I took some out-of-town guests to see a show at Second City over the holidays. Second City has had a remarkable influence on comedy since it began in the 1950s. The number of Saturday Night Live alumni who hail from Second City is huge. I always enjoy the late show on the weekend because, after the …
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As I've written about before, change is very challenging to deal with – both personally and professionally. In Europe and North America, almost 50% of marriages end in divorce. That's with TWO people! Making change happen in your own company, even if it's for the soundest of business reasons, has …
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The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said. - Peter Drucker In a discussion with a client late last year we spoke of the difference between having power and having influence. His role did not command a large staff or a large budget, but he did lead a technical team that …
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You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor. - Aristotle A client of mine for many years is on a prominent financial advisory team that manages in excess of $7 billion for its clients. One member of the team recently announced his …
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Michael Hyatt is a leadership guru that I follow online. He is a former publishing executive who has been very successful in building an online marketing juggernaut from scratch. Michael recently hosted a goal setting seminar that I found enlightening and motivating. Here are some key steps he …
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This is the time of year when we've already reviewed this year's performance or are preparing to do so. We do this because it's always valuable to see how well we have performed and prepare for the next year's objectives—and, sometimes that review is done to justify what you may be due for bonus …
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You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give. - Winston Churchill Just two weeks ago it was Thanksgiving. I always thought of Thanksgiving as the official beginning of the holiday season and it begins with us giving thanks for the bounty that we have in our lives. Much of …
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As the year hurtles to its conclusion, most of us will reflect back on what we accomplished and also what will fall into the pile labeled "good intentions". Making the best use of that fleeting resource – time – will always be a challenge. As you make your reflections, please also begin to consider …
To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly. - Henri Bergson, French Philosopher (1859 – 1941) Fast Company magazine is a publication that I have followed for many years. In 2005, the cover of its May issue was entitled "Change or Die". Needless …
Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. - Albert Einstein I realize it's a little early to be considering New Year's resolutions, but I would like to recommend one end of the year activity. It's one we all think about, often with a …
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I got a note today from a friend who I had done quite a bit of work with on Habitat for Humanity projects over the years. She and her team were looking for ways to get a fresh look at how to present their value proposition to a long-standing client that had decided to put the work out for bid. This …
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Last Sunday night I saw something quite remarkable. Nik Wallenda walked across a tightrope for two city blocks across the Chicago River between two high-rises at a height of 600 feet. He did it in cool temperatures on an early November night. A friend of mine and I watched in a crowd of about …
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