777 drop – The Bull bungee jumps on Wall Street
Tuesday, September 30th, 2008Wall Street right now is a bungee ride. We have all heard congress and politicians say they do not want to bail out execs on Wall Street without helping those on Main Street. I know very few people on Main Street that are untouched by Wall Street.
While the point loss is large this is only a 6.98% drop. Have we forgotten other major benchmarks in the Dows’ history? What about October 19, 1987 when it fell 507.99 points to close at 1,738 which was a 22.6% drop and will forever be known as “Black Monday.” “1738! Will it ever recover?” pondered and exclaimed every news agency around. The DOW, less than 2000 points, has really grown since this horrible day to heights never predicted.
Standout Group
Monday, September 29th, 2008As I pondered the shrubs, I saw the workplace right there before my eyes. In every organization that is growing, there are some who keep pace with growth. There are some who develop a problem and shrivel up and dye. But then there are a few that are standouts and rise above their peers.
Leadership Without Easy Answers
Monday, September 22nd, 2008Heifetz, professor at John F. Kennedy School of Government, did not have to quote some book or popular case studies to validate his principles. He reached back into history and brought the context of major points where leaders make significant impacts in history and shows us behind the scenes insights we do not read in history. This type of information helps us understand leadership, influence, and policy formation in a whole new light.
The Role of Publishers and Authors
Friday, September 19th, 2008The manuscript alone is not enough and most publishers do not want completed manuscripts. The publisher can help shape the style and length of what a certain book should be for the marketplace. An author should not ignore the expertise of the publisher by being too attached and unwilling to make changes to the proposed book.
Two Cans and a String
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008We should seek a means to communicate to the listener in ways he or she enjoys. My wife really hates the phone; others have preferred and least preferred means of connecting. When we use those preferred means; we have to ask how the person we’re communicating with interpreted our message. I believe communication is the great mystery of leading. Just when you think you are hitting on all cylinders someone says, “I didn’t know we were doing this.”
Water Timers and Our Spiritual Roots
Tuesday, September 9th, 2008This year my grass has stayed green. The grass drinks daily for twenty minutes and the roots stay strong and the blades green and thick. I like it. My neighbors and guests notice that others on my street do not care enough to give daily attention to their small plot of real estate.
Others also notice when we do not give attention to our spiritual plot of real estate. What would ten or twenty minutes a day of watering our soul do to our roots and strength?
Four Tablespoons of Shortening – Yum
Thursday, September 4th, 2008I was recently reminded that some things were not meant to meet with my taste buds. Next to cooking the food, I enjoy eating, but unless you have a tongue scraper some foods should never pass for flavor.
Let’s play a game. Would you eat four tablespoons of shortening? What about two teaspoons of baking powder? [...]
