As a professional speaker, I am often asked about my process. Specifically, what goes through my mind as I am taking the stage. My first thought is don’t trip and fall. My second thought is actually a prayer: Please use my story and this time together to add value to the people in this room. […]

I hate what the pandemic has done to our world. From lives lost and families devastated to the erosion of humanity and the decimation of dreams for many business owners, the burden is heavy in life and business. To make matters worse, this season of crisis has become a convenient excuse for some as it […]

What an interesting question. And one I had never considered until recently. I was on the phone doing a prep call with a client for an upcoming keynote. We were discussing specific content and essential takeaways that would support their theme and objectives. Everything was good. Until it got uncomfortable. It started when I mentioned […]

During the pandemic, we’ve heard the words hero and essential on a daily basis. We’ve watched as everyday people in communities, families, and organizations all over the planet rise to the challenges we’ve all faced during the crisis. And while we may not all be in the same boat, we have all most certainly been […]

During a recent leadership retreat with a client, the following question was asked: “How do we, as leaders, effectively engage with our teams in a virtual environment?” My first thought was, don’t suck at engaging your people, virtually or otherwise. Too harsh? Let’s explore… I know it is an important question. After all, the virtual […]

The dominant question on the minds of many today is, “What does The Future of Work look like?” I think the answer can be found in the History of Work. The one thing that you see throughout history in business and life is change. Everything changes, and thank goodness for that. Without change, there would […]

There are two incredible forces that heroes and high achievers use to automatically tip the scales of success in their favor. The deployment of these two forces quite literally gives them an unfair advantage in their work and life. The first is OPTIMISM. I know some of you may be rolling your eyes and thinking, […]

Theodore Roosevelt said, "Do what you can with what you have where you are." So many people just go through life coasting, going through the motions. The great ones, the people who excel at work, who build great companies, the high achievers in life, they're always great stewards of where they are right now. They […]

The great philosophy professor Howard Hendricks said, "I would rather my students drink from a running stream than a stagnant pool." So many people go through life as a stagnant pool. They never learn; they never grow; they're content to just be where they are. Nobody wants to drink from a stagnant pool. People want […]

When I was young we used to play With sticks and stones and rocks. But nothing, oh nothing, ever compared To the fun we could have with a box. Laugh and play we’d stay all day, And we might even lose our socks. Lost in space to a faraway place Inside that plain old box. […]

The opportunity to influence others is one of the great joys and responsibilities of leadership. I believe that influence is the ability to move others from where they are to someplace new—to challenge old thinking, inspire new actions and help create a pathway for excellence in the lives of others. Influence is indeed a gift. […]

Great to be with the heroes at Sprint earlier this year. Honored to share more about The Hero Effect with Colin Ridge on Sprint's Day of Learning podcast.