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...

Welcome back from summer, everyone. It’s been great to have a little break, and I hope you enjoyed some of the blogs we shared during July and August. But now it’s September, summer is over, and it’s time to get back at it. I want to start by talking about something...

A colleague said something to me at a recent event that really stuck: “Life is supposed to be fun.”  The event came together at the last minute. There were a lot of changes, and we ended up inviting some family members last-minute too. But people said yes, and it...

Have you ever noticed that sometimes, when it feels like everything is falling apart, it's actually coming together?  That’s a powerful thought shared by Kim Randers, our Chief People Officer. Credit actually goes to his wife, Sue, who said it first. Kim shared...

"Don't let a speed bump become a roadblock."   Derek Jeter shared this great quote a few weeks ago at my son's graduation from the University of Michigan. He was the main speaker at the event and received an honorary doctorate from the university. ...

Leaders, you're not there to be your team's friend. You're there to be their leader. That means being a teacher, a coach and a mentor. You're there to help them, challenge them, push them and care about them. All of that matters. Your job is to help your team...