In botany, we learned that an evergreen plant has leaves that stay green throughout the year. Unlike deciduous plants, which lose their foliage during the winter or dry season, the foliage of evergreen plants remains constant. Like their botanical counterparts, successful companies take an evergreen approach to their client relationships, too. Conventional wisdom, which isRead more
The Oxford American Dictionary describes mindset as “an established set of attitudes held by someone.” The definition implies stagnation–something that resists change. But great leaders know they can’t settle for any mental model that limits their potential. We develop a “mindset” from our mental models–those ingrained assumptions and generalizations we develop throughout life. These invisibleRead more
In September 2017, Ikea, the Swedish home goods retailer, gave their customers what they wanted when they acquired TaskRabbit, a company that sends tool-wielding workers to rescue customers from the frustration of build-it-yourself furniture kits. TaskRabbit continues to operate independently of the acquiring company, using online marketing to connect 60,000 freelance “taskers” with people whoRead more
Recently, my seven-year-old granddaughter told me about an exciting day they had at her school. John Mabry, former St. Louis Cardinals player and current batting coach for the team, paid a visit to Julie’s second-grade class. I asked Julie what Mr. Mabry’s speech had been about, but she informed me he didn’t deliver a preparedRead more
In 1974, Mel Brooks directed the blockbuster comedy, Young Frankenstein. In the movie, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein learns he has inherited his infamous grandfather’s estate in Transylvania, along with his manuals and lab notes. After initially resisting any connection to his grandfather, Frederick becomes fascinated by the idea of creating his own monster after he discoversRead more
