Networking is an important competency, even if not in sales. However, insincere “takers” do not develop effective relationships that derive benefit. Instead, an individual should approach networking with these ideas:      ·       Rapport comes when you connect on what is important about them, not you. If you want to be interesting, be interested.    …

Last year, I toured a US Air Force base. They had moved their flight publication manuals from paper to 18,000 iPads. This transition saved them millions of dollars…in fuel costs, from the additional weight of the manuals. However, when the iPad came out, critics were not sure where the tablet computer fit between laptops and…

In Texas, there is a classic phrase centered on a cowboy’s “ten gallon hat.” However, the largest can actually only hold a few quarts.  This inaccurate phrase is based on a linguistic misunderstanding, as “Galon” is the Spanish word for “braid.”  The native Mexican cowboys – vaqueros – wore as many as ten braided hatbands…

Asia and Africa are urbanizing rapidly (40% live in African cities), as Africa’s economic growth is 2nd only to East Asia. Africa, home to 8 of the world’s 15 fastest-growing economies between 2000 and 2013, is transforming from a continent in need of assistance to a continent of opportunity. Africa has more middle class households…

I visited the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis on their 100-year anniversary. Their value is very clear – protect BEV (Bank, Employees, Valuables) with “above reproach” integrity. Their mandate is to maximize employment and price stability, and they do this through several key activities:      1.     Influence supply of money and credit   …

Dialogue is the “oxygen of change.” Internal change champions, who influence others without authority, demonstrate and communicate the project benefits, including:      · the big picture,      · honest assessment of current state, and      · the light at the end of the tunnel. Their level of involvement is proportional to how…

Proverbs 24:26 states, “An honest answer is as pleasing as a kiss on the lips” and kids commonly hear, “Honesty is always the best policy.” Yet, is this really what we mean? Recently, I have been trying to raise my adolescent son to realize that he can’t say everything in his head and he needs…

How aware are you of your emotions? Emotional intelligence (EQ) impacts your performance as much as IQ. “EQ is a set of emotional and social skills that influence the way we perceive and express ourselves, develop and maintain social relationships, cope with challenges, and use emotional information in an effective and meaningful way" (Source: Psychology…

George Lucas, famous for writing and directing the Star Wars movies, created these movies after he could not get the rights to Flash Gordon.  Thomas Edison, when inventing the light bulb, said, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” Of course, he also operationalized research and development at his company,…

In 1900, London was the world’s most populous city with 6.5 million people, followed by New York, Paris and Berlin. Tokyo was the only non-Western urban center on the largest cities list. This year, no US or European city will be in the top 10…instead, it is Mumbai (India), Chongqing (China) and Lagos (Nigeria) with…