Two trees named Joe fell in the forest last week and hundred of millions were there to hear them. The first was Joe Frazier, former heavyweight champion of the world. Two days later fell the second, a football coach, Joe Paterno, who moonlighted for … [Read more...]
Why First Impressions are Hard to Change
Relationships strengthen and weaken based on interactions the brain catalogs into three buckets: non-verbal evaluations, voice and tone, and selected words. Therefore a strong first impression goes a heck of a long way toward launching a solid … [Read more...]
Why Most Companies Don’t Sustain A Strong Sales Culture
I was lucky enough to work for Xerox during the height of the company's marketplace presence and power. I was even luckier to be selected to teach advanced selling at the firm's international training center. This was a prestigious selection. For … [Read more...]
Why the 10 Unhappiest Jobs Don’t Need to Be That Way
Anyone who has rented his or her soul for a paycheck has reaped its rewards and weathered the taxes that go with it. In the boom economy, when work was steady and raises expected, for many the pluses of working for a living outweighed the … [Read more...]
The Lighter Side: News Fit for a Monday
To buy some time while I continue working through a recently published list of the ten most unhappy jobs I offer today's compilation of "news" from around the planet. A tip of the coffee mug to: Dog Eats Man: In a story that makes us all feel extra … [Read more...]
Why Collaboration Works
As I pause from a 9/11 day of remembrance to mourn again the loss of my trusted friend, coach, and mentor George Simmons, I honor him by sharing the power of collaboration. Whether we're talking about work, the pursuit of a personal passion, or the … [Read more...]
New book: “We Got to Play Baseball”
I was very excited this week to finish and submit the manuscript for a new book, We Got to Play Baseball, co-authored with former Major League All-Star Gregg Olson. Gregg and I have been friends for a long time but this project, two years in the … [Read more...]
Even the Strong Are Broken In Places
The sudden, tragic death of Baltimore Orioles icon Mike Flanagan cuts deep for those who watched him mature from a young ballplayer into a distinguished middle-aged man. As his adulthood unfolded, Flanny’s chapters seemed to be the stuff of dreams: … [Read more...]
Perceptions, part 3 of 3: How Perceptions Can Change
Changing perceptions hinges on two things: actions and receptivity. To dissect both, we first need to understand the four elements of effective communication. They are: Sender Receiver Channel Message We judge ourselves by our intentions; … [Read more...]
Perceptions, part 2 of 3: How Perceptions Are (or Are Not) Affirmed
Perceptions start with first impressions, which are based upon brain-driven calculations and conclusions drawn from instinct, experience, and expectations. Formed almost immediately, these are quick, snap decisions. Once set, they do not change until … [Read more...]