Inspiring thoughts on innovation, growth, leadership, creativity, transformation, and disruption. Quick reads, powerful results.
As cash registers speedily ring up #2 pencils and file folders, the back to school craze is officially in high gear. Last minute haircuts, wardrobe enhancements, and new lunchboxes help ring in this time of year when students prepare to learn. New courses, new teachers, new classrooms, new possibility. The back to school ritual signifies […]
Read More“And the award goes to… the most well-rounded person!” Said no one, ever. Achieving modestly in many areas may be what our middle school principal suggested, but it’s no way to become a history-maker. We’re led to believe we should be ‘pretty good’ at a lot of different things, but the truth is that the […]
Read MoreThe devastating fires in California remind us of our environment’s fragility and how little we can sometimes do to curtail the inevitable. They are also a symbol of power and momentum. In fact, there are few things in nature as mighty as the white-hot intensity of a forest fire. Once they gain momentum, these vicious […]
Read MoreInnovation is the hottest business buzzword, evoking images of bold tech startups taking dangerous risks to upend the sleeping giants. But what if you are the giant, or you’re in a traditional business such as hospital linens, automotive parts, or commercial food service? Can mature industries and businesses innovate forward, or is creativity only relegated […]
Read MoreHaving built five startups from scratch and invested in or advised around 100 others, you could say I’m in the business of “entrepreneurship.” But I don’t think that’s the right term anymore. At all. The word entrepreneur was borrowed from the French language and implies an aristocratic polish. It conjures up images of backroom deals […]
Read MoreSteve Jobs famously said that he made the icons on the iPhone so beautiful, customers would want to “lick the screen.” By elevating a utility item (the phone) to a piece of art, history was made and cult-like loyalty was created. Reflecting on the “lick the screen” quote, I realize how he raised the stakes […]
Read MoreThe concept of innovation can be completely overwhelming. Images of Edison inventing the light bulb or Henry Ford revolutionizing manufacturing push the idea of innovation outside the reach of us mere mortals. If we define innovation as a gigantic, change-the-world, cure-cancer type breakthrough, the concept is relegated to a select few: billionaires, mad scientist inventors, […]
Read MoreIf you’re looking to buy a new knife, the choices seem limitless. A 21-function Swiss Army knife will run you around $39 bucks, less than $2 per blade. The all-purpose tool is versatile, but none of the functions represent the highest in quality. On the other end of the spectrum, there’s the Ao-Ko Mizu Honyaki […]
Read MoreWe’ve all been in business meetings that drone on endlessly, only to be followed with zero change, action or results. Silver-tongued bosses spouting platitudes rarely translates into meaningful transformation. In fact, many of us have become desensitized to big new ideas, because in our previous experiences, few concepts actually come to fruition. If you’re frustrated […]
Read MoreFrom Cabinet Maker to Cyber-Security Analyst, we each have the title on our business card. When asked what you do for a living at a cocktail party, the stock answer is your craft or profession. Lawyer, machine tool operator, insurance adjustor, or barista, we often identify with that primary title. Yet in this highly competitive […]
Read More“Do more with less.” “Boost your productive output.” “Get more done, faster!” Messages around efficiency, productivity, and hard work are drilled into us from the first day of our careers. Today, these themes pound in our heads, originating from bosses, shareholders, suppliers, customers, colleagues, and family members. Most of us have internalized the demands, hearing […]
Read MoreThe game of Monopoly, a legendary cash cow for Hasbro, has remained relevant and compelling for over 100 years by evolving with the times. Since the first game became a hit in 1903, the company has released specialty editions including Pokémon Edition, Mega Monopoly, Electronic Banking, Star Wars, the Simpsons, and Monopoly Millionaire. With so […]
Read MoreIf you happen to be at a live sporting event and notice the iconic Goodyear Blimp flying overhead, you know that the game you’re watching matters. The blimp doesn’t fly over mediocre games played by mediocre teams. Instead, it soars exclusively over those driven to perform at the highest levels, focusing on teams and individuals […]
Read MoreA fire at a key supplier has created a blaze of aggravation for the iconic automaker, Ford Motor Company. Ford made international headlines this week as the company announced a complete production shutdown of the bestselling vehicle in America, the F-150, due to a lack of mission-critical parts from a single supplier. As thousands of […]
Read MoreAs you hand the keys to your baby (also known as your precious car) over to the immaculate mechanic, your heart sinks. You recoil as you see the starched white shirt, the manicured hands, and the neatly pressed pants. While he’s a poster-child for effective grooming habits, you worry if he really possesses the hands-on […]
