Any entrepreneur will tell you: it’s almost impossible to create a solution that works on the first try. Resilience isn’t just essential for entrepreneurial success. It’s essential for your success. But how can you cultivate it? You’re probably familiar with the story of The Little Engine That Could. Saddled with a huge load, she slowly …

Entrepreneurs unlock potential. They turn ideas into realities, creating jobs and fueling economies. They’re professional problem-solvers. And following their example can lead your business into new opportunities for success. “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn …

“Who’s got something scary?” asked my friend’s producer. The if it bleeds, it leads mentality hung over the newsroom. The scarier the headline, the more views it would receive. It’s no secret that people respond to fear, and unfortunately, many leaders take this approach with their employees. But fear breeds complicity, not commitment. Instead of …

When I first started speaking and writing, I traveled to more than 60 events in a single year. It exhausted me. Friends in the industry told me this type of travel was essential, but I believed I could find a better way to grow my business. I chose to ignore the naysayers. I made a …

When I was in high school, my dad paid me $20 to read The Power of Positive Thinking. It’s the only book he ever paid me to read. By the time I closed the back cover, I was addicted to motivational literature. Since then, I’ve continued to study motivations and dreams. The more I read, …

In the distraction economy, focus is a rare commodity. We can’t do meaningful work unless we maintain focus. Good leaders not only achieve greater focus but also equip team members with focus-boosting tools. Don’t let another week go by with fractured focus. Below, you’ll find nine practices to destroy distractions in your daily work. Choose …

Early in my career, there were many times I didn’t have a handle on the true state of business. As information makes its way to leaders, it gets filtered. You don’t receive the bad news you need to properly course correct. Especially if culture is out of line. To accurately monitor the health of your …

It was Christmastime. An elaborate gift arrived at my doorstep from someone trying to land an appointment with me. Although gifts can show genuine gratitude, I knew this one was intended to manipulate me. The gift giver tried to use the law of reciprocity to make me feel obligated into taking the sales appointment. It …

In a comparison of national productivity statistics, research revealed Germans tend to work 600 fewer annual hours than Greeks, yet Germans are 70% more productive. At first glance, this may seem outrageous. But these numbers align with what I’ve seen in my coaching practice. The individuals who constrain their time produce a greater output. This …

A few years back, my team and I prepared for the launch of our new leadership product. We were excited. We even skipped a few key steps in our rush to market. We just knew we had something special. We messaged hundreds of thousands of people about the product, and when the launch was over, …

When it comes to politics, my brother-in-law Loren and I are on totally different planets. On his annual visits to our home, I count on our high-spirited debates. The surprising thing about our discourse is that it’s actually … civil. Could your family say the same? Loren has taught me a lot about discussing sensitive …

Most people think intensity is the key to accomplishing huge goals, but Jerry Seinfeld would disagree. When this stand-up comic, co-creator of Seinfeld, and actor worth $950 million considers the reason for his success, he credits one word: consistency. Early on in his career, Jerry started writing at least one joke per day. He hung …

With the rise of industrialization, a false belief spread like wildfire. In the pursuit of efficiency, we started viewing humans like machines. We assumed we could consistently operate at maximum capacity so long as we managed our time appropriately. This is short-sighted. Yet, somehow, this belief persists today. It’s time to confront reality. Productivity isn’t …

While fighting in the Korean War, my dad’s tank was hit by a missile. Shrapnel knocked him out, and he lay in a coma for months. When he finally stood up from his hospital bed, he learned he would limp for the rest of his life.  As a young boy, I didn’t know about his …

Science proves it: decision fatigue is a real thing. By the end of your workday, your emotional and intellectual horsepower is depleted. When leaders invest precious energy in low-impact decisions, everyone pays a price. Hoarding decisions undervalues employees. It also keeps you from making bigger decisions that really matter. You can’t escape decision-making, but you …

When I was CEO at Thomas Nelson Publishers, we spent half a million dollars to attend an annual trade show. For several years, we invested in this event without stopping to ask whether or not it was the best use of our resources. Everyone assumed it was an essential expenditure. After all, our competitors would …

“Someday I’m going to climb Everest.” In the early 1940s, professional beekeeper Edmund Hillary shared his seemingly insurmountable goal with the world. At this point, no climber had successfully reached the Everest peak. The mountain’s difficulty level echoed loudly through 30 frozen bodies lying on its route. Louder still was the public criticism for Hillary’s …

In 2013, the Romanian hacker Marcel Lazar cracked open email accounts belonging to the members of George W. Bush’s family. Lazar found paintings by the former president of animals, still life, even some self-portraits. Lazar released the images to the media, many people were surprised to discover Bush’s hobby. They need not have been. Presidents …

In 2000, I got one of the greatest opportunities in my career. I was appointed publisher over the Nelson Books division of Thomas Nelson Publishers, which was one of the top English language publishers in the world. I knew our team had experienced some financial troubles, but I was thrilled for the chance to lead. …

Under-communication is a consistent problem in nearly every business. You can solve that by taking ownership of the communication happening around you. I’ve worked with more than my share of poor communicators over the years. One was a boss who rarely shared information and never in a timely way. My office happened to be in …

If you’ve recently made the switch to remote work, you’re not alone. At least a quarter of U.S. employees worked from home at least part of the time before the Covid-19 crisis. An estimated 16 million U.S. knowledge workers started working remotely due to Covid-19 as of March 2020. That number has likely continued to …

I recently had lunch with a young entrepreneur. His business had grown quickly, and, as a result, he was facing challenges he’d never encountered before. He said, “I think I need a business coach—someone who can help me navigate the road ahead. Can you recommend someone?” I get asked this question a lot. Running a …

In early 2002, I was the general manager of Nelson Books, one of Thomas Nelson Publishers’ fourteen divisions. In eighteen months, we had gone from number fourteen—dead last—to number one in terms of revenue growth and profit margin. I felt great. I was proud of myself and my team for the results we’d achieved. That …

I once worked for a boss who lacked vision. I should say he lacked a single vision because he changed direction frequently. The team never knew what flavor-of-the-month program was coming next. It was frustrating! Ever the activator, I was determined to build momentum in my department even if my division was stuck in neutral. …