Decisions, decisions

Do you ever find it difficult to make decisions? I certainly do. In fact, my wife recently observed that I sometimes put off making decisions about things as long as I can. I’ve observed that when I put off making decisions it’s usually because I’m not ready to let go of the alternatives.
I found a [...]

When the game is on the line

I just finished watching the end of an NBA playoff game. The home team was ahead but the losing ground. I watched the leader of the team (a point guard) take over, make the plays and win the game. He made a few mistakes (missed two free throws) but ultimately did what he needed to [...]

Time value of experience

Time value of money is a widely understood and accepted concept. At its most basic level the time value of money demonstrates that, all things being equal, it is better to have a fixed amount of money today, rather than an equal amount in the future. The concepts get more complex with topics such as [...]

Leadership and product strategy

Though the role of product manager differs from one company to the next, most product managers I know believe they drive the strategy for their products. I suppose in most cases they do. Strategic product managers spend time understanding the market and directing product activities toward meeting those activities. CEOs and other executives don’t always [...]

Fight or flight

When we are faced with a difficult situation we usually respond in one of two ways: we either face the problem or we run from it. Which is more productive? The answer depends on the situation. If we are hiking a trail in the woods and a bear jumps out in front of us, perhaps [...]

Leader or manager?

Almost every organization has managers; people who are responsible for maintaining the structure of the organization and who focus on the bottom line. They are typically responsible for the day-to-day efforts and errands, and keep things moving along. Having great managers is critical to the success of any organization.
Most organizations also have leaders. They are [...]

Invest in the real assets – the people

In most organizations the word “asset” is linked to their technology IP, products or other items that end up on the balance sheet. The traditional accounting equation drives this mindset. So it’s no wonder that when organizations plan their investments they focus on improving their traditional assets and their bottom line.
In my recent article published [...]

Leadership and sneakers

Does the number of pairs of sneakers you own improve the likelihood that you are/will become a leader? According to a Mindset Media study, people who buy more than three pairs of sneakers a year are far more likely to be a leadership type than the population at large. They surveyed 7,500 people and found [...]

Tell a great story

I recently had lunch with a friend who made an interesting comment that CEOs are looking for people who can coach them and help them to tell a good story. He had recently read an article that criticized the overuse (or abuse) of PowerPoint, which has lead to more mundane presentations and unexciting seminars. What [...]