If asked the question: ‘Why are you in business?’, it’s not uncommon for the business owner to respond by saying: ‘At the end of the day we are in business to make a profit.' I get it. That’s honest and forthright. After all, turning a profit is essential in meeting…

Here’s a quick read with an overall ‘light’ message. I read an article* recently in which the authors were making the point that people make greater progress when they concentrate on what they are doing well rather than dwelling on their mistakes. To make the case, the authors cited a…

I was in Ft. Lauderdale recently conducting some leadership development training. The client was a small business that has experienced impressive growth under the leadership of a talented CEO and an exceptional COO.  The audience numbered approximately 20 persons, most of whom were middle management. When speaking to middle management,…

There’s a story about former Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’ which will help make a point about the importance of ‘speaking up’.  The year was 1956.  Khrushchev was making a speech at the 20th Party Congress in Moscow.  During this speech Khrushchev was listing the many atrocities committed under the reign…

Went to Tampa-St. Petersburg last week where I had the pleasure of giving the commencement speech at National Louis University. What an impressive institution. A large percentage of the graduates were earning PhD’s and master’s degrees and the energy in The Coliseum was inspiring. The event provided me the opportunity…

This one’s for the road warriors out there. When you travel with regularity, you experience negative things. In the process, you acquire pet peeves, hangups, hot buttons that tick you off. Was that said nicely enough? Let’s do it. Thumbs down travel experiences: ·      Excessive PA announcements on flights.  (On…

In 1996, a famous Dallas Cowboy wide receiver was arrested for possession of cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia after an incident that occurred in an Irving, Texas hotel room. This football star was partying with two female companions when the police arrived at the scene. After the police sized up…

Years ago, I attended a week-long leadership program at The Gallup Leadership Institute at their HQ in Nebraska.  At the time, I was fortunate to get the chance to hear the late Don Clifton speak.  Clifton was the chairman of Gallup Inc. and an accomplished psychologist, educator, author and researcher.…

Early in my career I read an article published in the Harvard Business Review (HBR) that made an impression on me. I took notes from the article and referred back to it at various points in my career.  The article was titled The Three Responses to Leadership. Imagine you have just…

Coined by management expert Jerry Harvey in 1974, Abilene Paradox lends ample value toward our own growth and development as leaders. As the story goes, a family in Coleman, Texas is comfortably playing dominos on their porch one summer afternoon when the father-in-law suggests they take a ride to Abilene…