"This group can do more. They need to do more! I don’t know what’s wrong with them. I take them on off-site meetings and have dinners for them, but they just don’t get it—they’re not motivated. I’m already spending a fortune on these ‘feel good’ things. What do I have to do now?
“In my opinion, as the leaders of tomorrow, you are not discussing, or being taught about, one of the most important elements in the making of a true leader—personal failure.” I made that comment recently in an address to a global gathering of MBA students here in Prague.
There’s nothing like a good economic crisis to liven up a discussion about positive versus negative thinking. People have a tendency to become a little more introspective when they feel their careers, financial stability, and peace of mind in general, are being threatened.
At one time or another every young, ambitious professional dreams of becoming so sought after, so recognized for their ability, that they become indispensable—their contribution is so valuable that people, especially people in power with the ability to impact their future career path and their ea
This is one of my favorite times of the year because it is a natural break in all the activity of the previous 12 months. It is also a natural time for one of the most important things we can do as sentient beings—reflect.
Self-confidence is an interesting topic to discuss, because it’s so hard to define it terms that can be easily understood and applied to our everyday lives.
Years ago I remember reading an interview in which Peter Drucker, a man considered by many to be the management guru of the 20th century, was discussing his views on career development. His thesis was absolutely counter to everything I had been taught and I found it unsettling.
Over the years I have had the privilege and honor of knowing a number of very successful people in a variety of fields of endeavor from business to the arts and archaeology to sports and politics.
These are very interesting times. Many people tell me how difficult it is to find people to fill jobs that they have vacant in their companies. Plainly put, it appears that there are more job openings than there are qualified people to fill them.
Many years ago, over a twelve month period, I traveled across America interviewing twenty seven high profile CEOs focusing on one question: How has failure made you a better leader?
