Category: Leadership
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The Failure of Cliff Negotiations
At times, we are all involved in high stakes negotiations — there is a lot of money on the line and we don’t get more than a few shots. Many times the temptation is to go to war and strive to maximize our value since it might have a large impact on the bottom…
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The Seduction of Arrogance
There are two lies you can believe in the world that will get you into trouble. The first is that you’re not enough. The second is that you’re something special. – My dad When we believe lies, we have a hard time seeing through them. We must recognize and claim some other truth to be…
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Why Milestones Matter
A friend of mine who recently found a job was reflecting on whether it was the right position for him. Could he commute everyday for the rest of his life? His wife reminded him that he had made such a commute in the past for a few years and it was okay, and that he…
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Trusting Science over Reason
In Technopoly, Neil Postman writes about a trick he loved to play on his fellow professors. When he greeted them in the morning, he would ask whether they had read the C-section of the paper today. If they responded that they had, he would continue making small talk and carry on as usual. If, however, they…
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Development Debt
Imagine building a car, but starting with two bicycles. The first version would maybe have 4 big wheels, some sort of base and an engine. Of course, then we need better seats, and pretty soon some side panels, maybe throw in some cup holders? It’s a rough ride so we put in shocks, a cd…
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Failure is not an Option, It’s a Given
There is not a day that goes by that I don’t fail, usually several times before lunch. It’s not that I enjoy failing or try to fail, it’s that I know it’s the only way I ever find success. The process of innovation requires all manner of trying things that are probably not going…
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Find a Mirror
Back in High School, my friends and I teased one another as a way of showing affection. Come to think of it, we still do this. In this vein of showing affection, I took to calling my best friend a loser. I didn’t intend it like it sounds. He has never been a loser, but…
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The Hustler
Last Saturday, a man knocked at our door. These days, people who knock on your door are usually trying to sell you something, and indeed he was. But he started 10 feet away from the door and after greeting me, immediately offered his hand out for me to shake. There was no awkward script, he…
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How to Handle New Challenges: Step Up or Bow Out
Photo By Didrik Johnck All of us have been asked to do a job we’ve never done before. We must learn how to do it and are likely to make several mistakes before finding success. More than likely, others will see our inadequacies. When we face a difficult challenge, we should Step Up, and sometimes…
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Rain That Does Not Hit The Ground
Picture courtesy of Desert Bug This last week we have had some heavy rains in Colorado. This is a blessing as we have needed moisture to help us control the many fires all over the state. Unfortunately, much of the rain missed the fires and even here in Fort Collins, the rain had nearly completely evaporated…