Because I Can
November 20, 2013 Because I Can by Jerry Murray Over the past few weeks, several international news sources reported various ways the U.S. government has used its intelligence strength to probe for sensitive information. I had a lively conversation with friends imagining what information our intelligence agencies collect and, in particular, why they collect it. One […]
Freedom to Learn
October 18, 2013 Freedom to Learn by Gina Breslin As a teenager, I took every possible opportunity to go downhill snow skiing. By the time I got to college, I was able to navigate the more difficult ski slopes without falling. It was during this time that I had a ski instructor admonish me, “You […]
Language Matters
August 5, 2013 Language Matters by Joanne Ladley According to Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers, the Korean government stepped in to improve the safety ratings of their national airline. The first thing the government did was to declare that the language of the cockpit was English. Pilots needed to understand and be confident in […]
A Sticky Mess
July 5, 2013 A Sticky Mess by Roger North The blueberry pancake syrup was threatening to seep off the edge of the table onto my shorts. Carolyn and I were working feverishly to contain the spread of the gooey liquid. Having used up all of our napkins, we eventually got the attention of our half […]
Define Your Own Success
May 20, 2013 Define Your Own Success by Jerry Murray On the first day of practice, we set the following goals for our little league baseball season: Team and parents will work together to encourage one another – in essence to build a healthy community. Players will improve incrementally each time we are together. No […]
Alignment
December 20, 2012 Alignment by Sheryl Eberly There’s a thriller movie coming out within days – Zero Dark Thirty. It’s the story of Osama Bin Laden’s capture, and takes the viewer into the culture of the CIA, depicting events in the months and years leading up to the ultimate event. We meet personalities inside that clandestine organization. […]
Yes You Can
May 4, 2012 Yes You Can by Gina Breslin “Yes you can!” These were favorite words of my father throughout his life. More often than not, these words were followed by an incredulous, “Why couldn’t you?” Dad exemplified this can-do attitude continually, not only as an entrepreneur and a small business leader, but also in his personal […]
Vision & Accountability
March 20, 2012 Vision & Accountability by Joanne Ladley We all know about the power of a vision. If you don’t know where you’re going, how are you going to get there? Articulating your direction, knowing who you are – it’s all fundamental to sustaining a successful business. Let me add one more piece to […]
Culture Eats Strategy
February 20, 2012 Culture Eats Strategy by Roger North Did you ever shop at Genuardi’s? A wonderful family owned supermarket chain, Genuardi’s was Wegmans before Wegmans. It was Whole Foods before Whole Foods. Whatever happened to Genuardi’s anyway? Founded in 1920 by Italian immigrants, Genuardi’s was in family hands for five decades. By 2000, […]
What’s the Big Deal about Culture?
January 22, 2012 What’s the Big Deal about Culture? by Dennis Clemmer At times you undoubtedly get tired of hearing us pound away at this organizational culture stuff. There are times when I, too, think maybe we overdo it. About the time I begin to think that, a story or two emerges that makes me […]