As my clients began to emerge from the global economic turmoil that began in 2008, they indicated they had learned numerous lessons–the most important one: When leaders make good decisions, little else matters. When they refuse to make decisions, or show a pattern of making bad ones, nothing else matters. As I helped these leadersRead more
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Early in 1998, my doctoral committee met to approve my dissertation proposal. Or, at least I thought that was the goal of the meeting. As it turns out, they met to discuss all the reasons for their disapproval: My research thesis was inconsistent; I had proposed a flawed research methodology; and I had formulated inaneRead more
During the Roman republic, the river Rubicon marked the boundary between the Roman province of Cisalpine Gaul to the north-east and Italy proper to the south. The river distinguished not only the geographic boundaries for the province but also the military restrictions for governors and magistrates. Therefore, rulers required generals to disband their armies beforeRead more
No one has personified British author Richard Dawkins’ idea that yesterday’s dangerous idea is “today’s orthodoxy and tomorrow’s cliché” better than our 35th President, John Kennedy. When President Kennedy took office in January of 1961, the thought of trying to land a man on the moon terrified most rational people. Yet, the President put aRead more
In 1519 Heran Cortes landed in Mexico with 600 Spaniards and 11 boats. The conquistador and his men had just embarked on a conquest of the Aztec empire, a kingdom that hoarded a cache of the world’s greatest treasures-gold, silver, and precious jewels. Cortex undertook this mission knowing that, for centuries, other conquerors with farRead more
