Are you repairing your roof when the sun is shining or when the water leaks into your house because of heavy rain?
Blockbuster video never ‘repaired its roof’ when the sun was shining. It was already far too late when Netflix showed up and started to disrupt Blockbuster’s business model.
We’re all human beings, and humans build and lead organizations.… Read the rest
I listened recently to a podcast where high-net-worth individuals and tax-avoiding companies were the subjects of the discussion.
Or perhaps the subject of their rage is a better expression of the dynamics of the conversation.
Then a politician, known for progressive and more left of the political spectrum beliefs, joined the conversation.… Read the rest
I got some direct feedback recently that I was not always nice and nuanced for the corporate world. A world that has given me a lot in my life.
Both statements are true.
I’m grateful for my corporate time, and I’ve always said, ‘Never say never’ because I miss the team aspect of my work. … Read the rest
Two weeks ago, I ran through the countryside of Belgium.
I am still amazed by the patchwork of houses that do not reveal any vision of creative unity or aesthetic pleasing. What’s worse, I noticed very little progress.
We lived in Belgium from 2005 through 2007, and it felt like nothing had changed.… Read the rest
What thoughts, images, or feelings pop into your head when I say the word shark to you?
Likely, the connotation you have with sharks is not that positive.
For some of you, the movie Jaws may come to mind. A movie about a shark causing death and destruction.
We also know stories about human beings being attacked by sharks close to beaches resulting in death or body parts lost in the attacks.… Read the rest
We’re all a bit mad.
Acting as if the things we’re engaged in in our lives are all cleverly thought through.
Acting as if we know exactly what we’re doing.
We’re not.
Money is made up. Democracy is made up. The recipe for your dinner is made up.… Read the rest
Twenty Twenty Three.
I wouldn’t say I like it.
I don’t like odd years. I don’t know why, but even years are more compelling.
Twenty-Twenty-Two sounded so much better. That’s water under the bridge now.
This is day three of the next five years.
Two days are done, 1824 days to go.… Read the rest
I had a great lunch with a good friend the other week.
What made the lunch great was the conversation, the food, the atmosphere, and the fact I didn’t see him for a while.
He’s an opinionated person.
He’s a successful entrepreneur who works for fun.
That’s how I see him.… Read the rest
What do you do with milk that has expired?
What do you do with clothes that are no longer in fashion?
Recently I heard the term ‘old school’ again from two different sources within two days.
It had been a while since I heard the term, so it triggered a reaction. … Read the rest
This a common phrase when we play games with friends or family.
These words typically come out when we don’t pay attention and are somewhere else in our minds or are doing something else.
It’s your turn from the moment you’re born.… Read the rest
Sometimes you must create deliberate pain to get something you want to do in motion.
I remember vividly a conversation with my mentor Joyce who often talked about CEOs having to create organizational pain once in a while to shake things up.
When things are becoming complacent, and they often do, you need to create pain.… Read the rest
The world deserves better leaders.
That’s why I do what I do.
Doing what I do will help improve our collective human experience, one leader, one conversation at a time.
Ambitious.… Read the rest
The only way is up.
Until it’s not.
From the moment we’re born, our eyes are focused upwards unless we’re lying on our belly.
Our age goes up. Our length goes up. Our weight goes up. At school, grades our counting upward (in most countries).
With our first job, our income goes up.… Read the rest
“A fish stinks from the head.”
Rumi
Rumi, a Turkish poet who lived towards the end of the 13th century, wrote “The Third Book of Masnavi,” where the phrase appears as follows: “Fish begins to stink at the head, not the tail.”
We often hear this quote in a business environment.
I’m sure you’ve heard it before, and it basically means that when problems arise in a business, it makes sense to look at the top of the company first.… Read the rest
Most leaders have no clue about culture.
No clue. Nada. Nic (Czech). Nothing.
Oh yes, they talk about culture. They convey a belief that they actually don’t understand, but they don’t.
In fact,
Those leaders that talk most about culture probably understand the least.
The leaders I know who are good at culture transformation do quietly what needs to get done.… Read the rest
I’m a piece of work.
People who know me well would agree — opinionated, not afraid to challenge, little patience with stupidity, occasionally moody.
But… I’m also honest, caring, helpful, generous, and a good listener.
Here’s the thing.
We’re a piece of work from the moment we’re born.… Read the rest
“Listen carefully!”
“Just like in communism, I can only talk to you and give you commands and information. You can’t reply or talk back. The good old times.”
Berlin tour guide
I think it still works in many companies precisely that way (remember Elon Musk), which is another sad story in itself.… Read the rest
“If you don’t like how things are, change it. You are not a tree.”
Jim Rohn
I took a liking recently to the quotes from Jim Rohn. At the risk of offending someone, I had never heard of Jim until a few months ago.
Thanks to the algorithm of Instagram, one of his quotes showed up, which was enough reason to do a little more research.… Read the rest
Or let’s debate about work a lot (less).
Wow.
They’re so so so good that it’s worth adding them to my portfolio of services. I’m just unsure how to call the service and what the tagline would be.… Read the rest
How do you motivate people?
I’m asking because I recently had a conversation about a hybrid work environment that turned into a conversation about motivation.
My opinion about a hybrid work environment is well documented, for example, in this post.
But if you dig a little deeper, we get to the topic of motivation. … Read the rest
