I never believed my Dad when he told me that my attitude would change about business when I became an owner. Working hard, delivering value, pleasing others and personal growth were all part of my DNA; that wouldn’t change when I owned a business. Until it did. As an owner, the business is now part
Sometimes say softly to yourself: “Now…now. What is happening to me now? This is now.” To live now would be idleness. And because of our fear we have come to think of all idleness as selfish, not as creative and radiant. -Brenda Ueland, If You Want to Write I have a confession to make:
Leaders today have greater access to resources and support than at any other time. Think about it: You no longer have to physically be in the same place as the people, expertise or material that can help you on your journey. Armed with just a wifi connection and a device, you can tap into a
“I love you!” Kari called out to our boys as they got on the school bus recently. “I love you too!” Shelly, the bus driver, yelled back. She was being funny, but Shelly meant it…about every family that puts kids on her bus. She responds to kid’s curiosities, educates around holidays, protects around bullies, anticipates
Lunch this week with a potential client – first time we’d met. Conversation starts out a bit awkward and choppy. So we make small talk about the weather and family. How can I get this one-hour conversation to the point where he wants to meet again, I think to myself. I ask a question about
As a leader, there will be times when you’ll need to change someone’s behavior or mindset. If you’re like most of us, your instinct will be to put your powers of persuasion to work, to come up with all the best arguments to sway the person. Persuasion, which relies on logic and wit, is an
An employee has a brainstorm, a great idea to address an unmet need in your market. But it’s admittedly a little “out there,” not the usual thing your organization goes for. Does he decide to bring up the idea anyway? Another employee has spotted a possible flaw in your latest product, the one that’s set
You have someone on your team who is sharp, knowledgeable and well-intended, but their communication style gets in their way. Good leaders step up to help their people overcome these kinds of barriers, ones that could ultimately interfere with their business successes and professional futures. Few skills, however, are more vulnerable and personal than how
How do you respond to the big win? If you’re like most of us when you win, you tend to: Look ahead: The win is never enough. There’s always a new challenge around the bend. We look for “what’s next?” Look back: We analyze with the 20/20 clarity of hindsight. We ask ourselves “what can I
You see the giant and the shepherd in the Valley of Elah and your eye is drawn to the man with the sword and the shield and the glittering armor. But so much of what is beautiful and valuable in the world comes from the shepherd, who has more strength and purpose than we ever
Matt Norman is president of Norman & Associates, which offers Dale Carnegie Training in the North Central US. Dale Carnegie Training is a global organization ...READ MORE