“Whenever we get tied down to anything – a name, a body, a lifestyle – that’s the road to ruination.” – Prince I’m not a Prince fan. I missed that bus somehow, but I was impressed with the outpouring of tributes at his death in 2016. I started jotting down some of his quotes and texting them to my kids. He had some profound thoughts. The one above seems like an “anything goes” mindset that

In a word, what is a veteran? Selfless – A soldier sacrifices his individuality to become one of the troops. He wears the uniform. He follows commands. He embraces the mission. A war is only won when the soldier values the cause and his comrades more than himself. Courageous – To join the troop is to step into courage. The risk is high. The mission is daunting. The soldier’s life, as well as all colleagues,

I shared this quote from Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States, with my children this weekend: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” There are

What is your “attitude’s” reputation? How would the people close to you describe your attitude? Take a few minutes and reflect on it. Jot down the words that come to mind, such as: Positive Caring Service-oriented Friendly Adventuresome Fun-loving It could go the other way: Bad Lazy Negative Scared The lists can be long and varied. But the people who influence outcomes and lead most effectively are aware of their attitudes. They are aware because somewhere in their

I’m reading a book by Pete Carroll. He says one of the great strategies for good leaders is to “learn your learner.” Here’s the concept.  Everyone is different so everyone learns differently.  He teaches his coaching staff to expect differently.  He expects his coaching staff to be flexible in accordance with the styles of their learners. In other words, he believes that coaches who believe there is only one way or style to coach will always fall short

“What you do speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you’re saying.” Author Ralph Waldo Emerson said it originally, but Alabama’s legendary football coach Nick Saban has also used that quote during his televised interviews. If you are a football fan, you probably have strong feelings about Saban. Some find glory in his successful tenure in Alabama. Some resent his success and are glad his team fell to Georgia in last year’s championship game. In any case, an

“I never criticize a player until they are first convinced of my unconditional confidence in their abilities.” – John Robinson, football coach This is a follow-up to a separate note I wrote on blame. Another aspect of leadership is the courage and ability to declare reality. Sometimes, reality is hard. Sometimes ugly. Sometimes difficult. It can involve assessing one’s effort, negligence, attitude, or talent. Not done well, it can sound like blame. You could read

A pillar of a great place to work is whether associates believe they are treated fairly. I have been reflecting on fairness. What does “fair” look like? “Fair” listens. It seeks to understand before reacting. Frequently, someone complaining about unfair treatment is frustrated because his version of the truth remains untold. “Fair” is predictable. People don’t like surprises. We create a predictable workplace when we endeavor to clarify expectations, hold people accountable to expectations, and

If you have children or grandchildren who participate in sports or other performances, I saw a sign recently that might be enlightening. It said: Your child’s success or lack of success in sports does not give an indication of what kind of parent you are. But having an athlete who is coachable, respectful, a great teammate, mentally tough, resilient, and tries his very best is a direct reflection of your parenting. I’ve booked a great

Franklin Roosevelt was stricken with polio when he was in his late 30’s. He lost the use of his legs overnight, never to regain it. Many people would have resigned themselves to a life of disability. Roosevelt would not. He spent the following years working to strengthen his upper body and figuring out how to adapt to the world. Within seven years, he was elected governor of New York, and within 11 years, he was