When you own a business, it is inevitable that at some point you will experience crisis and disruption. The question to ask yourself is, should I pull back or lean in? Being afraid in uncertain times is normal, but fear doesn’t have to define your response. When seasons of crisis come, you can strategically pivot […]
Archive for Success
Encore: Leadership and the Law of Replication
We all want to build a strong culture in our organizations, but leaders often exclude themselves from the expectations they set for others. By mastering the Law of Replication, you’ll avoid creating chaos in your organization and create a strong, healthy team culture based on your core values.
7 Ways Successful Creatives Think Differently than Unsuccessful Ones
It Takes More Than Talent
I have worked with authors for more than three decades. Based on my observations, here are 7 characteristics that separate the highly successful ones from the others.
5 Reasons Why You Should Commit Your Goals to Writing
Writing your goals down is one of the most important actions you can take to obtain the life you want. Sadly, most people don’t do it. Here are five why reasons you should.
How to Conquer a Chaotic Calendar
3 Steps to Protect Time for Your Biggest Priorities
As leaders—especially leaders who have busy families—the calendar can spiral out of control very quickly. It doesn’t take long before you’re dropping important personal or family events. As a top executive and mother of four, Meg has mastered the art of taming a chaotic calendar. In this episode, captured live at the Achieve Conference, she […]
The Very Best Way to Motivate Your Team
When leaders are driven to succeed, it’s easy to resort to power tactics to drive the team forward. While high achievers always thrive on a challenge, they also need more subtle encouragements to keep them energized. In this episode, we’ll show you the very best way to call forth the very best from your team.
How to Make High Leverage Decisions
4 Simple Strategies for Making Fewer, Faster, Better Decisions
Good leaders thrive on making high-leverage decisions. But facing too many daily choices can be overwhelming. Eventually, we’re tempted to overthink every choice—or abdicate choosing altogether. In this episode, we show you four simple strategies to streamline your decision making. When we’re done, you’ll say goodbye to mental exhaustion. And you’ll gain the confidence and […]
How to Think Straight
Avoiding Fake News, Group Think, and Other Decision Making Pitfalls
Leaders make tough decisions nearly every day. Too often, they feel rushed or pressured into choices they don’t like and later regret. In this episode, we’ll show you the bad thinking that underlies nearly every bad decision.
New Coke: Anatomy of a Terrible Decision
5 Lessons from One of the Worst Product Rollouts of All Time
The Coca-Cola Company’s own website admits that it was probably “a day that will live in marketing infamy.” On April 23, 1985, Coke Chairman and CEO Roberto Goizueta announced to 200 reporters that the company would be changing its formula. It would be still be called Coca-Cola, but this “New Coke” would taste better and […]
Leader: Know Thy Biases
3 Ways to Recognize Them and See Around Them
The road sign in my home state of Washington read: “Litter and it will hurt.” I didn’t think twice about it, but our guests from nearby Vancouver, British Columbia, mouthed the slogan out loud and could hardly believe their ears. They were traveling with us to a birthday party of a mutual friend. “Of all […]
Slow That Decision Down
Stop, Take Stock, and Use That Calendar to Your Advantage
“Don’t rush me, sonny! You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles,” warned Billy Crystal, costumed up as Miracle Max in the 1987 classic The Princess Bride. In the movie, that was a laugh line, but it’s not a bad way to think about the decisions you make as a leader. For every decision that […]
How Hobbies Make You a Better Leader
Many leaders compensate for feeling overwhelmed and over-busy by working even more hours. But neglecting self-care puts us on a downward spiral that leads to lower productivity and, ultimately, burnout. In this episode, Michael and Megan share the secret weapon for boosting productivity—a hobby!