Reka and I just returned from a very productive trip to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. (For the record, we are not Vegas people, we are backcountry people). Part of the reason we go away around the holidays is because it can be bit of a weird time of year for us–we weren’t able…
There has never been an easier time to start and operate a small business. We live in the most abundant time humans have ever experienced; entrepreneurship is widely embraced and entrepreneurs are celebrated. Startups have vast access to data, research, and opinions like never before. Fantastic technology exists that simplifies barriers to start-up and create…
As I reflect on 2017, I am attempting to practice what I preach. I want to be sure to embrace all the wonderful experiences, both amazing & challenging, that made the year I turned 50 so productive and fun. I have been so very fortunate and humbled to see the progress and spectacular growth within…
Reka, my wife, slowly let out a breath. I heard the click of the safety on her 308 rifle snap off. As she took another slow breath and let it out I could see the muscles in her hand begin to tighten. I knew she was going to take the shot. As I have often…
When I owned my social media company, I brought in a partner who had worked for McKinsey, a high-end, global strategy and consulting company. This person is a brilliant strategist and I learned a lot from him. He introduced me to the McKinsey value “an obligation to dissent.” Today, when I do my sessions with…
Recently, I was talking with a new friend of mine, Tommy Spaulding; he is a speaker, author, coach, and all around good guy. Tommy asked about the bracelets I wear and if they had any meaning. I have begun seeing more and more people wearing bracelets and haven’t thought much of it. Even though I…
Today, when I am greeted with “how’s it going”, the current social equivalent of “hello”, I humbly yet earnestly respond: “I am the luckiest cat on the planet.” (And I mean it!) Some people think I’m just being a smart ass, but I’m not–I feel it deep in my core. I know it. I get…
Stop focusing on what Omaha is not. Don’t try to compete with big city/coastal amenities. Focus on what Omaha is, what Omaha’s values are, and recruit people on those benefits and values. When you think about it, those really are “our people”. Earlier this year, I went to a small breakfast with senior business leaders…
Here’s the takeaway: Worrying about making decisions is a waste of time and energy. Stop doing it. Four times this week, I got to work with people who felt they were in really tight spots when it came to having crucial conversations. They were investing a huge amount of energy in this process. For many…
One of the key ingredients that makes companies successful is a willingness to be open and honest with each other. Understanding and creating this sort of environment needs to be one of the primary objectives of the senior leaders. The most important thing is to have an environment where people can have a disagreement. Engaging…