Perspective has a big role in how one views leadership. For me, it can be defined a couple of ways. The first is keeping a steady rudder in choppy waters. Equally important is understanding and inspiring those around you to reach whatever potential they wish to achieve, then raising the bar a bit higher. It …
There are many layers to being successful, and some things come easier than others. In the construction business, we may not have daily interaction with our customers, but we do have a lot of visibility with the public. Most of the people who walk or drive past one of our construction sites have no idea …
Recently, I was visiting with a friend who has a promising business concept in the works but is lacking cash. As many in the business world know, a startup usually takes twice as much cash and twice as long to get to a profit than the initial forecast. Most people won’t go broke because they …
This week, I had lunch with a couple of longtime acquaintances. One is a banker with a Fortune 100 company, and the other is a successful multifamily developer. Our conversation drifted to hiring great talent in this tight market, and what we look for in new team members. Having the necessary background and experience is …
I was recently reacquainted with an old trick for becoming more persuasive. Instead of just making a request, add the word “because” to your sentence. Giving a little context gets a much more positive response, with 55% more compliance than if you omitted it, according to a classic Harvard study conducted in a traditional office setting. …
Last weekend, I got to attend the United States Olympian and Paralympians Association Reunion in Colorado Springs as a guest of Jennifer Chandler, a gold medalist diver (spring board). This group reconnects every four years, bringing together fellow athletes who competed on the world stage to get briefed on future Olympic games. This time we …
I took away the most interesting quote from a recent article on the power of positive thinking: “Optimism is fuel for quality of life.” To summarize, people who have the “glass half full” mentality tend to preform better at work, have better overall health and live longer. They argue for what’s called “conditional optimism,” where you take deliberate action to positively …
Like many, I have spent some time following the war and tragedy in Ukraine. When I heard about a seminar comparing the leaders of both countries led by industrial psychologist and friend Duncan Hulsey, I was curious to hear his thoughts. It’s interesting to note that even though Russia seems to have superior resources, for the …
I recently heard a smart rule for making the decision of how to communicate: Use email primarily for notifications where emotions will be low. Save the discussions for two-way communication like a call, or better yet, a face-to-face meeting. While it may take a little more planning on the front end, this allows for instant responses back and …
Impatience has long been a characteristic that people try to improve upon, control or reduce. “Good things come to those who wait,” as the saying goes, but what if impatience is actually good, when taken in small doses? According to this article, in certain circumstances, being impatient can also make one a bit more efficient …
Over the years, I’ve learned this truth: Nothing is ever as good or as bad as it seems at first. Most people tend to exaggerate in one direction, especially in the evening. I have also discovered that a few days of waiting on either side of the equation is a good practice. That little bit …
Do you remember that old expression, “The customer is always right?” Sometimes, it’s a hard pill to swallow. In any business, there will be times when you know you are right, but you have to back down a little for the sake of a relationship. It may be that you are quibbling over a detail …