If our nation is to heal, much needs to be done personally and politically

. In doing so let’s not unintentionally empower those who do not understand or honor the wisdom inherent in our constitution. Its tenet “that all men are created equal” and “guaranteed a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness must be our cornerstone if we...

It takes imagination, courage, tenacity, and a strong work ethic to conceive

The marketplace is shifting because of global competition and the impact of digital technology—like a wheel within a wheel, so are internal business dynamics.  The age-old challenge of managing growth continues.  It is a challenge that will eventually confront every CEO.  If the management of corporate growth is not dealt with effectively, the...

successful implementation of strategic initiatives require cultural alignment

Quality is no longer a competitive advantage.  Today’s priority is to be heard in a “noisy” marketplace. What strategic imperative will set the pace tomorrow?  Whatever it turns out to be, rest assured that  strategic imperatives will continue to change at an ever increasing rate.  Without adjustment,  the capacity or willingness of employees...

structure a business with a scalable model that can accommodate the inevitable

I began my role as senior VP international operations, by reviewing the performance of offshore sites around the world.  Most were profitable, but a few existed only to serve large international clients who demanded  global capacity from their suppliers. The UK office employed a skeleton staff with  expenses cut to the bone.   Five people with...

Aligning a culture to support strategic initiatives such as delivering

on a brand promise, begins with the clarification of shared values—a task that is easier said than done—the critical factor is the word “shared”.  Values are not what organizations claim or wish them to be.  Values are signaled to the world by what a company tolerates. ...

Knowing what to do and doing it are two very different things.  Clearly

the best way to get rich is to make a lot of money; the surest way to cure insomnia is to get more sleep; or the way to reduce weight is to exercise and eat less. Awareness, understanding, knowledge and inspiration are critical to the success of any strategic initiative, but alone...

The world has changed. Cold calling and networking are becoming less relevant

During the latter part of the industrial-age, aligning culture (the collective habits used by a group of people to get things done) in support of TOTAL QUALITY was the key determinant of success—particularly in the manufacturing sector.  In today’s “noisy” and crowded world, inbound marketing has replaced quality the  key success factor—...

The speaker at this  large aboriginal conference noticed attendees,

Clarence Louie is everything that was advertised and more.   Fortunately,  he is aboriginal himself. If someone else had said these things—for example, the white columnist standing in the back of the hall with his mouth open, they’d be viewed as racist. Instead, Chief Clarence Louie is considered one of the most interesting and innovative native...

On February 4-11, 1945, Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin came together

for a conference at Yalta to decide the shape and fate of Central and Eastern Europe. In what many call a ‘sell-out’, Roosevelt gave in to Stalin’s insistence that Russia be given de facto control over the countries falling inside what he considered a ‘safety...

Life is like pasta. No matter what you put together, it’s usually good

. But with information about the shape of the pasta (what makes it unique) and how to select a sauce that fits, a pasta dish can move from good to great. Here’s a quick pasta lesson: Pasta is a “carrier” – the shape of the pasta is mainly used to appreciate and celebrate...