As a child I wondered how Santa could accomplish so much with just the assistance of Mrs. Claus, a few elves, and some flying reindeer. “The Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus” by Eric Harvey. explains all.
Has 2021 been a hard year?
Even during “normal” times, in business and in our personal lives, we encounter challenges and uncertainty. The past year has forced us to live constantly with uncertainty.
Intentional Culture & Memories
Last week I attended a luncheon for past employees of FMC Corporation (Northern Pump, Northern Ordnance, United Defense, BAE Systems) in Fridley. I worked there 30 years ago.
Are Your Customers Sticky?
A CNBC Survey reported that 30% of small business owners shut down during the pandemic, 10% of those have yet to reopen. Some businesses run in circles shouting, “The sky is falling!”, while others hunker down, adapt, modify, and update their organizations to this new world.
It’s Hard Out There. Really Hard.
Walking by Sean’s cubicle, his supervisor noticed his shoulders were shaking as if he was crying. She paused, uncertain if she should speak to him, then walked on.
Respect the Value of Hitting Brick Walls
Years ago, Lucy’s vehicle was broadsided by another car, slamming her into a brick wall. Lucy’s head bounced against hard surfaces. Although she didn’t know it at the time, her life as a driven, passionate, 4th Degree Black Belt instructor was over.
What is “important” work?
Michael Mason was fourth from the top at the FBI; half of all 35,000 people employed by the agency reported to him. When he retired, he went to work as a CEO for a Fortune 500 company. He was doing “important” work. Retiring yet again, he wasn’t sure what he would do next. Then he heard about a widespread school
Customer Conversations Every CEO Needs to Have Part II
Last week was about preparing for a thorough and honest face-to-face with your customers. We talked about the importance of doing a comprehensive customer evaluation prior to a visit. It’s important to know the good, the bad, and the ugly before sitting down with them.
Customer Conversations Every CEO Needs to Have
How often do you speak directly with customers about their needs/wants/concerns? Q4 is here. It’s the season to deepen customer relationships and move into 2022 with momentum.
The power of relationships
The keynote speaker at our Raven Retreat was Chris Fitzgerald Sheriff of Barron County Wisconsin. His office was the center of operations during the search for Jayme Closs; the 13-year-old who was abducted from her home after her parents were fatally shot. Sheriff Fitzgerald told the gripping story which as everyone knows ended with Jayme breaking out and running for help after 88