Driving down a familiar road, I came up over the hill and was arrested by the sight of hundreds of flags with white crosses at the base, posted in memory of those who died in service to our country. The ultimate sacrifice for a priceless gift: freedom. The display was for Memorial Day, a day …
A Rising Tide Lifts all Boats President John F. Kennedy popularized the phrase ‘a rising tide lifts all boats‘ when he used it in a speech in 1963. He was implying that if the general economy is thriving then all will benefit. I heard the phrase used recently among a group of business leaders who …
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Imagine sitting through a performance by a group of musicians who didn’t bother to practice and don’t even care much about music. That’s a bit like going to work with the 66% of US employees who are disengaged from their jobs. It’s appalling that in the most prosperous country in the world, 2/3 of the …
The power of close-knit community is a game-changer. In the past year, I’ve experienced the strength of being surrounded by people who have pulled together in remarkable ways as our city recovers from the devastation of a Category 5 hurricane. We are called #850strong – a tribe brought together through adversity. (850 is the area …
Most leaders think of themselves as strong. They are typically resourceful, hard-working problem-solvers with grit and determination. People rely on the them and they’re able to shoulder that responsibility well. There can be a sort of “super hero” mentality that develops within a leader that cultivates the unrealistic expectation that the leader is supposed to …
Your unique blend of traits affects your emotions, work performance, and relationships. For centuries, psychologists, doctors, and academics have created personality tests for helping us understand ourselves and others. Especially since the advent of online tests and social media, certain personality tests are all the rage for awhile until they join the cabinets with the …
Chick-fil-A might bring to mind your favorite sandwich, but at the first Emerald Coast Chick-fil-A Leadership Summit, Mark Miller, Vice-President of High Performance Leadership made a memorable statement: “You might think we’re in the chicken business, but we are actually in the people business – and we serve them chicken. This emphasis is foundational to …
One generation can make a big difference in how people view the world. Cultural values shift and the events that shape our lives vary dramatically in the span of several decades. Consider world events that are indelibly printed in your memory. Where were you when you heard the news of the planes crashing into the …
We can only reproduce what we are. Everyone knows that if you plant squash seeds, you get squash plants. Obviously this law applied to people goes much deeper than the physical sense. You can’t expect those you’re leading to become something you’re not. There’s been a shift since I entered the work force 35 years …