“Summarize your summary” was a piece of advice I gave someone recently. And like most advice I give, I reflect on it and usually realize I need to take it myself.  I’ve had a few recent speaking engagements at the University of Michigan, Central Michigan and...

I saw a really interesting quote by Matt Lisle that really stuck with me: “The more I coach, the more I am convinced that bad players give up, average players make excuses and great players get determined.” I think this is so true. When I read that, it really...

Happy Thanksgiving!  This time of year is always a good moment to stop, pause, reflect and think about all the things I’m thankful for and all the blessings I’ve been given.  First and foremost, I’m thankful for my family. They support me in everything I do...

Leaders, first impressions matter.  This applies whether you’re a seasoned leader or new to your role. Even if you’ve been at your company for years, like me with 28 years at Service Express, you still need to make a strong first impression...

Every emotion is okay, but every behavior is not. I saw this phrase recently, and it immediately struck a chord with me. I think it applies both inside and outside of work, especially when we’re going through challenging times. We’re all human. When we face obstacles,...

Think inside the box. This is a phrase I recently heard from our Chief Marketing Officer, Callan Young, and I loved it.  We always hear about thinking outside the box, being creative, looking ahead and finding new ways to achieve our goals. And that’s great;...

The winter arc is coming. “Winter arc” is a new term I just learned; it’s grind season. It’s when we change the clocks to “fall back,” and it gets colder, at least here in Michigan. The days are shorter and darker. That’s grind season.  I used to think grind...

Leaders, when it comes to communication, it’s far better to over-communicate. I recently heard the phrase “be annoyingly clear,” and that really stuck with me. It’s better to be annoyingly clear than to under-communicate.  When you over-communicate, you remove...

When you’re speaking to your team or a larger group, don’t forget to pause for check-ins.  Sometimes, I see leaders who are very passionate about the message they’re delivering. They’re in meetings or on calls, and they’re just firing off information. Everything...

Here’s a great quote from Chris Voss, who wrote my favorite book on negotiation, Never Split the Difference. He says, “Emotions are leverage — stay calm but read and respond to the emotions of others.” I love that!  I have to think about this all the time. I’m a...