How do you know if you’ve accomplished something today? What should you measure if you didn’t deliver something measurable? In an era of dashboards, metrics, and key performance indicators, should every ounce of your energy be directed at hitting near term deliverables? In studying the behavior of the most successful people, I’ve noticed that they […]
Read MoreAs we search for new approaches to our biggest challenges, we often seek the latest-and-greatest tactics from the hottest, cutting-edge research on performance. It feels like there’s a brand new management approach, tech tool, or leadership style on a daily basis. Yet sometimes we can progress even more by learning from those before us. […]
Read MoreImagine that a loved one is on the operating table in a life-or-death situation. You and your family gather in the waiting room waiting with bated breath for the doctor to communicate the results of this life-saving procedure. When the surgeon finally arrives, you don’t want to hear about how hard she and her team labored. You don’t want to hear that she “gave […]
Read MoreIn our world of quick fixes and success hacks, there’s an old school approach that wins consistently. Think of it as the most potent high-octane formula to fuel your relationships, career trajectory, client satisfaction, investor relations, and company’s growth. A simple phrase that’s easy to say, but may require a mindset shift to fully embrace: […]
Read MoreWhy does one small tribe in Kenya – the Kalenjin – produce a statistically impossible percentage of the world’s fastest distance runners? According to David Epstein, Senior Editor at Sports Illustrated, “There are 17 American men in history who have run under 2:10 in the marathon, while there were 32 Kalenjin who did it in October of 2011.” This one […]
Read MoreWe’ve all done it. As you open an envelope or turn the pages of a magazine, the paper’s edge slices into your finger, causing you to wince with pain. While not requiring emergency medical care, a nasty paper cut stings more than a trip to the dentist on Tax Day. Yet these small wounds, if […]
Read MoreWe all come across two types of companies (and individuals) in our lives. First there are those that blend in with the others, swim in a sea of sameness, and personify mediocrity. They don’t like to stand out, prefer the safety of the masses, and seek out a profit (or a living). And then there […]
Read MoreIn our turbulent business climate, we all seek new pathways to growth and success. Yes, winning can be elusive in these times of dizzying speed and ruthless competition. Companies like Tesla, Amazon, Netflix and JetBlue soar while their respective counterparts – Oldsmobile, Borders Books, Blockbuster, and PanAm – are merely tombstones in the business graveyard. […]
Read MoreIn these highly competitive times, it’s become increasingly difficult to hold onto customers. Retention is tough, and client growth is even harder with fickle clients and fleeting loyalty. It turns out, building deep, loyal, profitable client relationships isn’t as complex as the DaVinci code. In fact, these three simple hacks can boost your client relationships […]
Read MoreWhether you run a 2-person graphic design shop or a 200,000 global manufacturing conglomerate, you’re likely craving growth. We all do. Expansion fuels profits, serves customers, drives share price, and impacts the world. Through building five companies of my own and helping at least 100 others scale, I’ve seen two repeating growth traps that have […]
Read MoreWe all face incredible challenges in our lives. Difficult people. Ruthless competition. Time constraints. But so many of us succumb to an imaginary and impotent demon that strangles our potential and restricts our progress. This fictitious monster is called simply … the past. While the past can be a great teacher, it can also shackle […]
Read MoreThe news of a 69-year-old physician being forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight has shocked the world and captured headlines around the clock. Millions have now watched passenger-taken videos of Dr. David Dao being brutally dragged off the plane to make room for United employees. His frequent flyer bonus was a broken nose, concussion, […]
Read MoreWe’ve all experienced déjà vu, looking at an unfamiliar situation and feeling like we’ve seen it before. It turns out the most successful and creative people flip this around and consciously practice Vu Déjà – looking at a familiar situation as if you’ve never seen it before. Our brains are hardwired to play a devious […]
Read MoreMillions of people love sushi. Even more love donuts. What would happen if you combined these two highly coveted delights? You guessed it… the mind-blowing Sushi Donut. This new concoction deviates from the traditional straight-cylinder sushi roll by being formed into a connected ring like a donut. Don’t worry, it’s made of rice instead of […]
Read MoreBefore I took the stage to deliver a keynote at a recent event, the CEO of my host company addressed the 1,200 distribution partners, employees, and customers in the audience. In his remarks, he reinforced his company’s commitment to having a positive integer for what he described as their Say-Do Ratio. If the ratio was […]
