Find Your Legacy
Breakfast with Cicero
Well once again I have been blown away by a small early morning experience at the 24th St. Café in Bakersfield California. In a recent essay, I talked about lessons of business and life that I learned from a conversation with a funeral home director at the counter of this same restaurant (http://ift.tt/2oLhLb8) and now […]
E/S/S: a model for decision-making and growth
I have had the fortune to know a number of very talented executives who have build significant careers in the non-profit sector. Ranging from global broad ranging foundations, to national health issue/disease state organizations, to local groups working on providing food to those in need, I have been inspired by the work of these individuals […]
Lessons from a Bakersfield Funeral Home
Its amazing at times to reflect on all the unusual/unexpected/unplanned and unintended sources of learning and inspiration that have been part of my life’s journey! From errant cabdrivers, fellow airline passengers, an aging “dancer,” and literally the list of unusual sources of inspiration go on and on! Once again, my list of “sources of inspiration” […]
John Lewis is a national treasure!
I am outraged today to see the online comments from the president-elect pertaining to our congressional representative John Lewis. I have the pleasure of living in the 5th congressional district of Georgia and have had John Lewis as our member of the House of Representatives for the past 20+ years. A few immediate points of […]
The Crease of Dawn Redux: a Vermont Christmas Morning
It has now been almost eight years and more than 150 essays since I started writing this blog. One of the earliest essays was also titled “The Crease of Dawn”, commenting on an amazing sunrise on a Florida beach. (See more at: http://ift.tt/2hehCoi) Today I share a story and a wonderful picture from another dawn, […]
Bubbie’s “Mensch”
As we get a little closer to the holiday season, after a year filled with elections, dissonance, work and travel, I have found myself thinking about memories of family and friends from years gone by. This sweet story is from a wonderful and memorable holiday dinner with the most charming of women, “Bubbie” Stone. I […]
An aerial view of hope, opportunity, and thanksgiving
Last week I had the chance to fly up to NY for a quick business meeting. While a bit of a last second trip, I did indeed have a great exit row, window seat on Delta on the flight up to La Guardia. As we boarded the flight, I dove into the pre-work for my […]
The “Work” of Hope
Like so many individuals across the world I was stunned by the election results of Tuesday night. It is probably true that regardless of which side of this campaign you might have been on, the results of the 2016 Presidential election are stunning and historic. For some, their candidate surprisingly won the electoral vote and […]
“A voice of calm, with a bias for action”
First and foremost this is an essay about listening. Listening to associates, friends, and colleagues who have known you for a while and whose council we should learn to trust more and more over time. I have the pleasure/honor to have a number of colleagues and friends whom I have worked with over the past […]
Two Opposing Truths
One simple yet challenging idea that I DID NOT learn in business school has to do with the challenging reality of balancing “two opposing truths” in business at the same moment. How to drive growth AND cut costs? How to inspire the team AND improve productivity simultaneously? Etc. The idea of dealing with moments when […]