Month: April 2016

Where does our leadership vision go wrong?

Muhlenberg College stadium
Mules serve a great purpose, but not if you need a race horse.

 

Text book leadership theory is a poor servant. So are MBA degrees.

Launch something of your very own and you’ll quickly discover what works in the real world and what doesn’t. You’ll also discover what the marketplace is really buying. Hint, it ain’t you’re college degree(s).

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

 

Aim too high or aim too low

Walt Disney World Monorail
Yesterday, running (from home) to Magic Kingdom entrance.

 

Aim too high or aim too low, there are always going to be critics.

Each aim comes with an outcome.

Each outcome comes with an opportunity.

Recalibration.

The one critical factor that often gets forgotten is the target we set out to achieve in the first place.

Never lose sight of what motivated you in the first place.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

 

To provoke thinking and facilitate discovery is to earn my keep

Cedar Crest College sign
Many people believe a higher degree will lead to greater opportunity. Do the math. (photo: Last week while running in Allentown, PA)

 

This week will be interesting because today is the first work Monday after the long holiday break. Expecting to hear updates on several important business conversations that got placed on hold for the past 10 days.

Patience, confidence, and optimism are real things when it’s your business. Otherwise, they are merely theories we’ve studied.

This has me thinking about insights that can be gathered from observing where colleagues, who were receiving their company subsidized MBA’s, were seven years ago and where they are now.

No one liked my comments that MBA’s are generally a false hope and an insanely time and energy intensive commitment with literally zero ROI.

i say this with deep respect and admiration for every individual. i also say this because my primary function, and obligation, as a teacher is to provoke people to .think .differently

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

 

i knew i’d be inspired by the 60 Minutes recording

iPhone Photos settings screen
Apple has changed the way the world does many of our everyday activities, like taking and storing photos.

 

i knew, unquestionably, i’d be inspired by the 60 Minutes recording. Found it last night while searching for the Big Bang Theory recordings we missed while vacationing in Pennsylvania.

The episode featured Tim Cook and Jony Ive from Apple.

Tim said of Steve Jobs, “I’ve never met anyone like him. He had this relentless, driving force for perfection. Things have to be insanely great.”

This is a concept culture i’ve lived within at Disney for 30 years.

Simplify and focus, without sacrificing quality.

What does this mean to any of us?

Do it (follow your passion) even when labeled “crazy”.

As a solo entrepreneur, doubt, fear, excuses, and hesitation surround you.

Constantly.

Change comes from within only when you are willing to become a relentless, driving force for the “perfection” of your passion.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

 

Only 364 days left to gather more business

2016 iPhone calendar screen shot
The little red dot says there are still 364 days of business left this year.

 

My cousin asked how business was going yesterday, January 1. In hind sight, i wish i hadn’t gone on such a riff giving him so many specifics; maybe a simple, “It’s going really well.”, would have sufficed:

  • One signed Keynote speech contract
  • One Keynote speech contract awaiting signature
  • Two Keynote contracts looking very good
  • A verbal agreement for a 1.5 day engagement, with additional contract layers probable
  • Another client getting closer to a multi-layered cultural transformation engagement
  • And finally, several big, former Disney Institute fans who are seriously interested in working together this year

Riff over.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.