If I was a college football player, I would want Dabo Swinney for a coach. Like most Division I coaches, he’s talented in strategy and implementation, but to me, what sets him apart is his empathy, passion and ability to see things others may not. That’s all true both on and off the field. A few years ago, a …
This month has been a rough one for the Auburn family, as we lost legendary quarterback Pat Sullivan. He played under coach Shug Jordan, along with my friend Dick Schmalz, one of Sullivan’s favorite receivers. I had a conversation with Dick this week about Coach Jordan. He served in the Army as a Captain during …
It’s the season for holiday parties, when we’re often catching up with folks we haven’t seen in a while and meeting a few new faces. It’s a good time to dust off best practices for getting to know people, whatever the setting. Here are a few that have proven most powerful for me: Name recall. …
At some point in life, I feel like many of us are guilty of reaching that “got to have” goal we set for ourselves and then not hitting the “pause button” after we get there. Instead, we just set off chasing another goal. Sometimes it’s hard to stop and reflect on what has been accomplished, …
Each year, we make a pilgrimage to South Dakota, west of the Missouri River, near the Black Hills, to spend a few days with our friends at Lame Johnny Ranch. We spend our days chasing pheasants wherever the dogs’ noses lead us. This was my 30th year to make the trip, and I’ve watched as …
A Greek poet by the name of Archilochus famously said, “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.” In this conflict, a fox would seem to be an obvious winner, “but not so fast,” as Lee Corso might say. Foxes are sleek, quick and sneaky, spending their time devising strategies to be …
Today marked the conclusion of the 24th World Scout Jamboree, where 45,000 Scouts from 167 countries came together at the Summit Bechtel Reserve. For 2 weeks, the Scouts participated in skill challenges, learning a bit more about each other’s countries, enjoying diverse food and more importantly, learning to respect each other’s differences in religion and …
I was on a flight recently with the owner of a relatively young California software company. He shared that in the beginning, he pursued every prospect that walked in the door. As his company matured, it became a balancing act between the value and the cost of production. His company, like all successful businesses, learned …
Recently, I was with the CEO of one of our longtime customer relationships, talking over lunch. As I was listening to him, I was reminded how success taints our vision at times. When we fail, our vision is crystal clear. This company was particularly successful for several decades. They could do no wrong, make no …
I recently heard a Mark Twain quote that resonated with me: “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” Many things are advancing in our modern world, but language doesn’t seem to be one of them. If you’re talking to a coworker or …
I was reminded recently of a story someone told me years ago while I was attending the Center Build Conference in Phoenix. it went something like this: There was a conflict brewing in a restaurant kitchen. Two sous chefs were at each other’s throats with butcher knives in hand. (Maybe not quite, but a fight …
Never underestimate the value of a solid first impression, as there is never a second chance. While perception may change over time, to me, that first impression seems to be what we all remember the most. Thursday evening, I was out of town, checking into the hotel rather late, and used valet parking. While the valet …