

Little did she know, Justine Sacco’s entire career was ruined while she flew from London to South Africa this past Friday.  Unfortunately, these were self-inflicted wounds that were set in motion by a single tweet she made prior to boarding the flight.  With horrible judgment, zero sensitivity, and a bigoted perspective, she tweeted: “Going to Africa. Hope … Read more

Convicted felons who finish their sentences often struggle on the outside just like they did behind bars. Often lacking skills, support and education, many go back to a life of crime, with nearly 70% returning to prison (44% within one year of their release). But some — including many drug dealers — have exhibited strong … Read more

The French Laundry in Napa Valley, California is consistently ranked among the top five restaurants in the country.  Celebrity chef Thomas Keller spares no expense in making the food and dining experience pure perfection.  Even with a price tag of up to $500 per person, this premier bistro is sold out every single night. The … Read more

Human comfort has become a booming industry and a way of life in modern society. The push of a button or the pop of a pill can pacify nearly any discomfort. Our cars are ergonomically designed, often including a duplicate set of controls on the steering wheel to avoid the agony of leaning over 14 … Read more

Sara had enough of her dead end job.  After two abysmal attempts at the LSAT exam for law school admittance and a miserable three-month stint at Disney World, she responded to a billboard ad to sell office equipment and supplies.  After landing the gig, she was handed the Yellow Pages and instructed to sell $20,000 … Read more

Paul Glomski, the CEO and co-founder of mobile app developer Detroit Labs, is a scrappy leader.  He is laser-focused on driving meaningful results in his business and realizing the company’s full potential.  As a result, he’s unwilling to get tripped up when things don’t go according to plan. The entrepreneurial process is often mischaracterized as … Read more

Aquaman has the unique ability to communicate with sea creatures. Comic book heroine Invisible Woman can — you guessed it — become invisible at will. In fact, each of the superheroes we grew up with and admired have one or more superpowers. Turns out that most highly successful people — both mythical and real — … Read more

Business people waste a lot of time worrying about spending money.  By conserving cash, the thinking goes, they are protecting their most precious and scarce resource.  As an investor in startup companies, I see this pattern play out again and again: leaders that invest too slowly in growth, believing this is a safe approach. In … Read more

David Lee Roth, the legendary lead singer for the band Van Halen, was the poster child for 1980s excess. He was chastised in the news media for demanding only non-brown M&M’s in his dressing room, the obvious sign of a narcissistic diva. While his ego may have been the size of the stadiums he rocked, … Read more