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…
There are an estimated 50 million people in the world who claim they play the guitar. Meet the one person who works it. Mike Rayburn is a guitar virtuoso. In fact, his concerts have sold out Carnegie Hall eight times. But this isn’t about the talents of a renowned musician; it’s about the relentless work ethic that underlies a brilliant career. And…
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…
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…
This is a guest post by my good friend and colleague, Robert Wendover. Bob is the Director of the Center for Generational Studies and the award-winning author of Figure It Out! Making Smart Decisions in a Dumbed-Down World. I highly recommend this book! Go ahead, I dare you. Ask a random person within your firm or organization, “How does this…
“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…
Recently my wife commented on how much time I was spending watching the NFL Draft coverage on ESPN. “You’re a Bronco fan. They don’t pick again for an hour, at least. Are you really that fascinated by who Buffalo selects in the 5th round?” she asked. But there I sat along with 45.7 million other…
“Do as I say, not as I do.” There was a time when a parent who smoked, drank excessively, cursed, etc. could demand – and often expect – a different standard of behavior from their children simply by telling them ” I want you to have a better life than the one I’m living, so…
My wife and I have three lazy dogs. Given the choice, I know Ozzy, Olivia and Toby would like to be out chasing the deer, elk, and fox that run free in the mountains surrounding our house, but we can’t trust that they’ll come back so we don’t give them that freedom. As a result,…
You invested a lot of time, energy, and money bringing on that new employee. They show up on that first day ready for your orientation doing their best to disguise their nervous anxiety. Feeling a bit anxious yourself, you want to get them up and running as quickly as possible so as to maximize your…