I grew up in Michigan. The winters can be harsh there. Bitter cold at times. Enough to keep a lot of folks indoors. But not us kids. Schools are closed and there are snow mountains waiting to be conquered. “Layer up,” mom would say. So that’s what we did. We put on layer after layer […]

I’ve been blessed to be around great leaders. Strong leaders. Here are some of the characteristics I have observed in them. Strong leaders ask great questions. They understand that the smartest person in the room generally isn’t them. They invite smart people into the room and ask really good questions. Strong leaders are curious. They […]

Creating a culture that drives organizational excellence and customer loyalty is not only essential, I believe it is heroic. Now more than ever, leaders must focus on and find ways to harness the power of culture by creating a positive, innovative, and pliable environment where teammates can become the best version of themselves and contribute […]

When our son Josh was little, we were going on our first “big trip” as a family. We were headed to Hawaii. I was going for work. My bride and Josh were going for fun. As it should be. The first leg was Nashville to Los Angeles. As the 757 took flight we quickly found […]

On February 5, 2024, the world lost an entertainment icon in Toby Keith. A country music titan and legendary songwriter who left us too soon. But his words remain. In his songs. And in one of his final television interviews. The conversation turned to the song he sang at the People’s Choice Country Awards where […]

Sometimes, when I feel the heaviness of work and life, I think about my grandmother and this little story. It always makes me smile and brings a little perspective. I hope you enjoy it.When I was a boy, my family didn’t have much money, so vacations were usually just a few miles from home. Today, […]

Low-payoff activities are like gnats. Flying around you constantly. Distracting you. Annoying you. Serving no purpose. In business and in life, there are gnats all around. Things that demand your attention. Bugging you. Fake work. Busyness. Low-priority stuff. Keeping you from your real work. The work that matters. Work that yields the highest returns. Today, […]

As a young man trying to find my way, a mentor shared life-changing wisdom with me. He helped me become a better person. A better leader. He helped me in ways that I could never repay. Except to share his wisdom with others. You, perhaps. After all, wisdom isn’t really owned. It’s borrowed. And becomes […]

“The greatest tragedy for any human being is going through their entire lives believing the only perspective that matters is their own. We need to break down those walls and barriers and get people to see that there's perspectives outside of their own eyes.” ― Doug Baldwin When was the last time you felt misunderstood? […]

Do you ever feel overwhelmed from trying to be all things to all people? When was the last time you said “yes” to something and later regretted it because it took time away from people and activities you truly valued? Many of us struggle with overcommitting — we say yes to requests and opportunities even […]

January is a great time for new things - a new year, new opportunities for change, and of course...new resolutions destined for failure! Cue dramatic music. Yes, it's that familiar time of year when nearly half of Americans boldly declare their ambitious New Year's resolutions only to ditch them a week or two later. We've […]

Below is a recent article by author and leadership speaker Dr. Patrick Leddin that has some great advice on cultivating empathy. A skill that seems to be lost in our hectic, busy lives of wanting to check items off the list, or solve problems quickly and move on to the next. This week I hope […]