College fraternities and sororities understand the power of rituals. They use rituals to make members feel connected to one another through unique yet common experiences (mostly legal experiences, hopefully). Their rituals include secret passwords and handshakes, special chants and songs, required activities, pre-game tailgate parties, goofy antics for pledges and time-honored initiation ceremonies. Their special…
Jack Walker Moss, is the late father of Dr. Ron Moss, who is our friend and mentor to our daughters. Jack Moss framed this poem by Rudyard Kipling and gifted it to many, many people over his lifetime to thank them for their acts of class. He was a real class act himself. Class never runs scared. It is sure-footed…
Winning leadership is a game that is typically won between the ears. It's mental toughness that enables a team victory. Here are two habits mentally tough leaders practice. First, mentally strong leaders check their focus. The things we focus on create a magnet for our lives. Focus on opportunities, and doors seem to open. Focus…
Have you ever tried to pull some aluminum foil out of the box and the entire roll just jumps right out of the box as you pull? Then you have to put the roll back in the box and start over. The stubborn roll always comes out at the wrong time! Well, whoever looks at…
Several centuries ago, a Japanese emperor commissioned an artist to paint a bird. A number of months passed, then several years, and still no painting was brought to the palace. Finally, the emperor became so exasperated; he went to the artist's home to demand an explanation. Instead of making excuses, the artist placed a blank…
I sit in my ergonomic office chair gazing out my window at a beautiful tree line. It’s a welcomed mental break from considering a particular client’s challenge and outlining a new book. My eyes catch my favorite painting of my father’s, the Dove of Peace, neatly placed under an arched window. This painting makes me…
Engaging the heart tends to be more challenging for leaders than engaging the mind. It's the softer side of leadership, and it's harder to get your head around. Traditional leadership development programs don't emphasize the skills necessary to engage employees' hearts. As a result, most leaders tend to be less comfortable with this side of…
With two kids home from college and a full family of five back in the nest, we have been enjoying several family activities to kick off the summer. One of them included a trip to the new bowling alley on a rainy day this past weekend. The genius bowling alley designers decided to help players pass…
Leading a business through the inevitable roller coaster of change has plenty of challenges. Organizational change is just a concept. Organizations do not change - individuals change. If enough individuals change then you start to reap the benefits of organizational change. Here are two common vs. effective responses to tough times. Control vs. Involvement The…
This video shows the beauty of doing ordinary work in extraordinary ways. Here's to everyday excellence! Video of pkHdubw-tCk The Nature of Excellence photographic gift book is filled with compelling imagery and inspirational quotes.
