Category: Blog

I retired from my public accounting career at the ripe age of 22 but I wanted to make my return to the blog to talk some numbers. I have been lapping through Becoming Built to Lead since it was published in 2020, my first full year as a builder. I’m on my 4th time through … Continue reading 486 Days…

BTL is about to celebrate our 25th year. We're heading to The Breakers in January to celebrate as a band. We'll invest a few days sharpening the saw and soaking in transformational ideas. Together we transform. Always together.  In January of 2028 we'll celebrate our first BTL summit with clients. This will become an annual … Continue reading The audience…

Wouldn't you love to have a competitive advantage that no one else can buy or replicate? Good news is you can, it just takes hard work to turn it into a real advantage. A strong core is your competitive advantage. Not because no one else will have a strong core, but rather because you'll be … Continue reading Competitive advantage

This is why we ride. Look at his face. Pure joy. May God bless you today and every day with more joy. May you be a conduit, not a Cul de sac. When you see joy on another’s face, remember to not only notice but acknowledge it. Kids don’t need to be reminded of their … Continue reading Joy…

Been an aggravating thirteen months. Been cut thirteen times going from 70 - 83. My legs look like somebody put their cigars out across these tiny twigs.  Thursday, Doccutfirstaskquestionslater took stitches out of 82 and then cut a little more out of my left twig. It was no big deal. Pain in the ASS. Truth.  … Continue reading 83…

A CEO client of mine has a problem with someone on his team. He's talked to him about the issue, but hasn't really held this player accountable to the standard. I asked what he was going to do about it and heard the usual - I just don't have time to do it. I called … Continue reading Curious and challenging

Sir Ernest Shackleton's big dream was to cross the Antarctic continent on foot.  In 1914 he set out with a team of 28 men to do just that.  They failed.  What they did was survive. Amazingly all 28 made it out alive. The expeditions ship Endurance had threaded its way though the Weddell Sea before … Continue reading Endure…

I had a client who wanted to take some time for “high-level strategizing.” I’m all for high-level strategy. But before we get to strategy, I asked: What’s the vision the strategy is meant to serve? Strategy makes a big difference—but only if you have a clear understanding of where you’re trying to go and why. The … Continue reading O and P before U…