Thoughts on people, teams, organizations, communities, effectiveness and success
We might sell our Dolores Park area home, a house we’ve lived in for 20 years.
But then again, if the price isn’t right, we might not.
We might pare down early – accelerating a plan 10 years out – and buy a place in Stanley Saitowitz’ minimalistic 8 Octavia in Hayes Valley.
But then again, if we don’t sell our home in Dolores Park at the right price, we might not.… Read the rest
Face it, we all do it:
Life, careers and work are full of decisions.
Sometimes, though, the hardest yet best thing to say is one simple word: “No.”
We know from research (channel Ronald Reagan: “Facts are stubborn things.”) that all those little decisions we make every day take a toll and turns out it’s a big one.
Carmel macchiato with non-fat milk or 2% non-fat?… Read the rest
Character counts – at least that’s what most of us are told as kids. But does it really?
What if – as the headline of this week’s New York Times Magazine blared – The Secret to Success is Failure, and not your GPA or even the schools you attended but rather your CPA – character personality average – that predicts your path forward?… Read the rest
It’s an interesting world we live in. “Show No Fear” and “Take No Prisoners” form the budget bargaining approach we get from the present Speaker of the House – John Boehner – who also cries at the drop of his hat.
Is the ability to evidence toughness and vulnerability in style? Are emotions the new black?
Boehner and emotions were top of mind on the way to re-listening to Brene Brown’s terrific TED talk The Power of Vulnerability until I sidetracked onto David Brooks TED piece titled The Social Animal.… Read the rest
We love easy solutions: take a pill and lose weight; go to the right schools and become a zillionaire; hire the right “A” player new talent while clearing out the “C” deadwood and make your business a great success.
But life (mostly) is not that way. As Ronald Reagan said, “It’s simple, but not simplistic.”
And here’s the hoax – the canard; the idea that if you just hire those “A Players” – people like the Legion of Super Heroes (pictured right) – the folks in the top 10% of their roles – and “release” the untrainable B and C players to their future career path you’ll have stocked the right talent to have your company become a success.… Read the rest