Learning, Leadership, Relationships

Boomers and Xers and Millennials, Oh My!

Millennials have ascended to the height of societal importance and are currently the central and universal topic of conversation. They now outnumber the previous generational focus; the Baby Boom.  Millennials have spurred a virtual cottage industry of experts and analysts focusing on how to best integrate this largest of demographic slices into the world, and…Read more Boomers and Xers and Millennials, Oh My!

Certainty & Empowerment

Anxiety. Depression. A search of these two words returns millions of articles that explore the rapid and persistent increase of these conditions over the last 80 years. No one is quite sure why, there have been studies, research, and theories, but no clear conclusions. The post-WWII world is different; what we take for granted today didn’t…Read more Certainty & Empowerment

Eliminate Subtext

There’s a commercial on-air recently that features two young singles on a blind date.  They speak openly about the backup plans for the evening and the rescue texts from their roommate that they have arranged.  The tagline is, “Wouldn't it be great if everybody said what they meant?” It would be great. How often do…Read more Eliminate Subtext

Make Believe Again

Do you remember when you could fly? All you had to do was take a towel off the clothesline, use clothespins to attach it to the shoulders of your t-shirt and off into the sky you would soar! Do you remember when you could be anything, do anything, go anywhere? Do you remember when there…Read more Make Believe Again

Community, Communication, and Commitment

Our rapid pace, tech-laden, world has produced a paradox. Well, maybe not produced, I can’t prove causation, but there definitely seems to be a correlation. At least to this guy. Years ago, around a campfire with my wife and our friend, Owen, we came to the conclusion that the internal combustion engine was society’s tipping…Read more Community, Communication, and Commitment

Our Most Important Job… Taking Care of People

The new CEO of Delta Airlines, Ed Bastion, was recently interviewed by Kai Ryssdal on a Marketplace segment that aired on August 30, 2016. Ryssdal ends many of his interviews by asking his guests to describe their job in five words or less. Without pause, Bastion responded “Taking care of our people.” He nailed it!…Read more Our Most Important Job… Taking Care of People

Embrace Simplicity for Better Results

“In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow If we pretty much all agree, and I hope we do, that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line (at least on a two-dimensional surface), kinda like this: Then why do we develop processes and task…Read more Embrace Simplicity for Better Results

To Manage Change… Manage Yourself

Focus on what you can change If you want to make effective change, start by focusing on the things you can control, starting with yourself. Not an original thought, but one often forgotten. We spend lots of time, energy, and resources trying to get people to change.  “Why can’t you just do it my way?”…Read more To Manage Change… Manage Yourself

Define the Mission, Find the Method

There are many reasons that people don't do what we expect or ask them to do.    Maybe sometimes the person is difficult.    Maybe sometimes the person is lazy.   But…    Maybe sometimes they don’t know why (the mission).    Maybe sometimes they don’t know how (a method). If laziness and bad attitude are standing…Read more Define the Mission, Find the Method