6 days agoFit to Lead: The Impact of Health on Leadership SuccessEver sleep poorly and then struggle to get up and go? Perhaps your poor sleep is followed by a day of fast-paced or important decisions. You feel rushed and tired. Problems pile up and you end up working late. You skip your workout as a result. At some point in…5 min read5 min read
Nov 21Woodworking Wisdom: 6 Leadership Lessons Discovered in the Workshop of AdversityOur house has a lovely, open-format layout. The only walls we have downstairs are holding up the upstairs. This is great for get-togethers. Not so great when trying to hide from the children. During the dark days of the COVID lockdowns, my wife and I needed a separate office. The…4 min read4 min read
Nov 145 Tough Questions That Will Help You Build TrustHave you ever noticed how some businesses or organizations — or leaders — seem to have enormous potential but never quite reach it? Have you ever wondered why this is? There are many challenges that growing organizations face. But even in the happy land of having all the money and…4 min read4 min read
Nov 7How to evaluate an executive’s performance.I’m often asked, “How do we evaluate our executive’s performance?” It’s usually board directors who ask me this. But there are other scenarios as well. For example, the acquirer of a company. Or owners who want to step away from active management. Sometimes I’m asked for a specific tool or…5 min read5 min read
Oct 31Some things you just can’t fix. Nine very avoidable problems.I’m feeling good right now. I just got back from practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). If you aren’t familiar, BJJ is a martial art that is kind of similar to wrestling. It teaches smaller people to neutralize bigger opponents by using their strength against them. It’s difficult but it works. …4 min read4 min read
Oct 24Six tips for refusing to get stuck on, “We don’t see a way forward.”I ended this week feeling a little tired. Nearly every day, someone told me, “We can’t do XYZ. It’s not possible.” But they were wrong. Across town, or down the block, there was someone else not just doing XYZ, but making XYZ look like small potatoes. It’s not hyperbole to…3 min read3 min read
Oct 17Do you ever feel like things fall apart just as they were starting to come together? Here’s what to doLife happens. Disruptions happen. Problems happen. Consider many of my clients. They learn and apply the basic principles of success. They give those principles enough time to grow and bear fruit. …4 min read4 min read
Oct 10Vision doesn’t pay the bills. Why you need to learn business math.The owner of a small business cornered me at an event. He has an idea that he believes will generate millions. He wanted my thoughts. He told me his plan. It seemed interesting. It could flood his business with new customers. So far, so good. But then he began to…4 min read4 min read
Oct 3Leaders: These are top three (maybe four) problems with being normalMost leaders have a complicated relationship with normality. Usually, they want to lead something special. Many want to stand out, outperform, and be recognized as leaders in their field. Many include language that affects their vision statements. And…many of my clients are special in those ways. But…even though they want…5 min read5 min read
Sep 26Succeeding Success: How to Lead Boldly When Replacing a Respected LeaderHow do you honor a predecessor’s legacy while leading boldly? Very few new executives would be excited to take the helm of a sinking ship. But there is an advantage to stepping into a troubled situation: There tends to be openness to change. Contrast this with following a respected, beloved…4 min read4 min read
