If I make a decision it is a possession, I take pride in it, I tend to defend it and not listen to those who question it. A decision is something you polish. – Paul Gleason, wildland firefighter In 1994, 14 heroic firefighters perished in the South Canyon fire in Colorado. Although they had been […]
I coach lacrosse with my friend Pete. Coach Pete, who played Division I lacrosse back in the day, certainly looks the part. Big, fast, strong, and possessing a booming voice, one would think the new kids on the team would be intimidated by him, and only the seasoned players would be the ones who would […]
Every year the musician Peter Mulvey looks forward to spending time sharing his music at the National Youth Science Camp in West Virginia. And he looks forward to this annual gig because he gets to spend time with another instructor at the camp, Vlad the astrophysicist. You see, Peter loves science and Vlad loves music, […]
A short excerpt from Out•Think – enjoy! Innovation doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s as simple as designing the shampoo bottle so it rests upside down. Sometimes it’s as novel as a vending machine that mixes your drink on the fly. Today’s leader is an expert on figuring out how to stitch together varying […]
Over the years, my friend Erich and I have probably logged thousands of miles cycling together. In all conditions – cold, wet, early, or in the fading warm July sunlight – we have ridden these Maine roads together. And when you train with someone for long enough you recognize their strengths (he climbs like a […]
Honesty about performance, complete transparency about whether or not you’re doing it well. I think it’s a human right.” – Jeff Immelt Our son is in a phase in which he believes he is right about everything. He will correct or contradict just about anything I say, including the color of the sky. It’s cute […]
“The X-factor of great leadership is not personality, it’s humility.” – Jim Collins I’ll be honest. He wasn’t my first pick. Near the top yes, but he didn’t have my vote. Our small selection committee was trying to choose a keynote speaker for a big event and General Stanley McCrystal was on the short list. […]
Colgate once introduced a line of dinner entrees. Harley-Davidson rolled out their own perfume. The Fonz jumped his Shark. And you may remember the tragic 77 days of mourning when New Coke was on the market. But Coca-Cola marketing executive Sergio Zyman couldn’t bear just one product disaster, so he then championed the release of […]
A small excerpt from OutThink. Enjoy! Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. I was sixteen years old at the moment the Challenger Space Shuttle exploded high above NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida, killing seven astronauts including New Hampshire schoolteacher […]
“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” – Stephen King, Author Carol Dweck led a fascinating study back in 1998 in which she and her colleagues worked with four hundred 5th graders and gave them a series of tests, mostly puzzles, […]