Category Archives for Work
Be careful when offering criticism
When you offer criticism, be aware of whom you are criticizing and how they might receive it. Case in point: A number of years ago, my son David was entering his senior year at Stanford University. He thought it might be fun to spend his last college summer freewheeling in San Francisco, working five or […]
Continue reading
Advance Your Career In Every Meeting
I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve called someone and the response I received is that they are in a meeting. I often wonder if they are in a meeting to see if they should have a meeting. According to the MeetingKing website, in the United States alone we “enjoy” 11 million […]
Continue reading
Humor in business is no joke
Life is funny. As a businessman, public speaker and author, I especially love clever stories with a message because they make important points more memorable. Over the years I have collected a filing cabinet full of great material. Since April is National Humor Month, I thought I would package up some of my favorites which […]
Continue reading
Believe in yourself even when no one else does
Life is not a parabolic curve. It doesn’t go straight up. There are a lot of lumps, a lot of bumps. I have never yet met a successful person that hasn’t had to overcome either a little or a lot of adversity in his or her life. Overnight success is much more of a myth […]
Continue reading
Perseverance pays offs
The popular Academy Award nominated movie “Darkest Hour” has brought a lot of attention to former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill recently. It’s also brought a lot of attention to Gary Oldman, who won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Churchill. According to biographers, Churchill did not have the happiest of childhoods. Neglected […]
Continue reading
Billy Graham – the best salesperson I ever met
Other ministers told funnier jokes than Billy Graham, did a better job of illustrating Bible passages and organizing sermons, but no one was more effective than Graham in getting people to step forward in front of the congregation and make a commitment. Translated from evangelism, that is what I call closing the sale. It’s no […]
Continue reading
Let it go
Joe paced back and forth in his sister’s kitchen one Sunday before dinner. His sister Carol recognized the worried look on his face and called him over to where she stood next to the sink. “Hey Joe, can you hold on to this for me?” She handed him a can of vegetable scraps. Joe took […]
Continue reading
Finding your purpose is like a treasure hunt
I had the pleasure of attending the Super Bowl in my home state of Minnesota in February along with many of the parties and events leading up to the big game. One of my favorites is Taste of the NFL, which made its debut in 1992 when Minneapolis first hosted the Super Bowl. My friend […]
Continue reading
Street Smarts put you in the fast lane
I’m back with another installment of street smarts, those skills that go beyond what is taught in school – the lessons we learn by experience and practice. Never underestimate the value and importance of “extracurricular” education. First idea: Don’t be afraid to make a decision. Be afraid NOT to make a decision. Good judgment is […]
Continue reading
Look for these traits in successful team players
It was a cold winter. The hedgehogs, realizing the situation, decided to bunch together to keep warm. However, the quills from each hedgehog pierced their next-door neighbors, so they decided to move apart. But then they started to freeze and die alone, so they made the decision to cuddle back together and live with the […]
Continue reading