Become an Expert

It has been said leaders are readers.  Only 42% of adults read at least one non-fiction book each year!  It is projected fewer than 10% of adults read one non-fiction book per month.

One of the fastest ways to reach “expert” status is to read.

Here is a sample of my favorites.  Have you read any good books lately?  Send me the titles and a few quick take-a-ways.

Change or Die – Alan Deutschman

Conscious Business – Fred Cofman

First, Break All the Rules – ...

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Company Blind Spots

Take a moment to complete this simple exercise.  It might help to print the page.

Close your left eye.  Stare at the + mark below.  Now slowly move the page closer to your face.   Remain staring with your right eye only at the +.  If you stay focused on the plus sign you will notice the minus sign will briefly disappear from your peripheral vision.

   +                              ...

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The Greatest Gift Ever – Giving Gratitude

As we conclude another year and celebrate our successes or retool for the opportunities that lie ahead, it is beneficial to pause; to reflect and show gratitude to those who have contributed to the progress made during the last 12 months.

To help facilitate your personal and authentic act of gratitude, you are invited to take the following actions.

After you finish reading these brief thoughts, stop yourself from moving on to the next “urgent” activity.  Simply pause and smile.

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This is It! The Core Four

Over the last eight weeks, I’ve presented to literally hundreds of senior level executives at multiple professional association meetings and executive team meetings.

Much time and effort was spent discussing how to develop stronger leaders at all levels of business. In fact, one of the major frustrations CEOs and business owners of small to mid-size organizations express is the sense they must make all the decisions and then do the work to ensure things “get done.“ The irony is middle management ...

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An Awesome Asset

Failure to plan is planning to fail. The old cliché is as true today as ever.

Having spoken to numerous small and mid-sized CEO’s and business owners over the last few months, I’m startled at how few have well-developed strategic plans in place.

Many firms have made massive investments in inventory; capital equipment and large payrolls yet have not built a framework for their future.

One of the most important assets a company owns is the ability to develop and execute a strong ...

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Leadership from the Inside Out

A number of years ago I had the privilege of getting to know Kevin Cashman, best-selling author of Leadership from the Inside Out – Becoming a Leader for Life and very successful executive coach to many Fortune 500 companies.

I recently pulled Kevin’s book off the shelf and began reviewing my highlights and notes.  If I could summarize the book in one word, it would be timeless. Kevin’s brilliant work is a self-study in helping people become authentically aware of ...

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Leadership on the World Stage

Disciplined organizational leadership was recently demonstrated for the entire world to see in Brazil. Germany is the deserved 2014 World Cup champion. It was the team’s dominance of Brazil in the semis, however, that exemplified how unselfishness can produce unprecedented results.

The Brazilian team is comprised of the world’s best professional players. Yet, even the greatest individual talent in the world was no match for the German squad that methodically executed a well-designed game plan resulting in a 7-1 victory. The clear ...

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Master This

The ability to constructively influence others is the single skill all business people must master. Selling your products or services is the blood of every business. No sales, no company.

Today, with instant access to information via the web, social media, emails, tweets etc… selling has become a whole company function not simply a department within an organization.

Everyone is selling all of the time.

  • From Bankers to Bakers
  • From Counselors to CPAs
  • From Doctors to Diplomats
  • From Manufactures to Moms
  • From Receptionists to Recruiters

People committed to ...

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Top Performance Demystified

There are five characteristics top 20% performers consistently demonstrate.  Work to develop and master these skills and your performance will soar.

Having worked in marquee companies like Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble and Frito Lay both as an executive and as a consultant, I was fortunate to study and collaborate in building metric based “success models” for numerous diverse business units.   Interestingly, the characteristics of top performers across multiple companies were very similar.

Here are the core characteristics of top-tier performers.

Desire ...

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The 3 Keys

There are three critical elements to building a strong sustainable business.

1.  Crystalizing Core Priorities
2.  Creating Key Processes
3.  Developing People

Most companies are missing one or more of these elements.

A mid-sized company CEO recently expressed her frustration over the seemingly never-ending challenges preventing her organization from focusing on its long-term vision.

My counsel shocked her. “Stop focusing on the vision and start creating processes tied to your company’s core priorities. Act with discipline on what must be completed today. ...

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