Work Smarter. Dream Bigger.
In November 2013, I spent 10 days in Nepal trekking in the Himalayan Mountains. There were no paved roads above 10,000 feet, which meant no motorized vehicles.
It was just silence and the unfamiliar.
Beneath the quiet sky, we ascended, descended, and ascended more, for hours each day. Around every turn was wind, sun, and endless ranges of jagged peaks shooting toward the heavens.…[Continue Reading]
I love reading biographies of great people — warriors, titans, artists, athletes, crusaders for a cause. There’s a theme that runs across them.
Not only did those people have historic impact. They’re full of foibles and flaws.
Sometimes, it’s shocking what poor judgment or bad behaviors such brilliant people could exhibit. That is, at least when they were out of the public view.
And still, they changed the world.…[Continue Reading]
A client of mine just earned a huge new role at his company. His progress really accelerated about five years ago when he changed his old approach.
It was the stuff no one saw him doing that got him there.…[Continue Reading]
Last Friday night, Morgan William from Mississippi State caught the basketball at mid-court with 3.9 seconds left in a tie game. Her window of opportunity opened and closed in less time than it took you to read this paragraph.
Her story is one that can inspire and instruct every one of us who wants to make our dent in the Universe.…[Continue Reading]
Cooper (aka, Coop) is a strapping 16 year-old kid who just didn’t know any better.
His ONE DREAM is to play college basketball. Okay, in full disclosure, he also seems to dream about Mexican food pretty often.
He knew the first step to his big dream was to play high school basketball. And he wanted to be ready.
He logged thousands of hours of practice and play through 8th grade. Thousands.…[Continue Reading]
On Sunday, Angelique Kerber won her first US Open Title and earned her first-ever #1 world tennis ranking. At 28, she’s the oldest woman to ever achieve the #1 ranking for the first time.
Ever worry your ship already sailed without you?
Kerber’s path to the top reminds us that there is always another ship to catch. That is, if you keep playing.
She shows us that late bloomers aren’t just slow or lucky. They’ve been preparing for years, readying for their opportunities.…[Continue Reading]
Last week, Gwen Jorgensen won her first Olympic Gold medal in the women’s triathlon. In 2009, she was a 23-year old tax accountant for a Big 6 accounting firm. Her Olympic journey began with an unexpected phone call at work.
It’s a story of hope for anyone with a dream.
As the story goes, the US Olympic committee was frustrated the US hadn’t had more success in the triathlon and went searching for candidates to recruit into their program.
The ideal candidates were runners and swimmers. Jorgensen had been a swimmer and runner at the University of Wisconsin, so her profile was a perfect match.
The Olympics was not in her career plan.…[Continue Reading]
For 10, 15, and 20 years, elite athletes have been preparing to win Gold in Rio. But for much longer, TV network executives have been preparing in a different way to guarantee you’ll stay tuned in.
Their secret is 100% relevant if YOU want to win Gold in the areas that matter to you.
How do the TV networks keep you coming back?
It’s hidden in plain sight: Storytelling.…[Continue Reading]
Are you owning your stage?
On Monday night, we saw a fantastic cabaret show. The star was Jane Lynch. But truthfully, we were mostly there to see my wife Brenda’s long-time friend, Kate Flannery, who was also in the show. You might know Kate as “Meredith” from The Office. (Yes, she’s as fun in person as on TV.)
One element from this show stage translates 100% to your leadership stage. If you can pull this off, you’ll never lack a loyal following.…[Continue Reading]
What’s it take to build a dynasty?
A good friend, Sarah or “Ms. Reck” to her students, directed her final band concert last Thursday after 32 years of teaching. She was a maestro at building a talent hotbed, a place where great talent is disproportionately concentrated. Cultivated over time, talent hotbeds can grow into dynasties.
Her mastery applies far beyond teaching…so pay attention students!
Sarah reluctantly agreed to let me write about her work so we can all learn. Confession: To get her agreement, I might have failed to mention I’d use the words “talent hotbed” and “dynasty.” Forgive me, Ms. Reck!…[Continue Reading]
