Pursue Stretch Opportunities & Build Your Team
He’s worth $21 billion today, but 10 years ago, Elon Musk was flat broke. During the 2008 financial crisis, Tesla and SpaceX were on the verge of bankruptcy. Rather than let his companies implode, Musk opted to go personally bankrupt, pouring all his remaining cash...
Culture of Accountability or Culture of Fear?
In 2016, regulators fined the banking giant, Wells Fargo, $185 million for an illegal cross-selling scheme. Bank employees had created millions of fraudulent accounts, at the behest of managers, to hit lofty sales goals. While over 5,000 workers were fired for...
Is Vulnerability the New Accountability … the Latest Leadership Model? (Remake)
Isn’t it funny how new buzzwords come along every so often, and get everyone talking? I recently enjoyed an article on Forbes.com wherein the author posed the question, “Is it okay for leaders to show vulnerability?” When I hear the word vulnerability, I think of...
Do You Have an Attitude of Accountability?
A culture of accountability begins with an attitude of accountability. Do you have an attitude of accountability? Accountability = Ownership This includes ownership of your thoughts, actions, feelings, and last but hardly least, your results. Accountability is the...
Your Personal Brand is Always on “Candid Camera”
"Smile! You’re on candid camera." Today, deep in thought while waiting for the bagel I ordered to be toasted, I heard the cashier say, “Smile. It will make your day go better.” Once I realized that she was talking to me, I turned to look at her. She said, “I don’t...
Presenting to a Hostile Audience?
Sometimes you have an important message to share -- but they aren't going to like it... There are many situations where you might need to deliver an unwelcome message. Maybe it’s a downsizing or reduction in hours, coming up short on sales goals, or even a business...
Q&A Pointer: Handling Stage Hogs
Handling questions gets a little trickier when you have a "stage hog" in the audience. Here's one way to plan ahead for the Q&A. Stage hogs are people who like to be heard, like to interrupt, and have a need to be noticed. Before you know it, a stage hog can...
Sample – How To Post
INTRODUCTION: Your “how to” blog post should teach the reader how to do something by breaking it down into a series of steps. Begin your blog post by explaining what problem you are going to solve through your explanation and be sure to include any relevant...
Seated Presentation Do’s and Don’ts
How do you adjust your body language for seated presentations? What should you do with your hands -- and what shouldn't you do? This infographic provides quick tips for your next seated presentation.
Propaganda, Post-truth and Persuasion
My great-grandmother was a runner. Before her 10th birthday my great-grandmother was a child-spy, tasked with running between villages to warn that “The Cossacks are coming.” Lillian Malchin (Glass) was born at the turn of the last century in Minsk, then part of...