Leaders lead. And they follow. These sentences sound contradictory, right? After all, we’ve all been conditioned to view leaders as … those out in front, those leading change, those making things happen. We have the context of historical leaders with tremendous personal will and courage. I’ve written about leadership and courage before, so it does seem […]
Read MoreI was at a town hall meeting at one of my company’s processing centers recently. A manager gave me some feedback, and it reinforced something I’d been thinking about lately. Basically, the feedback was: We can do a better job recognizing and thanking those around us who, day in and day out, get the “less […]
Read MoreIn college, I had this great picture of Jim Morrison on my dorm room wall. It spurred lots of conversation with my friends. His wild and often “strange” on-stage presence complemented the Doors’ new type of music. It also gave Morrison a reputation for being provocative … Ed Sullivan looked more than a bit uncomfortable […]
Read MoreMy bracket stinks! My friends say that I’m the consummate “homer,” having most Wisconsin teams and Big Ten conference competitors going deep into the tournament. I still hold out hope for a few of my picks … for now. How are your brackets holding up? I’m amazed, again, seeing the number of underdogs that surprise […]
Read MoreWe’re used to businesses that have vision or mission statements, but what about a personal mission statement? Or a family mission statement? That’s what Regan Fackrell and his family make every year. “Fackrells don’t say can’t!” It’s the family theme for 2014, a tradition Regan (who is a sales director at my company) and his […]
Read MoreAt an industry meeting a few years ago, my company was compared to our competitors. It was not a flattering comparison. I believe the term used was “runt of the big guys.” Let’s just say I wasn’t too thrilled to hear my company – which has been around more than 85 years – described in […]
Read MoreI recently met with our company’s Rosenberry Society members – these are young professionals, mostly in their 20s, who are making a difference in their community by supporting the United Way with their time and their talents … and their money. We have around 100 Rosenberry members who are learning together about philanthropy, networking and service. I […]
Read MoreAt our annual sales management conference last month, Michael Riggs (American Family’s fantastic sales director from Georgia) asked my opinion on a simple question: “In one word, what’s the most important leadership trait?” I didn’t hesitate with my response, but I must admit … a number of things flashed through my mind! Things like: The […]
Read MoreThanks for the great feedback on my first blog post. I enjoyed the interaction and your thoughts on The Culture You Deserve. One piece of feedback came from an employee of mine. We went back and forth via email about who is best positioned to succeed when a company changes culture and strategy, and moves […]
Read MoreI recently had lunch with a few folks in my company’s cafeteria. After some questions about how we’re doing as a company (you know, financials, new projects, etc.), the conversation turned to our long-term plans – and how we could make those strategies happen. That’s when someone made a statement – one I’ve heard a […]
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