It’s okay to not be okay

I really have to stop asking people if they are okay. Touching base with my friends by asking “are you okay?” is a great way to make them feel (even more) compelled to sugar coat their answer and pretend that things are better than they really are, because the answer is clearly supposed to be “yes.” Except I want the … Read More

Al Pittampalli: We Need Better Meetings

When I read “Read This Before Our Next Meeting” by Al Pittampalli in less than 45-minutes on a cruise ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, I was blown away by how much good thinking he was able to pack into such a small book. His assessment of, and solutions for, the broken meeting culture that exists in so … Read More

I made this for you

Twenty years ago I stopped attending college after about six weeks. Seventeen years ago I married the most amazing woman. Ten years ago I bought half of a printing company. Eight years ago I was blessed with a wonderful little girl. Five years ago I almost ran that printing company into the ground. Three years ago I met a friend … Read More

How to make enemies

An assertion: a great way to make enemies is to do meaningful work that is valued by the people you hope to influence. To be loved by some for the unique value you offer the world is to be reviled by others. That’s the deal. But If you are going to have enemies – and you will – I can’t … Read More

Seth Godin: If I’m a Genius, Everyone’s a Genius

I have just enjoyed the unique and unusual opportunity to spend the past 2-1/2 days in a room with Seth Godin and 80 other people with a “bias for action” at Seth’s invite-only Ruckusmakers event. It will take me some time to process all of the challenging material Seth covered in a really compressed span of time, but I wanted … Read More

The solution to all your problems

The solution is obvious as long as the problem belongs to someone else. How would you solve the problem with which you are currently wrestling if it belonged to someone else?

Great news! You have a choice

I don’t know your circumstances but I know you have a choice. You always have a choice. And if you always have a choice then saying you don’t is a cop-out, a way of deflecting responsibility for your choice. Having a choice does not mean you have control over your circumstances, but it does mean you have agency. You may … Read More

Overwhelmed? You are not alone

I’m worried about my friend. This person is a high performer and is doing really great work, except I’m afraid the pace at which they are running isn’t altogether healthy. This person is working long hours and is constantly buried under an avalanche of e-mail, voice mail, text messages, and increasingly unrealistic expectations. I worry that their days center on … Read More

Simon Sinek: Leadership is Not About Being Perfect

I had the incredible pleasure of spending 45-minutes talking with author and speaker Simon Sinek this morning and he was gracious enough to allow me to co-opt a few of those minutes to ask a question and share his response with you. Simon is the brilliant mind behind the books Start With Why and Leaders Eat Last which, in concert … Read More

What are you excited about?

Tomorrow I get to enjoy a Skype conversation with Simon Sinek. To say I’m geeked about chatting with Simon is a massive understatement and it reminds me that the anticipation of something good can change everything. Looking forward to something wonderful like a first date, a vacation, a holiday, an anniversary, or even the release of a new movie can … Read More

Let’s not be too busy for people

I’m going to guess that you have a lot of obligations. Me too. The demands on our time often seem unending and overwhelming. The relentless pace at which we run makes us prone to spend our time and focus our energy on the urgent instead of the important. We put out brand new fires each day, finalize budgets at the … Read More

What matters most?

This has been a challenging week. (Note: “challenging” is not the same as “bad”) I have spent time with friends who are hurting, I’ve wrestled at length with my ego and my pride, and I’ve been the recipient of ridiculous kindness and generosity. All of these things have served to remind me that I have a propensity to misplace my … Read More

An Incomplete List of Things That Really Matter To Me

Because I forget too easily and chase the dumbest things Having breakfast with my daughter each morning before school Long talks with my wife about the issues of the day Developing deep, meaningful relationships with people I care about Having my work regarded as valuable by the people it impacts directly Mattering to my employees Music People who care Interesting … Read More

How can I help you?

Last week I posted a note on Facebook asking people how I could help them. Doing so afforded me the opportunity to bring someone coffee and share some marginally valuable parenting advice with a new dad. I want to ask you the same question, my friend. How can I help you? If you could ask me for one favor, what … Read More

Are you a big deal?

On Tuesday a man with my name on a sign met me at the airport and drove me to my hotel in his limousine. It was fun – except sitting alone in the back of a limo is really kind of weird – but riding in limousines has nothing to do with being a big deal. Neither do Facebook likes, … Read More