Priorities
Position Yourself for Success
We all fulfill several positions in our lives. I am a business owner, a professor, a father, a husband, a dog owner, an author, a speaker. You may be an accountant, a sister, and a choir director. Throughout the year, we can take on a new position without fully understanding performance expectations or examining the…
Read MoreLeadership, Porta-Potties, and Dumpsters
On a recent neighborhood walk, I passed a home undergoing renovation. There were several telltale signs – workers milling about, a building in disrepair, and both a dumpster and porta-potty nearby. The latter items caught my eye. Why? The dumpster and the porta-potty sat side-by-side on the same carriage. It was brilliant. Someone must have…
Read More7 Sources of Problems
When I sat down to write this article, my mind was filled with the news of the day. The headlines tell us that we are collectively facing a great number of problems: COVID-19, a struggling economy, divisiveness at every turn, geopolitical instability, the list goes on and on. Beyond the national and international issues, I…
Read MoreAssess Your Convictions
A few days ago, I served as a judge in a business pitch competition. In all likelihood, you have seen these types of competitions before on television. One by one, the various contestants step on stage to present their business idea to the judges in hopes of receiving funding or support. After the pitch, the…
Read MoreBe a Raving Fan
This past weekend, my wife, Jamie, and I went to a concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. If you are familiar with the Ryman, you know it is a special place. Unlike a large stadium filled with tens of thousands of people, the Ryman is an intimate setting. It also has a long…
Read MoreHeads-up Leadership
I once rode a bike into a parked car. It’s true. Distracted by a problem with my pedals, I rode directly into the back of a parked car. I flew over the handlebars and crashed into the back window. I then rolled off of the trunk and landed in the grass adjacent to the vehicle.…
Read MoreLeading Through Trauma
I teach a class at Vanderbilt University called Leading Business Through Times of Crisis. This week we read a 2002 Harvard Business Review (HBR) article titled Leading Through Trauma. In the article, the authors argue that: “Although the human capacity to show compassion is universal, some organizations suppress it while others create an environment in which compassion is…
Read MoreHow Did You Spend Your Summer Vacation?
Over the last two weeks, students have started to return to Vanderbilt University. I enjoy it when they arrive back on campus as they bring energy and excitement with them. As I walked across campus today, I thought about the all-too-common question that is undoubtedly popping up in dorm rooms, dining halls, and other…
Read MoreBreaking Customer Trust
Imagine for a moment that a new coffee shop is built in your neighborhood. From your perspective, it seems perfect. You love coffee; you drive by the coffee shop’s future location nearly every day, and the new store is going to feature a drive-thru. Could it get any better? Over the next several months, you…
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