Read MoreYour arm cramps as you hold your hot, loud hairdryer that blasts your mop top to a frizzy dryness. Same routine, just another day. The hair dryer has been pretty much the same for decades. You really don’t care which brand you use, as these commodities are all nearly identical. Enter James Dyson, the grandmaster […]
Read MoreLousy weather left the plane full of passengers stranded on a cold runway. Air Canada had to reroute the flight for safety, leaving passengers frustrated, late, and uncomfortable. As the plane languished on an open runway, passengers became restless… and hungry. The peanuts were gone and airline catering was closed. When demands for food intensified, […]
Read MoreA brilliant flash of light, thunder, and color illuminates the dark, quiet sky. Your heart skips a beat as the show begins, instantly grabbing your attention and transporting you back to 6th grade when you got to stay up late and watch the fireworks with your Aunt Nancy. As the show continues, it settles into […]
Read MoreAs a guitar player for over 50 years, Andy Mooney leapt at the chance to take the helm of the legendary Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Setting the standard of guitar innovation with breakthrough models like the Stratocaster, the Telecaster, and the Mustang, the company had fallen on harder times. Silo thinking, a flat industry, and […]
Read MoreUnder the neon-lit skies of Las Vegas, Denny Marie Post just got inked. Her new tattoo was skillfully applied to her left shoulder while friends cheered her on. But unlike a typical college-age stunt that one lives to regret, the 59-year-old Post was actually delivering on a business commitment in her role as CEO of […]
Read MoreThe allure of the corner office has captured the imagination of nearly everyone in the working world. A promotion to the next level – or the level after that – would be a gigantic win, both personally and professional. You’d be able to create a bigger impact, serve and lead more, and leave your fingerprints […]
Read MoreHackers are a global fascination, with cybercrime representing our single biggest threat to national security. Their exploits are front-page news, and may have impacted the outcome of our recent election. But putting their sinister motives aside, the dark, underworld of hackers contains some of the most creative minds on the planet. What if hacking approaches could […]
Read MoreAvery’s Beverages – a company founded in a red Connecticut barn over 100 years ago – was struggling. When Sherman Avery started making handcrafted soda back in 1904, he wasn’t facing the crushing competitive pressure of industry giants like Coca-Cola and Pepsi. The root beer and ginger ale he made didn’t need a celebrity endorsement […]
Read MoreAs football teams chase championship glory in their post-season battles, they practice diligently to deliver peak performance. Coaches help players break the game down into specific components, developing strategies for offense and defense, the ground game and the passing game, kickoffs and returns. When a team arrives within striking distance of the goal line, traditional […]
Read MoreWilly Wonka: “Going up? This is an ingenious invention that I call the Wonkavator.” Grandpa Joe: “It looks like an elevator to me.” Willy Wonka: “Yes but elevators only go up. The Wonkavator goes up, down, sideways and every other which way you can think of going.” Charlie Bucket: “Wow.” When Willy Wonka and the […]
Read MoreExcited to arrive in Hong Kong, your enthusiasm quickly wanes. Your eyes and lungs burn from the smog, as air pollution levels have reached record highs in this cosmopolitan city. The dense haze lingers in the air as children crave to see a rare blue sky. First looking for fresh ways to market their goods, […]
Read MoreKevin Bull was facing the challenge of his life. A successful stock trader and entrepreneur, Bull trained hard and finally made it as a walk-on to pursue his dream: to compete on national TV as an American Ninja Warrior. The other contestants were more athletic, more experienced, and better prepared. The odds were simply not […]
Read MoreYou wake up in a fog and brush your teeth while still half asleep. Dread fills you as you prepare for another soul-crushing day. As you sit in endless traffic, anxiety consumes your thoughts. You worry about that upcoming meeting and anticipate the disappointment on your son’s face when you’ll arrive late to his ballgame […]
Read MoreitualsIn the coastal town of Nanaimo, Canada, police are issuing tickets at an astonishing rate. The tickets are not recognizing the wrongdoing of rule breakers, however. Instead, “Positivity Tickets” are being issued to kids caught in the act of doing something good such as wearing a bike helmet, doing their homework, or crossing the street […]
Read MoreTypically, leaders build teams based on job title: CTO, CMO, VP of Engineering, Director of Sales. While functional leadership roles must certainly be filled, slotting talented people into an org chart will never unlock your company’s fullest potential. By thinking of your team only in terms of roles, you risk building a group with homogeneous […]
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