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What to Say and Do When Something Horrible Happens

“We don’t want to make things worse.” When my neighbor’s high school age daughter died of cancer, it was horrible.  No one knew what to say or do.  A group of us decided to take food over before the funeral, but everyone was afraid to be the person who.

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The Purpose Profit Connection (and why most companies get it wrong)

Every leader knows teamwork is essential. Yet after working with hundreds of organizations, I can confirm, much of the time and money spent on team building is a complete waste. Meaningless jargon, adjective-heavy iterations of strategy, and PowerPoint graphics detailing the organizations’ commitment to respect have little impact on.

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The Battle between Love and Money

For years, I felt I had a devil one shoulder and an angel on the other.  The devil whispers, “Make as much money as you can!”  While on the other shoulder, the do-gooder persistent angel keeps reminding me, “You’re here to make a difference in the world.” I’m not.

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Define Yourself Quickly, Before People Assume the Worst

There’s a moment of suspended animation for any leader.  It’s the time between when you’re called to leadership and when you actually assume the mantle of responsibility.  It’s a crucial time, because people are deciding who you are and what you stand for before you even show up for.

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How Tinkerbell and NASA Get Tough Stuff Done

Have you ever seen Tinkerbell fly through the air at Disney?  It’s magical, as she flies through the sky from the top of Cinderella’s castle, it appears effortless. But of course it’s not. Tinkerbell’s magical flight is the result of some genius cross-departmental tension. At Disney, two of their.

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When To Negotiate and When To Let It Go

You don’t get what you deserve; you get what you negotiate.  It was the title of a popular negotiating course in the 80’s and 90’s. In one sense, it’s true.  If you don’t ask for what you want, you’re unlikely to get it. The flip side is negotiating for.

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Why Your Problem Person is Still a Problem

He’s horrible; send him to training. How many times have you watched this scenario play out?  An employee is performing poorly.  Management gets frustrated.  They decide to send the person to training.  Clearly his behavior must be improved. Sending someone to training is certainly more humane than firing the.

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How to Sell Your Expertise to Powerful People

Do you ever have to sell yourself or your ideas to someone in power? It can be intimidating. I recently had a conversation with Dr. Chip Bell, the world-renowned authority on customer loyalty and innovative service. Bell is North America’s #1 keynote speaker on customer service and he works.

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The Value of Wallowing

Have you ever been really disappointed about something and then had someone tell you to cheer up? How does it make you feel?  Generally speaking, telling someone to cheer up when they’re disappointed doesn’t work.  Instead of helping you cope with your emotions, telling you to cheer up is.

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What’s the Difference Between a Wedding and a Sales Meeting?

I recently officiated my friend’s wedding, Diane was a first time bride at 58, and I married her.  Officiating a wedding is quite a departure from my normal day job. The backstory is so romantic the New York Times covered it.  A little over a year ago my friend, Diane,.

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