We have just enjoyed a wonderful 4th of July weekend wherein we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring our independence from Great Britain. While America has its problems, it is still the greatest country…
Culture is Established From the Top-down
Are you a leader? Before you answer, let me give you my definition of leadership. I define leadership as influence. Let me ask again, are you a leader? Of course you are. You might not be THE leader in your…
How NOT to run a business
A colleague of mine and I used to comment fairly often that we were going to write a book entitled, How NOT to Run a Business. We would say this, partly in jest but partly being very serious,…
Leadership Lessons My Dad Taught Me
I’m sure you’ve also run across articles championing the wisdom that the writers acquired from their fathers, and I’m sure those are great articles. Sure, my father taught me integrity and honesty and all that. I’ll let others talk about those lessons, but…
What’s Your Foundation?
If I were able to go back in time and meet myself as a twenty-something that has finished college and, for the first time, about to enter the full-time working world, what would I want to tell this younger version…
Do you walk the talk?
I was attending an event in downtown Memphis not long ago and I observed a gentleman, perhaps in his early 30s, standing among three or four other people. On one wrist he wore a copper bracelet, the type often promoted…
A Time to Honor America’s Heroes
How do you remember the men and women who died while serving in the US armed forces? What are you doing to help your children and grandchildren understand what Memorial Day means? My parents instilled in their children a love…
Got any impossibilities on your to-do list?
“Never tell a young person that anything cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for someone ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing.” – G. M. Trevelyan This past week I had the…
Leadership Lessons I learned From My Mom
Over the weekend, we celebrated and gave thanks for our mothers. It is a time when we reflect on the way our lives have been shaped and influenced by our mother. As I reflected on the impact my mother has…
Do Your Customers/Clients Overlook Your Shortcomings?
Each year in the Spring, I meet 10 or 12 of my good friends for 4 days of golf. We meet at a state park in Tennessee. My friends drive down from the Chicago area, where I used to live…