For the past 12 years, I have had the privilege of sharing The Raven Cue—a space for leadership insights, stories of tough decisions, and reminders to pause and appreciate life’s moments. Each week brought new ideas, fresh perspectives, and valuable lessons to share. Now it’s time to step away, slow down, and focus more on family. My passion for encouraging others
When Was the Last Time You…
There are lots of ways to end this question: cried at a movie took a trip read a book got angry ate cotton candy But other questions are more thought provoking. When was the last time you went to bed hungry? Not starving, but just hungry? Lots of people in the world are hungry now. And lots of people are
The Secret is Leverage
How is it that one person is super-productive, calm and collected, while the person at the next desk is behind schedule and frazzled? The super-productive person has learned the secret of “leverage”: the power to act in a way to achieve a desired result. Leverage enables us to multiply our abilities by applying pressure in the right places. Organize your
What’s Your Plan B?
The second weekend in February is a big deal in our community. It’s the weekend of the Vasaloppet USA Cross-Country Ski Race, an event that draws participants from around the world to our small town of Mora (population 3,787). On race weekend, the town’s population literally doubles. The Vasaloppet began in 1973, born from the passion of 96 cross-country
New Year, Same Struggles?
We’re only three weeks into the new year, but have you noticed the gym is already a little less crowded? Our well-intentioned resolutions often start slipping away as we fall back into familiar habits. Even sharing our goals with others—hoping for accountability—does little to keep us on track. Should this surprise us? After all, 92% of New Year’s resolutions fail. We
The Secret To Success – Delight Your Customers
When I picked up my car after an oil change, I was delighted to find it had been thoroughly cleaned inside and out. What a thoughtful touch! (Thank you, Tinker & Larson!) We recently hired a contractor to paint several rooms in our house. Despite a busy schedule packed with work, family commitments, and even elk hunting, he showed up on
Boldness, Audacity, Chutzpah, Sisu
No matter what you call it, it implies a person willing to take risks, try the untried, improve on the unproven. Bold people are open to new ideas, willing to try new things and imagine possibilities. Chutzpah is the quality of audacity, for good or for bad. The Yiddish word has been “Americanized” to describe courage, determination and passion. The
Run Full Tilt
Kurt enjoys playing fetch with his new puppy, Max. He throws the ball as far as he can, and Max races after it, only slowing down to compensate for an unexpected turn. Sprinters call this “running through the tape”. Have you ever watched some runners near the finish line and slow up in the final few steps? There’s something in
Why Are You More Successful Than Me?
Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Outliers: The Story of Success challenges the belief that success is primarily a product of talent and hard work. Instead, Gladwell argues that success is shaped by a combination of external factors such as opportunity, cultural background, timing, and an individual’s environment. His analysis suggests that while talent and effort are important, they are often overshadowed by circumstances beyond
Ask the Right Questions
Successful business requires constant reflection. For business owners, the ability to stay ahead often comes down to asking the right questions. The right questions guide decisions, sharpen focus, and keep things moving in the right direction. Business owners should ask themselves these four questions every day to ensure ongoing success and growth. 1. How have I improved the value of