I’ve been writing and speaking about millennials since they first made their way into the workplace as teenagers in 1998. Since then, I’ve interacted with thousands of mature business owners and leaders who’ve confessed their struggles and frustrations in managing this enigmatic generation. Today, more than half of all millennials (born 1980-2000) are 25 and older, and the part-time teen workers of 1998 are…
For each of the past twenty years, my wife and I have watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation while putting up our Christmas Tree. Why we still laugh uncontrollably at the same bits we’ve seen so many times is something our kids may never fully understand, but I digress. This classic movie’s plot centers around the plans Clark Griswold (Chevy…
If you are a person who enjoys peace and serenity, you don’t yell ‘fire’ in a crowded theater nor do you whisper ‘bomb’ when going through airport security. And unless you want to incite a riot, you’d better not let the word ‘entitled’ slip out around a business owner, manager, or employer. Regardless of how…
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. An inscription on the James Farley Post Office in New York City. Ozzy is an 8-year-old golden retriever who loves to fetch our morning newspaper. Although our driveway is nearly as long as a football field, he…
Last week I had the privilege of taking a behind the scenes tour of Zappos and speaking with several of their top leaders. Mine was not the popular tour advertised on their website, but rather a real peek behind the curtain to see the wizardry of this renowned workplace culture phenomena and iconic brand. I’ve read…
Long before the iPhone 6 was launched, I was hooked on Apple. My first desktop computer was a MacIntosh SE II with a whopping 1 mb of ram, and I’ve been an Apple fanatic ever since. But as much as I crow about their products, I rave even more about the counter-intuitive culture that is continually on…
At first, Mindy appeared like she was going to be a great fit. She had a solid track record. She interviewed well. All her references checked out. But she’s completed her training 6 months ago and, for whatever reason, she’s performing well below your expectations. It cost you/your organization a pretty penny to get her this…
The Seattle Seahawks throttled the Denver Broncos (my home team) in the Super Bowl last year. Yet these two teams were, arguably, the most aggressive in signing free agents to upgrade their teams during the off-season and both are odds-on favorites to repeat as the teams in next year’s big game. That’s because when it comes…
“I can’t believe the way these young associates come to work!” Chris told me after a recent presentation. “Where did they get the idea that ‘business casual’ means cut-off shorts, flip-flops and a tank top?” That certainly wasn’t the first time I had heard the rumblings of a bewildered employer lamenting the haphazard fashion sense and…
The Sawmill Jake and Justin, 23-year-old twin brothers, worked for a large sawmill not far from where they grew up. As a friend of the sawmill’s owner, their father was aware that even though both sons had essentially the same job title and duties, Justin was paid significantly more than Jake. Curious as to why, the father…