Chances are your employer probably only knows half of what you do for them.  It’s not a knock on your boss.  Often times you are holding a position that they have never held or haven’t done in quite some time.  Things change, as does the evolution of your position.  When it comes time to start asking for more money, contract negotiation or a one on one where you want to show the company your worth-make sure you do a great job of telling your story. There is a fine line between bragging and telling your story.  It’s honestly hard to talk about yourself or your accomplishments without sounding egotistical right?  Yet, in order to get what you want (raise, promotion, […]

Whenever I go to theme parks or places where there is a large audience of people, my patience is tested as I weave in and out of traffic trying to get to my destination or get my wife and kids to an area where there are fewer people to bump into.  I’m not anti social (my job requires me to be a people person).  I don’t have a phobia of large crowds.  I just get disappointed by the lack of “drive” in people.  I understand you’re on vacation, but that doesn’t mean that you should disconnect so much from reality that you become oblivious to your surroundings and ruin the experience for others.  You can certainly take your time and […]

Living in fear of losing what you have is a terrible way to spend your career.  This happens to people that become comfortable or just want to squeeze a few more years out of their vocation before “the next guy” comes along and takes their place. Why would you want to spend the next few years spiraling backwards just to keep collecting a check?  Yet, every day we see people do it.  It’s like a deer in the woods that squints and stands still when the hunter squeezes off his shot-instead of running.    “Hanging on” is what speed bumps do.  Instead, you need to be a Viking; a trailblazer.  Dictating culture, owning your future and navigating your journey is […]

When it comes to talent-Education needs to be both shared and sought. I am always trying to better myself through education.  Reading books, blogs, talking with other creative/smart people, etc.  I expect and encourage that same behavior from other members of the team.  We need to always work to set goals, share those goals and adapt to the changes around us.  I hold others accountable and work to improve their “game” as well as mine.  It is important to regularly meet with staff so that silos are not created in regards to goals and agenda.  As a coach, I feel it is critical that I am spending time to mentor staff members as well as people outside of the building.   […]

Rudyard Kipling is probably my favorite writer of all time.  Kipling has written The Jungle Book,  Ticky Ticky Tavi and Gunga Din just to name a few.  There are several takeaways from this piece that can be applied to most management challenges.  I often reflect upon “IF” when I am having moments where I might be getting too full of myself or losing focus of the goals of the situation.  Since 2000 I have had a printed out copy of this poem sitting next to my desk.  IF If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting […]