Category: Blog

Redwood trees, famous in part for how big and tall they grow, are not solo artists. In fact their roots are too shallow to sustain them - they'd topple over without support. Their roots are in fact a root system - intertwined with the roots of other Redwood trees. That system allows them to grow … Continue reading Roots

One of the things I love about Built to Lead practice is that you never know where it’s going to go—but one thing’s for sure, you better come prepared. Yesterday, was no different. Chet gave me the lead with a team still early in their journey. We had just finished with another team, and Chet … Continue reading What you can’t see can hurt you…

Years ago I read the Heath Brothers book Made to Stick. It was a gem filled with little nuggets, one of which they called the curse of knowledge - once we know something, we forget what it was like when we didn’t. The curse is around communicating with those who know less than you.  Masters suffer from … Continue reading Curse…

Before we can go forward with clarity, we start by looking back. Any client of ours starts with Discovery - an 81 question document that digs into who you are, what you believe, and what got you where you are now. If we're going to get more clarity on the direction you're headed, it's important … Continue reading Look back to go forward

Life is not organized sport. Most of your big plays are not on TV. There is no video review.  Most of your big decisions are not made in front of a large audience. Calls made can only be played with, not reviewed. Fact. Life is most like a pick up game. There are no officials … Continue reading Pick up game…

David Brooks has written about resume vs eulogy virtues. The norm for most of us is to spend most of our focus and our career years building resume virtues. I.e. the skills you build up and bring to the marketplace. The ones you would list on your resume. Most of us focus our efforts here. … Continue reading Resume vs eulogy

The flock of geese flew into view a mere second before impact. Sully instinctively ducked from his captains seat. Skiles feels the plane shudder as he holds his control stick and utters two words - "Uh - oh." The pilots of US Air flight 1549 have arrived at their moment of truth - January 15, … Continue reading Mastery…

If your aim is mastering the art of living you will inevitably let a LOT of folks down. You see masters are relentlessly focused on their craft (there is no other way). Time in isolation is part of the gig. Training. Studying. Reading. Writing. Reflecting. These all take copious amounts of time. Feeding the soul. … Continue reading Cheat all the way ‘round…