When a country’s defense systems are weak, unprepared, or ill-informed, it becomes vulnerable to attack from its enemies. When a person is unaware of their surroundings, they are vulnerable to pickpockets. When immune systems are comprised, people are vulnerable to sickness. The same is true for our businesses. When we don’t pay attention to why employees leave or stay, we …
Are Things Getting Worse or Better?
“Tell someone that everything will be great and they’re likely to either shrug you off or offer a skeptical eye. Tell someone they’re in danger, and you have their undivided attention.” This is a quote from Morgan Housel, bestselling author of The Psychology of Money, as he explains our seduction with pessimism in today’s media-frenzied world. On this Monday morning, …
The Daily List
We just had the most wonderful Thanksgiving I can remember. All the people I love the most were gathered around my table, celebrating the things for which we are so grateful and blessed. I am hyper aware lately that things will change at some point in my future and that there will be a Thanksgiving when some of those faces …
Abundance Mindset
Growing up, what messages did you hear about money? All that glitters is not gold. Money doesn’t grow on trees. A penny saved is a penny earned. Money is the root of all evil. Don’t step over dollars to pick up dimes. He went from rags to riches. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. He who …
The Gap
The idea of “the gap” in business is not a new thing. There are at least a half a dozen books written by different authors titled, “The Leadership Gap,” which all focus on identifying and closing the gaps in our leadership style which create a negative outcome. Plenty of consulting firms focus on helping businesses analyze the gap between their …
Matchmaking
“Matchmaker, Matchmaker, make me a match, find me a find, catch me a catch…” Those famous lyrics from the musical, Fiddler on the Roof, haunted me 10 years ago when Tom and I were looking for our wedding venue. We had four very different experiences at the places we visited, all providing more evidence to me that most of us …
Talk to the Hand!
When my boys were young, a few of the words that signaled you were “cool” were words like “rad” or “sick” or “gnarly.” I fortunately skipped over the era of “Whazzup!?” and “Chillax!” But one phrase that seemed to find its way into the popular lexicon over the last decade was “talk to the hand” which of course meant “stop …
The Fuel of Frustration
Would it surprise you if I said that I love frustration? Oh, not for me. I hate it when I’m frustrated, yet I actually love it when a client or team member tells me they’re frustrated because frustration can be one of the single greatest motivators for action. When we feel frustrated, it means that we care strongly about something …
The BIG Difference
Someone recently asked me what was different about my current marriage and its success in relation to my previous marriage which ended in divorce. I didn’t have to think long about my answer: communication. The difference is in the quality of it, the timing of it, and the intention and discipline of it. And it’s not that different when I …
Every Table is Everyone’s Table
One Friday night, Tom and I met for a well-deserved happy hour and dinner after a very long, full week. Tom chose one of his favorites, a local San Diego brewery, Karl Strauss. The modern, rustic restaurant has only been open in Temecula for about a year. Unlike most places (especially when they first open), since the very first time …