Take Your Candle, And Go Light Your World: Part 1
In my last post, “Find Your Inner Japan Grab,” I promised to kick off a series of posts that ask simple questions of you, so that you find that spark of inspiration that sets you apart from everyone else. To follow the metaphor theme, my hope is that through this series of self-exploration you’ll find ...
Find Your Inner Japan Grab
I’m always amazed by how you can find inspiration unsuspectingly in everyday life. That happened this past weekend watching the Olympics. I don’t necessarily assume a gold medal recipient is a leader, per se. However, once in a while how someone got the gold can teach us a lot about our own lives. Take Sage ...
I’m Wide Awake
The kids and I were listening to a U2 playlist in the car recently. When the live version of “Bad” was over, one of my eight-year-olds said, “I don’t get this song. What does he mean, ‘I’m wide awake, I’m wide awake?'” I have heard this song no less than 1000 times since high school ...
Who’s Got Your Back?
Along with the cornerstone activity of setting goals and imagining them to be true from my last post, “The Slow Death of Idle,” another tried-and-true quality among leaders we respect and admire is having a long list of supporters. We all know despite technological advances in the workplace we still need meaningful face-to-face exchanges, particularly when ...
The Slow Death of Idle
There isn’t a lot more you can say about the New Year holiday that hasn’t already been said. However, one concept is worth repeating, every year. It’s because our bodies and minds are in a constant state of contradiction. There is a part of our brain that strives for homeostasis, to have things stay the ...
Answering One Question Could Change Your Life
In the context of being inspired, doing purposeful work and subsequently becoming an authentic leader, there is one question that is sure to give insight to anyone that answers it. Better, it could literally transform you, if you let it. It comes from a fantastic little book called, “Find Your Great Work,” by Michael Bungay Stanier, ...
100,000+ Books on Leadership, Why Aren’t There More Leaders?
A former colleague that I admire and respect proposed writing a leadership book together. One of the first things I did was scan what was already out there. To my surprise, a basic “leadership” search on Amazon.com resulted in over 100,000 titles. While I admit my blog post title is presumptive (maybe there are more ...
http://hbr.org/2013/07/connect-then-lead/ar/1
http://hbr.org/2013/07/connect-then-lead/ar/1 Excellent article on influence — in this case, the delicate balance of being liked and showing strength and why the former is more important.
The Time Has Come to Manufacture a Crisis
I have a favorite quote, “Nothing breeds motivation like necessity.” It sums up the challenge that plagues any person or entity in a position to try to change others: despite earnest attempts the last two decades in the fields of change management and engagement, the fact remains, people don’t like to change unless they absolutely ...
Turn on the Light
No matter who you are or what job you have, there’s a leader in you. However, sometimes leadership stalls between who you are and what others see. What do others see in you? One might call this self-awareness. I call it self-management. With the goal of being adaptable for anything that comes your way, knowing ...
McLaren Consulting 