Category: Leadership

Why People Stay, Leave, or Simply Fade Out

A workplace dies the moment silence becomes easier than honesty.–YNOT! If you spend enough time around companies, you start to notice an old truth wearing new clothes: people almost never leave a job for the reason printed on their exit form. They leave for the reason they whisper to their friends later. And most of those reasons aren’t about money; they’re about feeling invisible, unheard, or treated like replaceable parts in a machine somebody forgot to grease. Most folks stay where the air is clear enough to breathe—where the boss listens, not just nods; where a person’s ideas aren’t … Continue readingWhy People Stay, Leave, or Simply Fade Out

A Culture of Bad Leadership

Imagine a ship’s captain so obsessed with adjusting the sails himself that he never looks at the horizon. The crew? They spend more time bracing for his outbursts than steering the vessel. That, my friends, is bad leadership in a nutshell. A company with poor leadership isn’t just inefficient—it’s a slow-moving disaster, eroding morale and productivity one micromanaged email at a time. If you want to spot a workplace where the bosses are more interested in covering their own hides than leading, look for these five toxic signs. Just don’t be surprised if you recognize them in a place … Continue readingA Culture of Bad Leadership

No One is a Prophet in Their Own Town: Why Leaving Can Be the Key to Growth

There’s an age-old saying that “No one is a prophet in their own hometown,” meaning people who know your humble beginnings often struggle to see beyond them. Trust me, I’ve roamed from bustling companies to one-horse towns, and if there’s one inescapable conclusion, it’s this: folks aren’t too keen on genius that grows up in their own backyard. It’s a bit like trying to sell a brand-new lens to people who’ve spent decades squinting at the sun—you’re apt to be greeted with more suspicion than applause. Why, you could be the brightest luminary from here to the Big Apple, … Continue readingNo One is a Prophet in Their Own Town: Why Leaving Can Be the Key to Growth

How to be a Prince by Machiavelli

Well now, folks, it seems the world hasn’t changed much since old Machiavelli took up his pen and started handing out advice on power and persuasion. People still want respect, still fear getting taken for a fool, and still hesitate when it’s time to take a leap toward something grand. But, as the saying goes, fortune favors the bold—so why not learn from a man who understood just how to wrestle fortune into submission? Now, I won’t pretend Machiavelli’s words are gentle, nor will I say he’d be invited to Sunday dinner in polite company. But if you can … Continue readingHow to be a Prince by Machiavelli

AI – the JOB DOZER

Ladies and gentlemen, gather around and lend an ear to a most peculiar spectacle of our era: artificial intelligence—an invention so cunningly contrived. It’s cutting a trail through offices and courtrooms faster than a runaway stagecoach, rustling up jobs and redistributing them like poker chips at a floating  card table. AI is going for your business. There are businesses that are going to be made obsolete or substantially hampered by AI. It’s not going to be the plumber or the waitress, but it might be the lawyer or definitely a reduction in staff and diagnostics in the hospital or … Continue readingAI – the JOB DOZER

Alliances, Allies, Allies and more damn Allies

– the Illusion of Loyalty

The Game of Business: Allies, Enemies, and the Illusion of Loyalty You see, a man in business is a lot like a politician and a guy crossing the Amazon in a canoe. He knows the rocks are there, he knows the current is strong, and he expects the occasional alligator to take a snap at him. That’s the competition—the honest, respectable danger. The problem is, more often than not, the real trouble doesn’t come from the water. It comes from the fella sitting right next to him on the raft, smiling, sharing his whiskey, all while whittling away at … Continue readingAlliances, Allies, Allies and more damn Allies

– the Illusion of Loyalty

Cross-Training: Building Resiliency and Agility

In the submarine service, the concept of everyone being required to learn and perform all emergency procedures is rooted in the unique and high-stakes environment of operating underwater. Unlike surface ships or other military units, a submarine operates in an environment where a single failure or misstep can have catastrophic consequences. This is why every crew member, regardless of their specific job or rank, is trained to handle all potential emergency scenarios because fire and sinking submarines don’t care about rank or seniority. Imagine running a business where only one person knows how to process payroll, fix the network, … Continue readingCross-Training: Building Resiliency and Agility

