Change is inevitable, except from vending machines
Yes, change is with us. It is life's only constant, and it's often challenging and mostly difficult to embrace. But there’s another, more irritating and immovable obstacle standing in the way of successful organizational development; the Change Saboteur. This person often is a "senior" [...]
Leadership Lessons from the “Greatest Generation”
It’s been said there are “three ways to develop great leadership, but no one knows what they are.” WWII veterans Bert Stolier and Tom Blakey were the exceptions to the rule. I met them both on a bright Sunday morning at the National WWII Museum [...]
LEADERS, CHECK YOUR MIRRORS!
One of the best things about riding motorcycles is the time you get "inside your head." I often use those moments reflecting on where I've been on my "professional ride," and remembering all the leaders and mentors who thought me worthy of investing time, talent, [...]
ATTITUDE REFLECTS LEADERSHIP!
WHEN YOU'RE RIDING LEAD, DON'T SPIT! One of my favorite movies is “Remember the Titans”. It’s based on the true story of Herman Boone, an African American high school football coach in his first season at T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, VA. Coach [...]
2017 was a WONDERFUL YEAR of Full-Throttle Goodness!
In the 1946 Christmas Classic, "It's a Wonderful Life," George Bailey is a man who has given up his dreams in order to help others. When an unexpected calamity occurs, a despondent and angry George decides everyone he knows would be better off without him. [...]
Fueling Your Ride with “Passion-Power & Purpose” to Give-Back and Change the World
I have been riding motorcycles for about 45 years; it is what I do for pure enjoyment. There are few things better than getting out on the open road, seeing new places and meeting interesting people. In 2013, I had the opportunity to check off [...]
Leadership: Get REAL!
Seems like I've been asked to discuss "TEAM" a lot this year; how to build a great team, determine why some teams fail so completely and provide some helpful insights into behaviors (good and bad) that are present in all teams. At a recent All-Team [...]
Full-Throttle Leadership: Capability, Responsibility & Influence
There is a popular saying in the Harley-Davidson motorcycle community; “If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand." Bikers have a hard time explaining "IT” – our deep appreciation for the freedom we feel when riding – to those who don’t have the same [...]
Team-building: Is the JUICE worth the SQUEEZE?
Organizations do strange things in the name of "team building." Most of it fails spectacularly! For too long team building has been nothing more than simple games poorly executed and resulting in a false sense of team solidarity. Ineffective races, relays and networking events are the [...]
Make an INFLUENCE Resolution this Year
It's that time again. Promise to do this. Expect to accomplish that. We make all kinds of resolutions every New Year - 90% of them related to health and relationships - and most of us will, sadly, not achieve them. Maybe that's because most New [...]