Find Your Legacy
A brisk and inspiring morning at Arlington Cemetery
Last week I had the chance to be in Baltimore and spend a day or so with my dear friend and longtime work partner Cathy. We have known each other, and have worked closely together, for more than 20 years and if I do say so myself, Cathy and I make a pretty darn good […]
Plan “the How” not just “ the What”
It may seem like a simple idea, but I have often been faced by the reality of great (or even just “good”) ideas failing in the marketplace because of a lack of implementation planning. Too often most of the time is focused in the planning stages of a business on the “whats”; “what” has worked […]
Inflection Points of a business… focus on fewer things to insure success!
Over the past year, I have had the pleasure to work with more than a dozen different clients in my consulting practice, ranging from small technology and food startups all the way to global biotech leaders. While the work is extremely varied, it has been fascinating to see a number of “common denominators” that I […]
First ask “why” … then do it 5 times!
Its interesting how many times I see senior executives (and maybe a few consultants like yours truly) feel like they need to have the answers … all of the answers … and they always have to be right. As crazy as that sounds, think about your own situations. Consider how many times you have been […]
A tearful morning and an inspiring walk
Waking up this morning, October 2, 2017 I was floored by the reports of the mass shooting last night in Las Vegas. “Mass shooting”, “lone gunman,” fifty dead,” automatic weapon,” “innocent concert goers,” high capacity clips,” senseless violence,” and may other headlines filled the news this morning. Filled with shock, anger and deep sadness I […]
Leading in Uncertain Times
Over the past few years I have had the chance to work with a wide variety of executives across a range of companies and industries. Ranging in size from an emerging technology startup to a multi-billion $ global bio-tech leader, each of the engagements have been unique and challenging experiences, each with unique situations/dynamics that […]
“Grit”… a Foundation for Leaders
Almost three years ago, I wrote an essay titled “The Importance of Grit”(http://ift.tt/2vMct2q) , where I discussed the work that Professor Angela Duckworth had done on the role of “Grit” vs. IQ as a predictor of academic success in students. In that essay, I suggested that this concept of “Grit” not only rang home for me […]
Look through the “other” end of the telescope …
Across the business landscape there are headlines every day of companies realigning or restructuring their operating models to meet changing competitive challenges. In some instances it is a retailer closing unprofitable stores, in another it may be a manufacturing entity consolidating their supply chain to improve efficiency and quite literally the list goes on and […]
Our Actions Betray our Intent
I have been thinking about this topic for a number of years, and recently in my consulting practice, I have had a series of conversations with a number of clients/leaders across varied industries, organizations and roles where this theme continues to resonate. The dynamic of an organization or a leader’s “words” communicating one set of […]
The “Treasure” of old friends
Last week I went on one of my “pilgrimages” back to Appleton Wisconsin, where I began by career when I went to work as a young marketer at Kimberly Clark in 1985. As is my way, I visited a number of my “old haunts,” including Jacobs Market (a magnificent butcher shop), City Park (across the […]