The Art of the Deal –

Not Trump

This isn’t about Donald Trump as a president, a nice guy, or someone you’d want as a friend. He might be the worlds best bull crap tosser. It’s about his raw, ruthless ability to negotiate and get what he wants. He knows how to get under people’s skin, push their buttons, and exploit their vulnerabilities. You don’t want to be on the other side of a negotiating table with him. Most of the techniques he uses, I wouldn’t—but if my life depended on it, if I needed someone to negotiate me out of a dire situation, I’d call him … Continue readingThe Art of the Deal –

Not Trump

Why the World still Studies Sun Tzu

Introduction: Why the World Studies Sun Tzu he Art of War is a guide written by Sun Tzu, a master strategist and philosopher who walked the path of wisdom during China’s Warring States period. His teachings arose not merely from the need to triumph in battle but from an understanding that true mastery lies in outmaneuvering conflict altogether. Sun Tzu was not merely a general; he was a student of human nature. Through his writings, he offered more than strategies for warfare—he revealed principles for navigating the complexities of life itself. The Art of War is not a book … Continue readingWhy the World still Studies Sun Tzu

Thank You!, Bullies

If you’re a bully, pull up a chair. This one’s for you. Everyone else, feel free to mosey along, because I’m fixing to have a little chat with the workplace tormentors of the world. To the bully: thank you. Now, don’t let that “thank you” swell your head too much. I’m not grateful for the misery you’ve caused or the toxic muck you’ve left in your wake. That’s just plain nasty business. What I’m thanking you for is the unintended wake-up call you’ve given to the folks you’ve bullied. You see, folks like you usually peak early—probably back when … Continue readingThank You!, Bullies

Empowering Leadership: Building Trust and Belonging in a Collaborative World

Optimism is a fine thing, like sunshine after a storm, but too much of it can be like a river bursting its banks—what starts as a blessing might just leave you wet, cold, and wishing you’d built a better boat. Small business folks are feeling mighty chipper these days, which is all well and good, but it pays to keep one’s boots on the ground even while the head’s in the clouds. Authentic leaders build trust and foster a sense of belonging by  expressing confidence in their team members’ abilities. Phrases like “I trust you” empower individuals to take … Continue readingEmpowering Leadership: Building Trust and Belonging in a Collaborative World

The Ripple Effects of Leadership

The Ripple Effects: How Leadership Begins Within Mark Twain once said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” Twain, a master of both wit and wisdom, understood that life often mirrors the currents of a river. Just as a captain steers their vessel, leaders navigate the complex waters of human relationships, shaping the journey for those aboard. A skilled captain doesn’t just manage the crew but anticipates challenges, adjusts the sails, and ensures everyone moves toward the horizon with purpose. As many of you may know, I’ve captained a few small vessels—and a few companies—in my days. What … Continue readingThe Ripple Effects of Leadership

IMPOSTERS EVERYWHERE or NOT

Something  peculiar about this age we live in, where everyone with a blog or a loud voice fancies himself a kingpin of wisdom. You see, back in my day, an expert was a man who knew the river like his own heartbeat or a woman who could bake a pie worth dying for. But nowadays, it seems an expert’s just someone who shouts loud enough to make you believe ’em. And here’s the rub: folks are so busy trying to prove they’re geniuses that they start doubting themselves in the process. They call it “imposter syndrome,” which is just … Continue readingIMPOSTERS EVERYWHERE or NOT

YODA now, you are.

To be the “Yoda” of your company—you need to understand that being a leader or manager isn’t about hoarding power or clinging to control like a miser clutching his last dollar. No, it’s about doing the exact opposite. Real leadership is about giving away power so that others can grow, and in turn, you can grow right along with them. Leadership Isn’t About Control—It’s About Freedom If you think leadership is about calling all the shots, think again. That’s not leadership; that’s micromanagement, and it’s about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. The more you try … Continue readingYODA now, you are.

How People work –

‘Reward,’ ‘Ideology,’ ‘Coercion,’ and ‘Ego’

My friends, let me share a truth about the curious nature of people: their motivations are the lock and key to their hearts and minds. The trouble is, we’re a peculiar bunch—always quick to assume what might not be so. You spot a fat wallet and reckon the man’s greedy. You see a preacher in the pulpit and decide he must be a saint. Or maybe you catch sight of an old gent with a young, pretty gal in a dress that’s doing’ more showing’ than covering’, and your thoughts run wild—painting’ her as a floozy, a gold-digger, or … Continue readingHow People work –

‘Reward,’ ‘Ideology,’ ‘Coercion,’ and ‘Ego’