Beyond the Tweet

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Amplify Gratitude

“How do you amplify gratitude?” I asked this question recently on Twitterand LinkedIn because I believe in the power of gratitude. It’s an essential element of organizations move forward. Gratitude is built into what we do every day, and how we connect with customers, our communities where we live and work, and with each other. […]

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United as a Catalyst for Change

One of my favorite parts of American Family’s culture statement comes at the end, when the focus turns to our communities. We are a catalyst for change. So people will say: “This is a better community because American Family is part of it.” As American Family’s United Way campaigns draw to a close, I wasthinking […]

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Relearning how to learn

When I was in college – a few years ago – my main objective was to learn a discipline in four years. Back then, colleges and universities hoped that by teaching all this content, something else would rub off.As students, we were supposed to figure out how to think critically, adapt, question things, become curious. […]

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My Pledge to You: Every Voice Matters

I’ve talked a lot about the transformation my company – American Family Insurance – has made. We’ve adapted to changing customer needs with a solid strategy, structure, and mission, vision and values. We’ve expanded our reach through acquisition and mergers. We’ve brought in new leaders and fresh voices. And, we’ve grown … in many ways. […]

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The CEO Podcast: A Conversation with John Legend

John Legend is talented – and busy. The Academy, Grammy and Tony Award winner has a baby on the way. He’s been on a multi-city tour of Asia. And, he’ll star in a live television adaptation of “Jesus Christ Superstar” this Sunday on NBC. As an American Family Dream Champion, John helps our brand deliver […]

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This is too important to just ‘check the box’

I was struck recently after reading an article in my local newspaper. Lawmakers had passed a resolution requiring mandatory sexual harassment-prevention training for themselves and their employees. What really stood out was the training would only need to be completed every two years. This strikes me as a check-the-box approach. You know what I mean […]

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The difference between failing and being a failure

I’m an optimist. I talk, write and tweet a lot about the great things happening at our company. Letting gratitude, optimism and belief guide my way really and truly is my approach to life. But, as a leader, at times I also need to have crucial conversations about things that aren’t so great. I don’t […]

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What are your habits for lifelong learning?

I posed a question on Twitter recently, asking folks what their habits were for lifelong learning. I appreciated reading responses and revisiting this idea of making active learning something we constantly pursue. The article I shared with my tweet was from Jeff Goins, author of The Art of Work, and it included three habits of […]

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The CEO Podcast: Derek Jeter

He’s a former Major League Baseball superstar, a philanthropist, and now media and business leader. Derek Jeter exemplifies the power of a dream champion – someone who does more than just lead by example. “The Captain” has – and continues to – inspire people to keep chasing their dreams. To have courage and heart. To […]

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Learning Self-Leadership

So, here’s a question: When faced with failure – like personal or career setbacks – why are some people able to learn from it, while others are not? Maybe it was disappointment from being passed over for promotion, not winning that award, or missing out on recognition. Why do some people learn from setbacks and […]

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