It’s winter where I live. With winter comes cold, dark nights. But spring doesn’t come without winter. As you go through life, you learn this lesson about the cycle of the seasons, their ups and downs. Eventually, you discover that it applies to other parts of your life as well. I know I have. Like
When Jim Malecha was named the CEO of Egan Company, his predecessor said, “I know how strong your faith and ethics are. You will make sure the company sticks to that.” And indeed he has prioritized people over profits and consistency over comfort. At work, it’s easy to be self-defined by what you do rather
Collin Barr has a framed vision statement behind his desk that reads: Solid Business Builder, Great Community Builder, He Made a Real Difference. As a market president for a national construction, development and property management company, he has indeed built and made a difference. Like many successful leaders, Collin pushes the limits of his schedule
“He’s gone.” Even now, more than seven years removed from the day, Cory Wessman can still picture the doctor’s grim face as he shared the news that Cory’s son Micah had died. Each of us has a story, narratives that shape who we are as human beings. Sometimes, our most difficult stories to tell are
In her TED Talk, The power of vulnerability (the fourth most-watched in the series, with 28 million views and counting), Brene Brown discusses research showing that we build connections, contentment and credibility when we “show up as we really are.” And “as we really are” is wounded—vulnerable. Maybe not right at this moment. Perhaps you
It was a tense, even stifling, environment. People were afraid to fail, so they avoided risks. They were reluctant to speak up in meetings or challenge ideas. The reason? The leader. He was never out of control, always in charge, always one step ahead of everyone else. Never vulnerable. Always composed. For all his self-assurance,
Do you want to be more productive this year even in the midst of competing demands on your time and attention? Your inbox might be one of your biggest barriers to achieving that goal. Here’s why. First, the typical email inbox is an unprioritized to-do list apart from any other planning tools you use. Emails
I’ve recently been determined not to go to any boring parties. No boring family gatherings. No dull small talk at events. No hoping to find an early exit to a conversation. That’s right. I’ve decided that I only want to spend time with interesting people. I suppose I could try to seek out these interesting
In his powerful book A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix, Edwin Friedman talks about an anxious world’s desperate need for a non-anxious leader. He describes this type of leader as follows: I mean someone who has clarity about his or her own life goals, and, therefore, someone who is
Despite the strain, I love the predictability of the events that mark this time of year: Thanksgiving Day football and the family meal that follows Faith holidays (For me it’s Advent, our annual tree cutting, the annual holiday card and Christmas.) Year-end financials and planning for next year The annual Dale Carnegie Convention These and
Matt Norman is president of Norman & Associates, which offers Dale Carnegie Training in the North Central US. Dale Carnegie Training is a global organization ...READ MORE