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Real leadership often defies the rules
Leading an organization, whether public, private or non-profit, requires making tough decisions. It’s just part of the job, whether it’s in the job description or not. Because as they say, it’s lonely at the top. Business school classes in leadership offer sound advice based on solid research and practical experience. In theory, it all works…
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Use GPS System to Chart to Course
It’s getting easier and easier to navigate the highways and byways through the magic of GPS – Global Positioning System. The service is in your car, your phone, your tablet, your watch. You are running out of excuses for not getting to where you want to go. Wouldn’t it be great if such a tool…
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Everything (almost) is negotiable
Within the past few years, some of the best-known names in American industry have disappeared down the gaping maws of other companies. Other seemingly unassailable fortresses have been disassembled, and the parts sold off separately. Nothing unusual about that. If huge enterprises, some so valuable their assets exceed those of many of the world’s nations,…
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Special Olympics change the world
First Lady Michelle Obama has had the pleasure of attending many spectacular events, but I would venture to guess that opening the 14th Special Olympics World Games at the end of July had to rank with the most inspirational. It wasn’t because of the musical performances, fireworks, or even the flaming torch that was carried from…
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Pursuit of perfection leads to search for excellence
Two men met on an airplane and began to talk. They asked each other the usual questions, and as it happened, one of the men was married and the other man was not. After a while a married man asked, “Why is it that you never married?” The single man looked pensive then said, “Well,…
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Customers feat on great service
How much would you pay for an egg? Fifty cents? Two dollars? How about $6,000? That’s how much it cost one restaurant in Newport Beach which refused to honor a customer’s request. Not through legal action, or any formal process. Rather, it represents the lost business that eatery suffered – because of one egg.…
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Our attitude determines our altitude
My friend Pat Williams, senior executive vice president of the NBA’s Orlando Magic and author of several books including “Go For the Magic,” has a great analogy when it comes to attitude. He uses this comparison: On the instrument panel of every airplane is a device called the attitude indicator. This instrument shows the…
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Good leaders ask great questions
Two leaders whom I respect a great deal and whose work I have studied both stress the importance of asking questions to find answers that will unlock your success. Dale Carnegie wrote about the ten ways to be a leader. Number four is to ask questions. John Maxwell in April of this year was named…
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More Father’s Day advice – from readers
Several weeks ago I used this column to share lessons I learned from my parents in recognition of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. My intention was to honor mothers and fathers everywhere for the wisdom they impart to their children. The column apparently struck a chord, because I had a record response from readers about…
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Life is what you give back
A son and his father are walking in the mountains. Suddenly, the boy falls, scrapes his knee and screams, “AAAhhhhhhhhh!!!” To the son’s surprise, he hears his voice repeating, somewhere in the mountains, “AAAhhhhhhhhh!!!” Curious, he yells, “Who are you?” He receives the same answer, “Who are you?” Angered at the response, he screams, “Coward!” He receives…