In the past decade I’ve given over 1,000 sales and leadership presentations in 14 countries and I’ve discovered that regardless where I go, leaders are faced with these three identical challenges: 1. Hire the right people. 2. Put them in the right places. 3. Train them to do the right things consistently and with excellence. [...]

While good leaders and good companies are common, few become great. Jim Collins addressed this phenomenon in his book, Good to Great, where he declared that the enemy of great is good. Collins contended that the reason so few leaders or businesses attain greatness is because they become good and then stop doing many of [...]

To fully appreciate why I’d write an article about “diminishing people,” it’s helpful to understand that the dictionary defines “diminish” as:  Make or become less. Make (someone or something) seem less impressive or valuable. The given definitions raise the stakes considerably when one considers the effect that his or her associations with others—the wrong others—may [...]

What do the following Biblical personalities have in common: Moses, Gideon, Elisha, David, Nehemiah, Amos, Andrew, Peter, John, James, Matthew, Stephen, Phillip (the evangelist) and Paul? If you answered that they were “recruited” into service you are correct. However, I’m looking for an even more insightful answer. Think again. In case you didn’t get it, [...]

In a previous blog post, I presented three of six common temptations of successful organizations outlined in my book, Up Your Business. I asserted that since prosperity can drain urgency, dealerships doing well should be aware of the tendency to let up in key disciplines that made them successful in the first place. They were: [...]

In 2003, my book, Up Your Business: Seven Steps to Fix, Build or Stretch Your Organization was published. Fortunately, the book did well and my publisher wanted me to write a revised, expanded version, which they published in 2007. The book does not promote fads, but timeless principles, and thus it continues to sell well [...]

How many workshops have you attended, books have you read, or trainers have you listened to who presented ideas you saw value in but never fully implemented? You most likely have some pat excuses for why you failed to follow through, but I’m going to cut through the fluff and offer a simple opinion: you [...]

In the past decade I’ve given over 1,000 sales and leadership presentations in fourteen countries, and I’ve discovered that regardless where I go leaders are faced with these three identical challenges: 1.       Hire the right people. 2.       Put them in the right places. 3.       Train them to do the right things consistently and with excellence. [...]

I first created a series of “Business Facts of Life” when I wrote the book, If You Don’t Make Waves You’ll Drown. While the faint at heart complained that the performance expectations I identified as the business facts of life were too demanding and harsh for most workplaces, I disagreed and continue to contend that [...]

One of the most common mistakes that prevents a manager from reaching his or her potential is to over-manage and under-lead. Many of the managers I’ve met over the years don’t even realize that there is a difference between management and leadership, or that developing a balance of both skill sets is essential if they [...]

A clear sign of leadership maturity is the willingness to take responsibility. One aspect of this virtue is refusing to make excuses for personal failures or for those of others. I readily admit that listening while others blame is one of my pet peeves. Little rubs me rawer than when someone attempts to defend failed [...]

John Bell Hood was a Confederate general during the Civil War. He had a reputation for bravery and aggressiveness that sometimes bordered on recklessness, losing the use of his left arm at Gettysburg and having his right leg amputated after victory at Chickamauga. Reading about Hood’s life while in Nashville recently, the site of his [...]