Several years ago, I helped the president of a manufacturing company run a strategy initiative. When I walked into the room on the first day, twenty-six eager faces greeted me. Well-intended though he was, my client had inadvertently turned our strategy session into an execution-a session that promised to kill the strategy before it hadRead more
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Why do some people conquer the dragon, but others succumb to it? Why can some overcome adversity when it devastates others? I wanted to know the answer, so in 1995, I decided to study heroes, people who had overcome significant adversity and emerged healthy and hardy–people who had taken care of others while they copedRead more
Why do some people trust their instincts, push forward and win, while others stumble to erroneous conclusions and then steadfastly defend their bad decisions? Why do some people rush to make bad decisions while others take their time and then make bad decisions? Whether thinking quickly or slowly, we rely on our emotions, mindset, andRead more
Almost every year, a senior person in one of my client companies gets fired. Sometimes I’m surprised to learn of the firing, but more often I spotted troubling behavior years before. When the leaders or board directors must fire a senior person, the company suffers financially-often to the tune of a million dollars, but oneRead more
Memorial Day weekend 1977 opened with an intergalactic bang as George Lucas’ blockbuster Star Wars hit movie theaters across America. The incredible success of the first movie, which received seven Oscars and earned nearly $800 million worldwide, began with brilliant marketing of a groundbreaking thought: Let’s create a revolutionary movie-watching experience, complete with never-before-seen specialRead more
