In our quest for achievement, it’s easy to get caught up in complexity. We often think something has to be difficult in order for it to drive real progress. But then something so simple comes along that drives the most profound advancement in our careers, companies, and even in communities. I’ve discovered three dead-simple questions […]
Read MoreIn the 1967 Beatles classic, McCartney and Lennon sang a persistent mantra: “It’s getting better all the time.” They contrasted life’s problems, including bad teachers in school, general dissatisfaction and anger, and bumpy relationships, with the idea of continuous improvement as their prescriptive cure. As we look into the future, most of us are hungry […]
Read MoreHere in Detroit, the arctic weather has delivered one giant mess on the roads. Colleagues of mine have reported downtown commutes as long as 2.5 hours for a ride that would normally take 35 minutes. The seemingly endless traffic causes mere frustration for the patient person and outright rage for the flustered. While waiting at […]
Read MoreThere’s a good chance you have at least one person in your life that does more harm than good. Perhaps it’s a boss that criticizes your every move. Maybe it’s a competitor, client, or colleague dead set on crushing your spirit. It could even be a parent or spouse that cuts you down rather than boosts you up. […]
Read MoreIn less than a month, the two best football teams in the nation will square off for the biggest sporting event of the year. With an expected audience of over 100 million people, this is the pinnacle career moment of these world-class athletes. Their chance to shine. To win. To make history. To reach the […]
Read MoreIn high school chemistry, we learned that adding several new chemicals to an existing one could create a dramatic effect. In fact, the surrounding substances can literally change the original into a completely new form of matter. The same holds true for you and those you surround yourself with. If you regularly hang out with […]
Read MoreIn 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 MoreLittle 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 MoreConvicted 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 MoreThe 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 MoreHuman 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 MorePaul 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 MoreAquaman 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 MoreBusiness 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 MoreDavid 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 MoreScientists have long been enamored with the concept of chain reactions. A chemical change, for example, triggers a change in a nearby chemical, which in turn triggers change in other surrounding forms. In the case of a drop of water radiating out to impact an entire still lake, a single action can create far-reaching impact. […]
Read MoreThe football coaches at Utah’s Union High School decided to make a bold decision. With reports of poor grades, cyber-bullying, and attitude problems, the coaches were unwilling to support the declining behavior of their team. So right before the big homecoming game, they decided to suspend the entire group. Every team member was instructed to […]
Read MoreClassical musicians possess a number of enviable qualities such as discipline, precision and attention to detail. In a symphonic setting, they play the notes from the musical score with incredible accuracy, commanding their instruments to play precisely what the composer has documented. Intricate details such as attack and release, volume, tempo and vibrato are carefully […]
Read MoreLearning from others who have succeeded before you can be a difference-maker in your own pursuits. In fact, strong advisers have played a key role in the achievement of nearly every celebrated leader. The challenge is, how do you connect with the best mentors and persuade them to contribute to your success? I’ve observed that […]
Read MoreI never had a dog growing up. In fact, for years I didn’t really understand what all the fuss was about. Pets seemed messy, expensive and illogical. And then, without planning or consideration, I came across a puppy that was irresistible. So in mid-July, a new member was added to the family — da Vinci. […]
Read MoreThere appears to be a massive achievement gap in our country. The large number of people that have a big goal to accomplish dwarfs the small number of those that actually achieve it. Working with many startups and high-performance leaders over the years, I’ve observed a pattern that is followed by those who rack up […]
Read MoreMost people who are struggling and want to improve their situation aren’t lacking vision. While they may not know the exact path forward, they have clarity on what a better career, family, or community might look like. It’s easy to imagine a job where you get to contribute your best work, have the respect of […]
Read MorePlan Z … Chances are your parents instructed you to always have Plan B. We all are familiar with this concept — a fallback plan in the event things go very wrong. The notion is so widespread that it’s even the name of a morning-after contraceptive pill. Most people first focus on their careers, which […]
Read MoreThe dog ate my homework … Jan was furious she didn’t get that big promotion. “I deserved it,” she complained. “The boss is a jerk. My company doesn’t get it. The person who got the promotion instead of me is a suck-up.” When life doesn’t go the way we hope, it’s easy to attribute blame […]
Read More“I could never do that.” “This is impossible.” “There are a million obstacles.” When facing a serious challenge, it’s easy to amplify the hurdles in our minds, which in turn makes the problems seem insurmountable. Our fearful inner voice has a way of exaggerating the barriers and then talking us out of even trying. The […]
Read More“Our greatest strength is our people,” the CEO boldly proclaims at an all-company meeting. “We treat each other with respect and our culture enables creativity.” These encouraging sound bites are rendered impotent, however, when that same CEO barks orders and scolds her staff in that afternoon’s leadership meeting. Most leaders know what to say. They […]
Read More“I have an idea” vs. “I have a concern.” In meetings, what do you suppose the ratio is at your company between these two phrases? What do you think the ratio was five years ago? What is the ratio at Google? Facebook? Quicken Loans? It really got me thinking about where we are applying our […]
Read MoreThe sneeze of your seatmate on an airplane sends a bolt of disgust through your mind. “Now I’m going to catch what this bozo has!” From popping endless vitamins to dousing with hand sanitizer, we go to great lengths to protect against germs. We don’t want to catch what someone else has. Or do we? […]
Read MoreThink about how much time you spend fretting about what might happen. Those deer-in-the-headlights moments are not only agonizing but they are profoundly unproductive. With each minute you spend in a state of worry, you’re robbing yourself of the opportunity to contribute to your own success and the world around you. The funny thing about […]
Read MoreWith mounting pressure and competitive tension, you may be seduced into sloppy leadership patterns that can ultimately hurt your business. In these challenging times, thoughtful leadership has never been more important and it is your responsibility to continuously refine your game. Here are seven common traps to avoid: 1. Violate trust. This goes beyond straightforward lying, […]
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