“If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work.” – Thomas Watson One thing I hear almost every organization talk about is their commitment to providing their customers with a quality product or service. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve … Read more
“It doesn’t matter when we start. It doesn’t matter where we start. All that matters is that we start.” – Simon Sinek It’s always important for leaders to have a clear picture in their heads of where their business is going. It’s even more important when those leaders are trying to navigate chaotic environments like … Read more
“The truth is, hardly any of us have ethical energy for more than one really inflexible point of honor.” – George Bernard Shaw Lately in this space we’ve talked about purposefully being uncomfortable, about constantly questioning, about the need to adapt, and so on. All good things. That said, as some of our loyal readers … Read more
“Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.” – Ernest Hemingway Thinking about and planning for the future sounds like something we should do as leaders. There are millions of books/articles/videos on the topic. So we all talk about doing it, … Read more
“Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.” – Bertrand Russell It’s a huge understatement to say that one of the biggest challenges we face as leaders is attempting to make change in our organizations. We all know change is hard. I would guess that half or … Read more
“Indiscriminate action is a form of laziness.” – Tim Ferris We’re taught early on in our careers to try & make people happy. When customers approach us and ask if we can help, we almost instinctively say “yes”. We’re paranoid about customers going somewhere else, so we agree to do whatever they want or need. … Read more
“The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Too many businesses (and people) are doing things because someone else essentially made them do it. Somebody’s competitor did something and they feel they have to respond. Somebody’s customers complained about … Read more
“If you don’t drive your business, you will be driven out of business.” – B.C. Forbes Last week in this space we talked about reaching the point – hopefully soon – where we can stop hunkering down and start being aggressive, start taking smart chances, start pushing. Some of the best leaders I know have … Read more
“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” – Martin Buber One of the difficult lessons of the past year is that we always have to be prepared for the unexpected. I don’t mean that you can physically prepare for every eventuality. I just mean that you have to be prepared for … Read more
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall I got into my vehicle the other day, and when I turned the key the radio came on blasting at an ear-splittingly high volume. It took me a few seconds (it seemed like … Read more
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