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
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 lies do you tell yourself?
In the past, word of mouth and referrals had kept JoAnn’s company busy. But the market was changing with new technology and growing competition. Sales were starting to slump. JoAnn knew something had to be done, but she lacked confidence in her own judgment. She felt ineffective discussing sales with customers. When she talked to a business mentor about her
Would it make a difference?
Would it make a difference if you … Complimented three people Showed up and shared Sent a card to a friend Became a mentor
I feel lucky today!
One of my favorite songs is by Mary Chapin Carpenter, I Feel Lucky! about a woman, who against all odds, listened to her gut and won big in the lottery.