Why is it that retailers have back-to-school sales starting in August? They know that clothing purchases are made 3-4 weeks immediately before the first day of school. (They also know that few customers will purchase clothing a mere day or two beforehand.) Stores make their buying decisions months in advance. [More]
Every organization focuses on profit first, right? While this is true for the corporate world, it usually isn't true in the not-for-profit sector, nor in government. These organizations typically have many different stakeholders, including the communities they serve, donors, regulators, media, and special interest groups. And the goals of these [More]
As many homeowners know, every few years you look at your home, and decide that one room or another needs a renovation. You go through the work, perhaps re-painting, perhaps purchasing new furniture, or perhaps doing something a bit more radical. When the renovation is complete, you know that it [More]
How long does it take - or should it take - for you to master a new skill? Conventional wisdom suggests that after doing something several times, you should know it fairly well. After doing it for a few months, you should have proficiency. And after a year, you're an [More]
A typical way to develop perspective is to consider issues from different vantage points. A less common - but perhaps more valuable - way to develop perspective is to expose yourself to different ideas. One way to do this is to read books that are at the fringes of your [More]
I'm just about half way through a fascinating book, called "Linked", by Albert-Laszlo Barabasi. In it, he explores how networks grow: whether they be social networks, biological networks, the internet, or web sites. One of his most fascinating points is that the study of an individual node - whether it [More]
I was at the Report on Business Television studio, taping a few segments for some upcoming shows. In between, I spent time chatting with the host, Anne Gaviola. I made an off-hand remark that she must meet a number of fascinating guests; her reply impressed me. She said that indeed [More]
Did you ever wonder how children can so quickly learn new things? And ever hear the expression "Children should be seen, and not heard"? Maybe there is a connection between these two concepts that can help us be better leaders. Consider: it is 100% impossible to learn from others if [More]
Recently I was a speaker at an international gathering of HR professionals. For three days, participants walked through the trade show, sat in conference rooms learning new ideas, and met other folks in the business. The wonderful thing about all this education and training is that once you learn something, [More]
Ever hear the expression Learn from the Best? This is great when it comes to a coach or consultant, but a more powerful concept is Learning from the Rest. Each day, we interact with our workmates, friends, and sometimes even the youngest of children. Each of these folks has something [More]
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