Several years ago, a movie called “The Pursuit of Happyness” debuted. It was based on the real-life story of Chris Gardner, a highly successful businessman who was once homeless. It compellingly shows how one man and his young son went from sleeping on the floor in a public restroom to...

Throughout history, landmarks have been used to mark important places and events. They represent boundaries, victories, memories, histories, and discoveries. Landmarks help you know where you are and remind you of where you (or others) have been. They serve as guideposts for future generations. Ancient wisdom admonishes us to “remove...

There is an infamous poem, often disjointly quoted as “No man is an island,” and “Therefore, never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.” There are many who have uttered these quotes without realizing they were the beginning and end of the same poem. But...

Whether you’re growing plants, people, business – or all three – you know that growth takes certain elements. In recent months, I have learned how important the growth hormone is for humans, for example. It is active at relatively high levels for most people until about the age of 25....

Growth is a necessary part of life. It has been said that if you are not growing, you are dying. We grow food. We invest money so it will grow. And we want our children to grow into driven, responsible, and successful adults. Growth is a good thing. Unless it...

Consider these two types of calls to customer service. Call Number One A very unenthusiastic voice answers with a sigh. You explain your situation and ask for help in resolving an issue. As you ask questions, you sense that they are going through a checklist and responding with “canned” answers....

Leaders are often faced with the challenge of keeping their team motivated. But…who motivates the leader? Leaders are people, just like everyone else. And like others, there are times when they lose momentum, get weary, feel rudderless, or suffer from apathy. During these times, motivation becomes a challenge, even for...

Several years ago, a rebranding trend made its way into the financial world. “Retirement Planning” became part of “Wealth Management.” There are numerous reasons this change was made, one of which was the perceived value it created in marketing. Another interesting reason was because companies began to realize that “retirement”...

Not a day goes by that I’m not asked the question, “How can we lead these millennials?” I am to the point now that I generally just laugh at first and then quickly answer, “You lead them like you lead others.” That usually gets me a blank stare and then...

In The 11 Essential Needs of Employees, we noted the top reasons for job dissatisfaction. One of those reasons is that employees are unhappy with management and the way they manage. This is why the first rung on the Leadership Ladder is “Leadership is a Priority.” Good leadership doesn’t just...