“The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.” Michael Porter When I was a kid in the 1970s there was only one place to go for good fast-food fish and chips. And you didn’t have to go far to find it. Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips had more than 820 restaurants across the... Continue Reading →
What if you could know what your employees were thinking? What if you could see the company through their eyes? How would your leadership efforts change if you knew what truly motivated your team? Believe it or not, understanding your team and how to lead them effectively is easier than you think. The problem is... Continue Reading →
The biggest problem with resolutions is that a vast majority of people never achieve them. Statistics show that 20% of Americans will drop out after just one week of trying. At best, only 8% ever reach their goal. What’s the problem? In general, we over-commit and under-perform. We try to do too much. We underestimate... Continue Reading →
Winter in Northern Ohio is tough and the people who live through these winters are even tougher. It was then and there where I realized my calling, when I knew what I wanted to do with my life. “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day... Continue Reading →
“Please place your seat back and tray table in their full upright and locked position and check to ensure your seat belt is securely fastened.” Now, get to work! Have you ever noticed you get more work done while flying? You’re not the only one. What if we could understand the reasons why we are... Continue Reading →
Full confession. I once dressed up as Buddy the Elf and delivered candy canes to all my employees. That’s how much I love the movie Elf. I actually have a Buddy the Elf coffee mug that I use at work every year from Thanksgiving to Christmas. I’m not the only one who loves this movie... Continue Reading →
Why do some people succeed while others give up? What is it that allows certain individuals to endure the toughest challenges without wavering? Is it education, training, upbringing, connections, social status, or money? The answer may surprise you. In one of the most significant business books that has been written in the past ten years,... Continue Reading →
This Veteran’s Day, don’t thank a veteran, hire a veteran. It will be the best thing you ever did for your company. “If you are in a position to hire, hire a veteran. They will be the best employees you have.” Robert Bosch As of September 2017, more than 309,000 veterans are out of work.... Continue Reading →
Bill Marriott, former CEO of Marriott International, learned business and leadership by observing his father, J. Willard Marriott. The elder Marriott was one of the most successful startup founders in U.S. history. He turned a small family root beer shop into a chain of hotels in the 1950s. Bill Marriott joined the young company in... Continue Reading →
You got the new job. You accepted the promotion. You’re in charge now. Whether you’re a first-time leader or an experienced manager in a new role, the first 100 days are critical. It’s important to set the tone early. One of the biggest mistakes I see new leaders make is when they spend all their time working in... Continue Reading →
“Don’t get too comfortable. Ever.” Navy Seal Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. We’ve all probably read this quote or seen something like it on Instagram. Deep down, we know personal growth comes when we depart our comfort zone. Many of us are willing to step outside our comfort zone for short... Continue Reading →
“Being an employee of several different companies, I can honestly say that I've felt like nothing more than a line item on a spreadsheet somewhere that an accountant is desperately trying to eliminate.” This comment was written by a reader on my recent article, Putting Employees Ahead of Customers, and it got me thinking. Why... Continue Reading →
