It was a spring afternoon, and I was driving by myself on I-35 from Kansas City to Southern Iowa to see my granddad. Granddad’s health had been deteriorating, and I felt compelled to visit him, wondering if this might be…
One of the first news stories I read this morning in the USA Today Money section online was titled, Kraft Shares Soar as Investors Drink Heinz-Kraft “Kool-Aid.” The article emphasized the 30%-plus surge in Kraft stocks that happened in the…
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote… “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” I firmly believe in order to lead well you must know yourself. Knowing yourself is being aware…
Leaders are decision makers. You may have a title that requires you to make decisions. You may have the influence of expertise, longevity, respect, or knowledge that places you as the decision maker. As a decision-making leader it is important…
I have often heard the statement, “You should hire people who are smarter than you.” You might want to reconsider this proposition before jumping on the bandwagon of this leadership ideology. To begin, let me define a smart person. This…
Where Am I Headed? Recently, I spoke with a lady who works for a very large organization. She has taken on a role in the past three months to create a new line of business in an area in which…
With the rise of social media, a compelling addiction to our devices, and a culture of privacy, has the art of building personal relationships diminished? Honestly, I am not sure I know the answer. However, I do believe that the…
As I enter into the New Year, I have the personal desire to refocus and gain clarity for my life. I am a strong believer and practitioner of defining personal and professional direction in order to achieve my desired outcomes.…
Influence In John Maxwell’s book, “Developing the Leader Within You,” he defines leadership simply as influence. John writes, “Leadership is influence. That’s it. Nothing more; nothing less.” While influence is at the core of understanding leadership, it is important to…
In our American tradition, the first Thanksgiving is attributed to the Pilgrims that traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to settle in Plymouth. The Mayflower carried 102 hopeful passengers across the wide open ocean to start a new life. They landed…