In May, 2006 the Harvard Business Review published a story called Preparing for a Pandemic regarding the H5N1 strain of avian flu. The article is a compilation of checklists and diagrams and warnings. It also discusses leadership in times of uncertainty.
Be Steady
My nephew Charlie is 28, smart as a whip and autistic. He lives with his brother James. When life throws him a curve-ball and his schedule is disrupted, he becomes agitated, out of sorts and hard to communicate with. Last week, the family returned from a long-anticipated vacation. They have had to self-quarantine. Charlie is consumed with worry about the
Are You On A Knife Edge?
Recently, I heard an entrepreneur use a term I had not heard before: She said she felt like she was on a knife-edge as she was growing her business. A knife edge is a situation where nobody knows whether something good or bad is going to happen next. The company could fail at any moment.
Spend Your Time On Things That Matter Most
In Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey tells the story of his wife chairing an important hospital fundraiser. Combining a busy family and chairing the committee were overwhelming her. She started calling her friends to help. Her best friend listened to her request and replied, “I’d love to help you out, but I promised my family that I wouldn’t take
Hey Boss, I Have Cancer
John ran a busy manufacturing company. One day his bookkeeper came into his office, closed the door, took a deep breath and said, “I’ve just been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.”
How to Say Goodbye
After many years and thousands of dollars in services, Marie’s favorite stylist retired from XYZ Salon. Marie tried unsuccessfully to find another stylist that made her look and feel as good as her previous one had but to no avail. Frustrated, she scheduled an appointment at a different salon. She was thrilled with the results.
Comfortable and Coasting
We all have moments of feeling “in the zone.” It’s the perfect time when all your cylinders are firing. It’s exhilarating and fun.
A Head Full of Ideas
When Tom Hanks received the Cecil B DeMille Award at the Golden Globe Awards, he shared an experience from his first professional job. He and other interns were partying at night instead of preparing for the next day. The director wasn’t having it.
Do Your Managers Hide The Dirt?
My mother was a busy and probably overwhelmed farm wife with four young children, gardens, canning, fixing three meals a day from scratch, the list goes on. When the linoleum in the kitchen was replaced, her major concern was that it hid the dirt. A neighbor (also a farm wife and busy mother) bought new carpet that would absorb moisture
Go Figure It Out!
A server in a local restaurant was taking our drink order; “Coffee for my husband and a big glass of warm water for me”, I answered. The server replied “We don’t have warm water. We only have hot water and cold water.” Huh?! Figuring things out is a skill some people are good at: Give them a problem and they’ll try