Business
Creating Value: Success Happens When You Build a Team That Loves Their Work
Action breeds inspiration more than inspiration breeds action. ~ Willem Dafoe Why Trust Is the Heart of Team Building Among the joys I had throughout my forty-five years within (and withstanding) the computer industry was team building. As I began to land large accounts, it was instrumental to have a knowledgeable team as the inside…
Read MoreHow Technology Innovation Changed Everything: From Walkmans to AI
Without doubt, technology has really changed the world since the 1980s. I am not so sure whether it has made us lazier or better. Perhaps a little of both. The so-called “hot technology” when I landed feet-first in the computer industry a lifetime ago, in 1979, was the Sony Walkman. Visualize yourself walking down the street…
Read MoreFrom Warehouse to Boardroom: Lessons from the Ground Up
After that not-so-subtle kick in the ass from my concerned father, I landed a warehouse job within a few days. It did not matter whether that company stored vacuum cleaner parts or automotive parts. That was the least of my concerns. I was on a mission to make my dad proud of me again. I…
Read MoreWhy I Donate All My Book Profits to the Wounded Warrior Project
Why Donate ALL Book Profits to the WWP? Ever since the publication of It Worked For Me!, people have occasionally asked why I chose to donate all the book profits to the Wounded Warrior Project. It’s a fair question, especially considering that several excellent charitable programs exist that support our veteran heroes. A Personal Connection…
Read More10 Easy Business Rules That Apply to Everyday Life
The Power of OTFD: How Speed, Accountability, and Quality Built a $100M Brand Success A $100M company was built around a simple business mantra based upon OTFD (Out the Fucking Door). If you find that offensive, you likely worked at one of our so-called competitors. We preferred to consider them as pretenders. “Just Like BCD,”…
Read MoreWant to Be More Genuine? Here’s Your Expression Revolution
Replace Empty Apologies with Genuine Accountability For over three of my six-plus decades on this planet, I cannot even begin to count the number of times I have cringed hearing people cop out with these three disingenuous phrases: My bad Everything happens for a reason, and It is what it is. Yes, a genuine cop…
Read MoreWhy Effective Listening Beats Talking Every Time – Advice That Works
I learned, in some cases, the hard way, that the quietest person listening in the meeting is generally the brightest person in the room. Early in my sales career, over forty years ago in the early 1980s, the combination of recently having the warehouse in the rearview mirror and me being excited to be in…
Read MoreHow Mastering the Art of Taking a Flying Leap Helped Me Grow
From Broken Bones to Big Risks: Learning the Value of Jumping In…Or Flying During my childhood, I spent a decent amount of time in the cast room of Evanston Hospital, what with four broken arms by the time I was twelve. Dr. Thomas Sweeney, who passed away a few years ago, was literally my orthopedic…
Read MoreHow “Halt and Catch Fire” Captured the True Spirit of ’80s Computing
“Computers aren’t the thing. They’re the thing that gets us to the thing.” ~ Joe MacMillan, Halt and Catch Fire (2014 – 2017, four seasons) As crazy as it seems, as parallel as my career was to the overall theme of Halt and Catch Fire, I never had the chance to watch it, starting with…
Read MoreHow “Know Thy Customer’s Competitor” Helped Me Create a Successful Business
Among my two key success principles have always been Know Thy Customer and Know Thy Competitor. However, while critical, that’s merely the surface layer. Understand that the competition extends beyond customers and vendors. You want to dive deeper and Know Thy Customer’s Competitor. Why Knowing Your Customer’s Competitor Gives You an Unfair Advantage There is…
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