-
Mistakes Are Opportunities To Learn
A young vice president was appointed by the board of directors of a bank to replace the retiring president and founder. With fear and trepidation, he made an appointment to visit with the seasoned retiree to seek his advice. “Mr. Clark, I need your counsel. How can I possibly be successful in this job?” The…
-
Encouragement Unleashes Potential
Thomas Edison’s teacher said he was a poor student. His mother was furious at that characterization and took him out of school and taught him at home. Edison gave this account of the incident in an interview published on Nov. 29, 1907: “One day I overheard the teacher tell the inspector that I was ‘addled’ and it…
-
Make The Call To Improve Phone Skills
The world is getting smaller every day. Thanks to advances in technology, we can be connected to points around the globe in seconds through our computer or telephone. We can even be on the other side of the world almost in person in a matter of seconds. Businesses can easily reach people and places that…
-
Every Survival Kit Should Include A Sense Of Humor
We all need to laugh more, especially around tax time! I received so many positive responses to my column on humorous stories with good business lessons, I decided to do a sequel. It’s been my experience that people remember information better when the message has a fun twist to it – a punchline of sorts.…
-
Believe in yourself even when no one else does
Life is not a parabolic curve. It doesn’t go straight up. There are a lot of lumps, a lot of bumps. I have never yet met a successful person that hasn’t had to overcome either a little or a lot of adversity in his or her life. Overnight success is much more of a myth…
-
Perseverance pays off
The popular Academy Award nominated movie “Darkest Hour” has brought a lot of attention to former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill recently. It’s also brought a lot of attention to Gary Oldman, who won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Churchill. According to biographers, Churchill did not have the happiest of childhoods. Neglected…
-
Street Smarts put you in the fast lane
I’m back with another installment of street smarts, those skills that go beyond what is taught in school – the lessons we learn by experience and practice. Never underestimate the value and importance of “extracurricular” education. First idea: Don’t be afraid to make a decision. Be afraid NOT to make…
-
Look for these traits in successful team players
It was a cold winter. The hedgehogs, realizing the situation, decided to bunch together to keep warm. However, the quills from each hedgehog pierced their next-door neighbors, so they decided to move apart. But then they started to freeze and die alone, so they made the decision to cuddle back together and live with the…
-
Dig your well before you’re thirsty
If I had to name the single characteristic shared by all the truly successful people I’ve met over a lifetime, I’d say it is the ability to create and nurture a network of contacts. Although I never met David Rockefeller, he certainly would have fit in this category. When he passed away in March 2017…
-
A New Year Brings Change
A new year often brings new beginnings. I was intrigued to discover how one company used a novel way to motivate employees to think about new ways of doing things. Here is the approach practiced by Chiyoji Misawa, who founded the largest home builder in Japan, Misawa Homes, more than 50 years ago. He “died”…