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...

Your investment level should determine your expectation level. I think this applies to so many things, both in personal life and in professional life.   Recently, I completed an eight-mile run around Mackinac Island for the first time in 15 years. I used to...

I saw a great Tweet by David Allen, sharing excellent advice he once received: “Don’t tell me what to do. Tell me what I’m missing.” This is fantastic advice for leaders working with their teams.  Often, we talk about not just giving out answers. When your team...

"You either see the obstacle or the opportunity.” That was a Tweet from Kevin DeShazo that really resonated with me.   Perspective is a superpower, and a choice. At Service Express, I often say, "Run to the problems." That’s how you build a career. Don’t...

Last week, I talked about The Power of Letting Go. This week, I want to talk about recovery.  I watched the Billy Joel: And So It Goes documentary over the summer. It was a really interesting story. At one point, Billy Joel was eating at a restaurant and talking...