Headwaters form massive rivers. The headwater of the Mississippi River, flowing 2,340 miles, is found in Itasca State Park in Minnesota, an 18-foot, knee deep pool of water. The source creates a massive river full of momentum, full of impact, full of life. Ever consider the headwater of your life, your source? What creates the…
“A woodpecker can tap twenty times on a thousand trees and get nowhere but stay busy. Or he can tap twenty-thousand times on one tree and get dinner.” Seth Godin, The Dip Are you tapping on a thousand trees today? We all are. We are rushed, meeting after meeting, decision after decision, both in our…
Your life is an exhibit to the world. One leaves an art gallery talking about the experience, what they saw, how they were moved by the work. Great art leaves a mark. A great exhibit is a powerful display. Just as an art exhibit impacts others, so does the exhibit of your life. Your family,…
“Make the charitable assumption.” Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara To make the charitable assumption is to assume the best in others, not the worst. “For as long as I can remember, my parents taught me to look for the best in people. I think this is a very important quality in a leader too.” Richard…
The countdown begins when the business, new segment, or innovation is launched. The copy, the knockoff, the slightly tweaked innovation, the repeated strategy will soon arrive. The only thing that remains differentiated is your heart and soul: who you are as a company, your brand, your values, your culture. As a founder told me, “Start…
In her book The Unthinkable, Amanda Riley writes about how people survive in emergencies. In the middle of the situation, people go through three stages: denial, deliberation, and action. The ones who survive move through these stages with wisdom and efficiency. Too long in the denial, and deliberation stages can cause one to miss the…
Bring that thought to the next meeting … I spent an evening at a retreat for a small local company. The team gathered from various parts of the United States for a few days, with the goal of reflecting and reenergizing. They read and discussed a book. They talked about life and their families. They…
“Creativity is a fundamental aspect of being human. It’s our birthright. And it’s for all of us.” Rick Rubin, The Creative Act Man was born to create, to innovate. Be it the creation of a story, a presentation, a business, a strategy, we are all innovators. We make something out of nothing. The thing did…
The underdog team playing at home begins the game on fire. Emotions propel them until they run out of gas. The game goes to the one that has the strength below the emotions. Emotions are powerful but cannot sustain us on the journey of life. Each day, the journey will be filled with good and…
Ever feel like you are not up to the leadership position or task to which you have been called? Moses was called to a leadership position, seemingly out of nowhere. His resume was light, full of gaps. He was full of fear, questions, using every excuse in the book to get out of the mission….