Read MoreNorth Korea, a country with whom we were recently on the brink of nuclear war, has just singed a peace accord with their nemesis (and our ally), South Korea. The two countries concluded a historic peace summit to denuclearize the peninsula and even explore unification of the two previously enemy states. Things that we […]
Read MoreAquaMan has the unique ability to control and communicate with sea creatures. Invisible Woman can – you guessed it – become invisible at will. In fact, each of the superheroes we grew up with and admire have one or more superpowers. Turns out that most highly successful people – both mythical and real – have their […]
Read MoreThat crunching thud is all too familiar. You start swearing like a sailor when your car dips into yet another infuriating pothole. Will this one cause another blown tire? Did you just break an axle? Nuisances of epic proportion, potholes are a global problem. $3 billion is wasted annually in the U.S. repairing pothole damage […]
Read MoreEndangered Species 3079. That’s the number of animals categorized as ‘very likely to become extinct’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. From the blue-throated macaw to the hawksbill sea turtle, these creatures may cease to exist in the very near future. Too bad the IUCN doesn’t create a similar list for companies, or […]
Read MoreVisually, we can see the difference between grainy amateur photography and the vibrant work of a professional. There’s a big leap in skill and performance between a minor-league ballplayer and someone who makes it onto an MLB team. The same is true in business, where the true professionals capture the lion’s share of rewards while […]
Read More“I don’t want to grow up, I’m a Toys ‘R’ Us Kid…” Remembering the first few bars of that catchy jingle brings me back to the dreamlike wonder of exploring what seemed liked endless aisles of enchanting toys. As kids, we were transported to a magical place, filled with possibility. It didn’t matter if you […]
Read MoreWhen Texas realtor Ellis Young wasn’t getting any traction on one of his home listings, he changed the For Sale sign to include the phrase “NOT HAUNTED.” Traffic immediately picked up, but some neighbors complained. Wanting to play nice with others, he then changed the sign to read “GLUTEN-FREE HOME.” As you can imagine, traffic increased […]
Read MoreWhen you take a hard look at your compensation, you probably focus on the tangible rewards. You total up your base pay, bonus, commission, stock options, benefits, and perks to calculate your total comp. But I’d suggest there’s another element to compensation that is one of the most important components of all… your Learning Income. If […]
Read MoreLong before Law and Order, Lieutenant Columbo was the detective that TV fans adored. Running from 1968-1990, millions hung on the edge of their seats waiting for each Columbo mystery to be solved by our lovable hero. Columbo’s secret of cracking the case had nothing to do with fancy DNA tests, web searches, or advanced surveillance. […]
Read MoreFor most of us, the idea of a funeral is rather morbid. The somber gathering reminds us of our own mortality and vividly frames the notion that ‘nothing lasts forever.’ As compassionate human beings, we do whatever’s possible to extend human life, a core tenant of a civilized society. But in the business world, […]
Read MoreAs the pace of innovation continues to accelerate, bold new creations will pave the way for breakthrough success while disrupting the laggards who cling to the past. We all see the obvious examples of innovators such as Apple, Netflix, and Uber. But I love finding and learning from those lesser-known stories of business artists who […]
Read MoreIn an important battle to defeat the evil Lex Luthor, you can’t imagine Superman sitting it out because he’s feeling too drained. Wonder Woman wouldn’t cut short an epic battle for justice because she already gave all her energy at the office. Yes, our heroes may have special powers, but the thing we admire most […]
Read MoreIn emergency situations, the brave men and woman who race to the scene save lives. They respond with burning urgency, doing everything possible to get to the job fast. Realizing that every second counts, they employ systems, processes, and training regimens to reach their duties with no delays or distractions. Don’t you wish your […]
Read MoreA recent employer asked job seekers the following riddle: “You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night. You pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus: 1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die. 2. An old friend who once […]
Read MoreEach January, millions of people resolve to a slew of lofty commitments. We resolve to save more, eat less, improve our relationships, and hit the gym. The idealistic goals span from fitness to career; family to community. Yet the vast majority of these well-intentioned targets are abandoned early, only to be revived for a short […]
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