I spent a good part of my career as a strategy consultant, and a favorite quote I liked to use was, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” That stopped most executives dead in their tracks, with their heads bobbing in worried agreement. Seriously, how can you expect to make progress and grow your company if you don’t have an intentional, well-defined plan that tells exactly how you will get from A to B? Come on people, bring out the flip... Read more
Last week I stood up in front of 50 business leaders and spoke, in excruciating detail, about one of my biggest failures of the last few months. Then we broke for an excellent dinner. The crowd I addressed that evening was a group of leaders gathered for a dinner-discussion event sponsored by my friends at A New Equilibrium, exploring the subject of “How the Best Leaders Respond to Negative Events.” And what better way to kick it off, than to tell everyone about my epic fail?... Read more
I worked as a management consultant for fifteen years before settling down with the company I am currently with. Like attorneys and used-car salesmen, consultants are subject to their fair share of derision and ridicule. I honestly couldn’t tell you why, since it is such a fine and upstanding profession, but I hear it all the time. For instance, how about this clever twist on the light-bulb joke: Q: How many consultants does it take to change a light bulb?... Read more
When I hear the term “Faith in the Workplace,” I sometimes cringe a little bit. I don’t like that term. Or, I should say, I don’t like the brand. Mostly because it conjures up images in my mind of one-dimensional, self-absorbed Christians quoting scripture and tearing up their workplace on a warpath of conversions and “sharing your faith,” even if others don’t really want to hear it. Which, in my opinion, is inappropriate. And rude. It’s like having business autism. I don’t necessarily want... Read more
Not long ago I attended one of those industry conventions – you know, several days of no-holds-barred! sessions and seminars followed by informal networking opportunities which are lubricated with heavy appetizers and alcohol. It’s really fun. This is generally a good idea, to mingle with complete strangers, since I like meeting people and making new friends and connecting with potential business contacts. We’re all in this together, is how I see it. But on this particular occassion, I found myself... Read more
I turned forty-ten a couple months ago. There. I still can hardly bring myself to acknowledge that sinister number “5” that wants to push its way into the front end of my particular age bracket – the evil digit that signifies another looming decade ahead. Or one that has past. Whatever. I have noticed that some of the other guys that I work with seemed to breeze right past the big five-0 in their shiny new convertibles (we have had... Read more
Have you ever been in a meeting, minding your own business, maybe thinking about what you might want to have for dinner that night, when suddenly you realize all eyes have turned on you, looking for an opinion? Except that you have no idea what they were just talking about? It’s not that you weren’t paying attention. No, you really were trying to follow the conversation. It’s just that, well, perhaps you are new to the project. And these people have been... Read more
What if you committed just one hour a day to work on that dream project you’ve been thinking about all those years? That’s what Geoff Edgers did. Edgars was a 38 year old arts reporter for the Boston Globe who had reached that enviable point in life where he was settled down with a good job, a nice house and family. But he couldn’t shake this dream he had to make a movie. Not just any movie. He was obsessed with the band, The... Read more
Last week I heard a story on NPR about academic scientists who felt they had to hide their religious views from their peers. Elaine Howard Ecklund, a Rice University assistant professor of Sociology and author of the book “Science vs. Religion,” surveyed 1,700 scientists at elite universities about their belief in God. At the onset, she anticipated the same results you and I would have – that all scientists (especially professors at elite universities) would put God in the same belief-bucket as Santy Clause and... Read more
How many times has this happened to you? You get the call saying you lost the deal You find out that your reputation is being shredded behind your back. A key project with your name all over it has hit a wall. You totally botched an important presentation You are on the receiving end of some negative feedback Tell me – when it happened, what was your immediate response? (Most likely answer: “Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.”) Trust me, you’re not alone – we’ve... Read more
Shrinking the Camel
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