One day in 1990, A.K. Verma went on what you might call “extended” leave from his job as a senior electrical engineer at India’s Central Public Works Department. He hasn’t shown up for work since. And it finally caught up to him: Verma was sacked for his absence — on Jan. 8, after 25 years…
DetailsWe are still enjoying the holidays with friends and family and on Sunday took my brother and his wife to Leiper’s Fork, TN. This is a tiny community near our house that’s home to some of the biggest names in country music and is known for its artistic and down-home feel. We ate lunch at…
DetailsTabula Rasa — This is actually a Latin term meaning “clean slate.” People who end up being successful usually view change differently than the average person. And here at the beginning of 2015 we have an opportunity to begin with a clear slate. It was a cold December night in West Orange, New Jersey. Thomas…
DetailsOf course we assume that any degree expands our possibilities. Someone with an M.D. behind their name certainly has far more options than someone without a graduate degree or even a B.A. A person with any college degree has more opportunity than a person who has never invested the time, energy and money to get…
DetailsJoanne and I just returned from several days in Chicago – our annual pre-Christmas jaunt to relax, enjoy the lights, and celebrate Joanne’s birthday. We ate at our favorite restaurants, strolled through the decorated stores, browsed in art galleries, enjoyed a dinner cruise on Lake Michigan, were guests at a wonderful storytelling event, and talked with friendly people…
DetailsManagement guru Peter Drucker always recommended that you examine every part of your business regularly to determine if there is anything you are doing now that you wouldn’t do again if you could start over. What if you did this Zero-Based planning for your LIFE? If you could wipe the slate clean on January 1st,…
DetailsA couple of years ago, when Joanne and I had a weekly radio show, we went to the company Christmas luncheon. As a show host we were treated to lunch and lots of other goodies. One of the other goodies was the privilege of having a caricature drawn by Tracy Latham. Tracy shared that he had read 48…
DetailsChuck promised his 7-yr-old son Johnny that he would take him fishing on Saturday. The little boy waiting eagerly for the day to arrive, but he awoke Saturday morning to the sound of rain. Johnny grumbled all morning, complaining and sharing his disappointment with everyone. But by 2:00 the rain ended, the sun came…
DetailsWe are now familiar with “horse whisperers” as people who are unusually gifted at calming wild horses. In the 1998 movie, Robert Redford played the man who knew that violence is never the answer. Well, that same principle is growing in popularity outside of horse training circles. Today it is being applied successfully by corporations,…
DetailsThis is the time of year when we all receive an avalanche of requests for donations to worthy causes and organizations. I just got one – from a very respected men’s leadership program. The letter says surveys show the men who participate become better friends, parents, husbands, employees and bosses. I myself am a graduate of…
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