We had a 22-year family ritual of going to the circus when Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey came to town (and yes, we would buy the hokey photo to mark each year). We have seen some amazing acts in 22 different shows – if it can be balanced, juggled, jumped over, walked on, ridden,…
When I spoke at an Inc. magazine-sponsored Build LIVE event in Boston, a very talented graphic facilitator, Kelvy Bird, captured my 10,000+ word presentation in this picture. Kelvy had never heard my presentation before, so she was listening, organizing, capturing, and creating this in real-time ... impressive! So, for those of you who don’t like…
The world’s most admired companies know how to stick with it. They may not have completely eliminated the knowing-doing gap, but they have certainly reduced it enough to create a significant competitive advantage. Of course, it’s nice to be recognized as one of the world’s most admired companies. However, bottom-line results are also a key…
Team execution is easy to talk about and much more challenging to, well, execute. So, here are 10 quotes from Stick with It to help make this leadership concept more concrete. The most important thing in business (and life) is to decide what is most important.Saying "Yes" to one thing always means saying "No" to…
Every successful business must plan and execute. How effectively you perform these vital activities determines whether you will survive or thrive. In other words, plan and execute or become extinct. In fact, senior executives predict that "very effective" strategy execution would improve operating profits by an average of 30 percent over two years. A lot…
Seven-time Super Bowl Champion, Tom Brady, knows that boosting competence boosts confidence ... and confidence is fuel for high achievers. Brady's competence at his position gave Tampa Bay the confidence it needed to elevate from mediocre to championship status. Building your competence is like cleaning your house. If you stop cleaning, dust collects. The need to clean never…
Life is a game of inches - the six inches between your ears. You must get your mind right before you get your team right. Leadership is an inside job. It starts with your personal leadership which is the awareness and intentional use of your thoughts, words and actions to get the best from yourself…
Every successful business must plan and execute. How effectively you perform these vital activities determines whether you will survive or thrive. In other words, plan and execute or become extinct. In fact, senior executives predict that "very effective" strategy execution would improve operating profits by an average of 30 percent over two years. So, how…
Truism: no trend goes on forever. This truism prevents complacency during good times and instills hope during tough times. I originally wrote the the attached report 2001 to address how to lead in an economic downturn, then I revised it in 2008. Well, 2020 seems to be singing the same song to leaders. There are…
Think of the last time you went to the circus. Remember the lion tamer? Every courageous lion tamer uses three tools to control his fierce companions prowling around the cage: a whip, a stool, and a handful of tasty snacks. Which of these tools is most valuable to the tamer? When the lion tamer…
