It’s the end of the year! You’re probably cranking on closing contracts and projects before the holidays hit and everything goes dead. Some of you are also doing your year-end review and strategic planning for next year. I know you’re busy. Nevertheless, I’d like to add a year-end exercise in gratitude to your plate. It’ll take an hour or less …
You’ve undoubtedly heard the expression, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” If you keep it in mind during the first six months of a new job it will help set you up for long-term success in your career at the company. Why six months if we’re talking about first impressions? Because as long as people …
Self-discipline is like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it gets and the more you’ll be able to accomplish when you flex it. Getting into the habit of exercising self-discipline regularly will help you line up your behavior with your values, leading to greater happiness and more accomplishments. However, there will always be moments when engaging your …
One of the companies where I worked as an executive was a private equity-owned turnaround. When the PE company was initially evaluating buying the business, one of the things that came to light in due diligence was that the company paid salaries significantly below market rates. In a financial review of the company’s income statement, this was viewed as an …
Most leaders crave a team dedicated to excelling in their roles and who have the grit to push through fear of failure when it holds them back. Most team members dream of a boss who is excited to support them by making it safe to take risks and who has the experience to help them grow. In many cases, though, …
When I was a kid, my mother was never satisfied with anything I did. After getting the usual sharp criticism, often due to issues like bringing home a 98% on a test rather than a 100%, I used to defend myself by pointing out that she expected me to be perfect and that I never would be. Her response, without …
When my father taught me the phrase, “Do what you love and the money will follow,” I didn’t believe him. My family had very little money when I was growing up. I thought it was a cute concept, but only applicable to those with financial resources far surpassing our own. Through my teens and into my twenties, making the most …
I had dinner with a former employee recently and he was trying to figure out if it was time for him to move on to a new company. His issue wasn’t so much his compensation, although he would have liked more, and it wasn’t so much his role, as he enjoyed most of what he did. Instead, what was bothering …
