First, Best or Different
Something has changed in the digital world. Many of us sense it but struggle to describe it. We are surrounded by information, yet trust seems to be disappearing. It isn't just Instagram influencers posting carefully edited versions of their lives. It isn't only AI-generated images
"Our value proposition is leveraged on our legacy-system-enabled protocols, providing strategic global connectivity while maximizing stakeholder value through AI-driven customer-concentric solutions." What? When I hear language like this, my eyes glaze over. I stop listening. I suspect I'm not alone. Business has
Have you ever met someone and formed an opinion before they finished their first sentence? We all have. It's human nature. Whether you're interviewing for a job, pitching investors, leading a meeting, or simply meeting someone for the first time, people begin forming impressions within seconds.
One of the most dangerous phrases in business is, "If it isn't broke, don't fix it. " It sounds practical. It sounds responsible. It sounds safe. It is often exactly the wrong advice. Businesses rarely fail overnight. They fail because they slowly become prisoners of
You are talking to someone all day long. That someone is you. Most people pay close attention to what others say to them but rarely examine the running conversation taking place inside their own minds. Yet that internal dialogue may be the most influential voice they ever hear. For some,
"Perfect is the enemy of good." Often attributed to Voltaire, this quote reminds us that the pursuit of perfection frequently becomes an excuse for inaction. We wait. We tweak. We revise. We analyze. Meanwhile, the opportunity passes by. Entrepreneurs are especially vulnerable to this trap. Many founders delay
I come from the land of overthinking. After 23 years at a university, I had a front-row seat to analysis. Faculty members, researchers, students, and administrators all shared a common trait: the desire to think deeply. Thinking is valuable. It helps us understand complex situations, solve difficult problems, and
When things go sideways, you can always send in the clowns. There is an old public relations tactic that surfaces whenever institutions get into trouble. When the real story becomes too damaging, too embarrassing, or too expensive to explain away, they “send in the clowns.” Not literal clowns
Modern culture worships busyness. Packed calendars. Back to back Zoom calls. You have heard the silly brag of “I’m slammed.” Yet, I increasingly wonder if over-scheduling is actually a form of self sabotage. Nothing can be something. At work, the mythical 40-hour fully work
There is an old African proverb often quoted in startup circles: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” (Disclosure: I just read this quote and had not heard it before. I am always learning. Back to the blog.) Like
For much of my life I have avoided the Hokey Pokey, which is a silly dance best suited for children and seriously inebriated adults. You know what I mean. It is for kindergartners who are innocent and carefree; for them the Hokey Pokey is just natural. For those in mid-
In the late 19th century, carnival games were built for adults, not kids. No giant stuffed animals. No plush giraffes. If you won, you might walk away with a cigar. If you didn’t quite get there, you got nothing. That is where the phrase close but no cigar
In my last post, I talked about the four types of friends. Acquaintances. Casual friends. Close friends. Lifelong friends. Now I want to zero in on one category that matters more than most people realize.Close friends. Not lifelong friends. Not casual connections. Close friends. And here is the point.
Six months ago, I closed one chapter and opened another. After more than 30 years in Southern California, I retired and moved to Washington state. The update? It’s stunning up here. The trees, the water, the quiet. And best of all, my kids and grandkids are close. I
Inspired by “My Give-a-Damn Is Broken” by Delta Blues Brother * “My give-a-damn is broken… And it finally set me free.” Six months into retirement and a move to Washington state, I’ve noticed something subtle but powerful. My tolerance for