I have always thought of business in terms of a game. I suppose thinking of it in this context helped relieve the intensity of the day, eased difficult decisions and reduced the seriousness of the competition. In the event I did not prevail at the challenge of the day, the imagery of a game reminded me… Read more »
Innovation is change that contains within it the promise of something better. It’s sexy. Its potential elicits excitement in anticipation that it will, in some way, make life easier by relieving us of one or more of life’s burdensome tasks or responsibilities. This is because we tend to think of innovation as an event occurring… Read more »
As a child, I remember talking with my parents about how much change my grandparents had seen and experienced throughout their lifetime. It was astonishing for me to think that they were born before the first radio broadcast (1920) or even more unthinkable, before the first television broadcast (1928). Recently, as I disconnected from my
Normal: It is the box where we compartmentalize our lives. Its walls are constructed of the status quo and it holds within it our beliefs and expectations, our traditions and our dreams. It is the vessel that frames our understanding of the world, and accordingly, defines our personal spaces and comfort zones. Normal demands conformity.… Read more »
Extended periods of unchallenged prosperity stunts the development of an individual’s leadership skills and their resilience. This stunted growth not only negatively impacts an individual’s long-term success, but the success of the organizations they serve. The best lessons often occur outside of the classroom, and my college experience was no exception. It was in the… Read more »
Where we focus our attention determines what we accomplish, and ultimately, who we become. Attention directs our intent and concentrates our efforts. It sets our course, and therefore, determines our destination. Stated another way, where our attention goes our energy flows. It is no surprise then, that where we focus our attention is the best… Read more »
Technology is not a competitive differentiator. Sure, in the short term it can make a difference but as a pillar for a competitive strategy it makes a poor crutch. If you doubt this, you only need look at the iPhone® for validation. It is hard to conceive of a more imaginative and revolutionary combination of… Read more »
Close your eyes and think back to high school. Do you remember how you felt as you were approaching graduation? If you are like many, you had a sense of accomplishment and excitement. You were almost done after 12 long years and your imagination began to celebrate the reward of independence and freedom that lay… Read more »
The irony was not lost on my audience. A member of the group asked, gesturing at the wall behind me, “How does that make you feel?” Having just been introduced, it was easy to tell the question had been in a holding pattern waiting for its intended destination (me) to come into view. The question… Read more »