In the physical world, friction allows us to accomplish many everyday tasks: running, driving a car up a hill, even sitting on a chair. It’s a necessary part of our lives. But when we think of friction among people, most of us have learned to think of it as a negative force, a clash of wills or opinions that makes
Scary or Savvy Statistics?
Numbers may make your head swim, but numbers often tell a story more vividly than words.
Kittens and Experts – Lessons from Everyday Life
We recently replaced our front door as well as the timbers that were supporting it. About a month ago one of our outdoor cats had given birth to three kittens. The kittens are still shy around people. I warned my husband and the carpenter to be careful during the construction, to ensure no kittens got under the house as they would
Time and Priorities
During a play in New York City about gang violence, a cell phone rang in the audience. Thoughtlessly, the man answered it. He was hunched over talking when one of the actors walked over, pointed the prop gun at him and said, “Give me the phone!” Sheepishly the man handed it over. The audience erupted in applause.
Friday Philosophizing on Thursday
How do you create a great company culture? By showing genuine concern for your employees, By communicating openly, By admitting that you’re not perfect; you’ve made mistakes. Steve Shurts, CEO of East Central Energy reinforces this caring culture by posting his
If you always do what you’ve always done…
A business owner I’d worked with years ago called me last week, his business has been going downhill for years. When he purchased the then profitable business from his father, there were 25 employees and the future was bright. Today, he has two employees and is on the verge of closing the doors. He was looking for ideas on what
It never gets easier, you just get better
I watched a couple training videos this week. The phrase “It never gets easier, you just get better,” was repeated over and over. No matter what you are trying to improve, this is a great mantra. It’s all about change, taking risks, adapting to changing conditions and staying on top of your game. It’s about pushing yourself to achieve ever
Give the hardest job to the laziest person
Bill Gates is often credited with the quote, “I will always choose a lazy person to do a difficult job because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.” It’s a great quote, but it came from Frank B. Gilbreth Sr. He studied the best and poorest bricklayers and stumbled on an astonishing fact; he could learn
How to say goodbye – Part II
The economy is thriving, unemployment is less than 4% Employees with high demand skill sets are being aggressively pursued by recruiters and talent acquisition firms.
What can you learn from a departing employee?
Employees leave. No matter how much time and effort you invest, some will move on. When they leave, it’s an opportunity to find out why and learn what can be improved in your company.