This time of year, we often contemplate New Year's resolutions. What's at the top of the list for many people? Exercising and getting your body in shape. A noble thought, to be sure, but I have an eve... more
Sometimes the columns that get the biggest reaction are those that offer the simplest advice. A couple of weeks ago I wrote about street-smart ideas and was inundated with requests for more. A few rea... more
When I was cutting my teeth in the sales game right after college, I made sure to read or listen to everything I could get my hands on from several sales and motivational legends -- Napoleon Hill, Ear... more
Education is a steppingstone to success, but some of the most important lessons aren't taught in class. There are plenty of life lessons that we need to know, and the textbooks often do not have chapt... more
According to various surveys, seven of eight people go home every night with a feeling that they work for an organization that doesn't care about them. That equates to 130 million people in the United... more
You learn how to be book smart in school, but you better not forget that you also need to be street-smart. There's an old saying about how the "A" students in school end up working for the "B" and "C"... more
A sea captain and his chief engineer got into an argument about which one was more important to the ship. Finally, they decided to trade places for a day. After a few hours, the captain suddenly appea... more
As I was driving down a busy street in St. Paul, Minn., last week, I noticed among the preponderance of political yard signs that one stood out. In large letters, it simply said "JUST VOTE."... more
It's election season, and one of the greatest privileges we have in America is selecting our own leaders. While we might have widely varied opinions of who should win, the fundamental characteristics ... more
The old cartoon strip character Calvin, from "Calvin and Hobbes," once said the difference between him and the rest of the world was, "Happiness isn't good enough for me! I demand euphoria!"... more
"Trust flows from individuals, not organizations." That's the best summary I can provide of David Horsager's hot new book, "The Trust Edge -- How Top Leaders Gain Faster Results, Deeper Relationships ... more
Last week, I told you about the remarkable athletic performances I witnessed at the London Olympic Games. My wife tells me that it's a good thing the Summer Olympics are held only every four years, or... more
"What makes me happy?" It's a question we all should ask ourselves periodically, since all of our actions should, in some way, be directed toward achieving happiness. Initially, thoughts of riches bey... more
Because I do a lot of public speaking, I have developed a deep appreciation for top-notch speakers. So when I was brainstorming and looking for a real showstopper to address a group of businesspeople ... more
When comedian Larry the Cable Guy says, "Git 'er done," he's simply defining one of the buzzwords heard in boardrooms and offices everywhere -- execution intelligence, also known as XQ.... more
You are driving to work when another driver suddenly cuts into your lane and nearly clips you. You immediately get mad and it sets you off for the morning.... more
Take a look at the back of a dollar bill. A pyramid with an eye at the top is on the left. Over the pyramid is the Latin inscription "annuit coeptis," which means "providence has favored our undertaki... more
A Midwest university professor complained: "We are now focusing more on how to use the tools of communication than we are on how to effectively communicate. ... As a result, we are turning out compute... more
A famous organist was performing a concert on a huge antique organ in front of a large audience. The bellows were hand-pumped by a boy seated behind a screen, unseen by any in the vast auditorium. The... more
"The surest way for an executive to kill himself is to refuse to learn how, and when, and to whom to delegate work," said James Cash Penney, founder of J.C. Penney Co.... more
OK, all you golfers -- ever played a skins game? In simple terms: Players during a round of golf wager on the best score for a single hole. If there's a tie, the "pot" rolls over to the next hole. One... more
As we enter the long hot summer of politics and read stories daily about corporate strategies, one common theme emerges: leadership. And there is seldom agreement about what real leadership looks like... more
In December 2010, 26-year-old Mohamed Bouazizi set fire to himself. This street vendor had been rousted and humiliated once again by Tunisian police for hawking apples and pears out of a wheelbarrow. ... more
Jim came into the office one morning and found a note from his boss, demanding that he report to her office right away. When he walked in, the boss told him to close the door.... more
A father who had been laid off from his job had been watching expenses for months. He'd made a promise to his two sons -- twins -- that he'd take them to a nearby amusement park to celebrate their ten... more