Plan tight, process loose
Creating and then executing a strategic plan is not a simple thing. It is at the heart of long term organizational success. Yet, we get distracted by the day-to-day, by the bumps in the road, detours, changes of team members, disruption in cash flow, etc. Still, we must get back to the plan and its […]
Unwinding
Hard driving business leaders find it extremely difficult to unwind. Give them quiet time and their minds race with all they must get done. Many have embraced meditation or mindful breathing for short periods multiple times a day. If you are doing this, your future self thanks you. It is this daily practice that will […]
Innovation versus innovative process
Have you ever noticed that innovators talk really fast? It seems like the ideas are flooding their brain 3 times faster than the mouth can talk…or than the listener can process. Sometimes, before you can ask a question, they are on to another idea. Those who excel at innovative processes tend to talk slower. Their […]
Found Family
If you have lived in one place for a long time, you might have one too – a found family. You didn’t necessarily choose it, it just sort of developed over time. Maybe, you moved away from where you grew up. SO, you begin to spend holidays with friends in the same boat. Or, you […]
Customer “dis”-service
I drove into the car service department at my appointed time and waited 10 minutes before the tech came out with his clipboard. He nicely apologized for being late, checked my mileage and then told me I was here for a recall. I said “I thought there was an expected service as well”. He said […]
Sensemaking is a leadership skill
In a Vistage webinar on Friday, Dave Nelson commented that in the list of required leadership skills for successful leaders, perhaps the most important one in this moment, beyond, vision, drive, effective decisionmaking, ability to attract and retain top talent, etc. was sensemaking. His talk was about AI, but this captured my attention immediately. What […]
My everyday is their fabulous
A regular hike in Griffith Park takes us to a popular view spot of the Hollywood sign. We usually hear passing hikers speak many foreign languages on this hike, unlike the hike that goes right up our street. We enjoy asking people where they are from and take their group photo with the Hollywood sign […]
Business + Community
Board members of non-profits are expected to contribute their smarts and their money and show up to their fundraisers. That is part of the deal. So this week we trekked up to Sonoma to attend the gala for Kids Scoop News. They create a monthly newsletter to distribute to schools that local businesses support, full […]
Moms – thank you for your service
I remember coming out of a bathroom in an local arboretum with my 4 and 1 year old when an older lady smiled broadly at us and said how lovely my daughters were. She wished for me that I would have a moment to enjoy them. Ahhh, so did I. And, so I wish for […]
Your mind is a dangerous place
Have you recently sat quietly with your eyes closed and let your mind wander wherever it may? Perhaps you are meditating, or just breathing or giving yourself a moment to “quiet your mind.” Tell me, why is there a need to quiet the mind? Have you been paying attention to it lately? Susan Scott, the […]