Ready to Play?
My brother and I like to torment one another with old family pictures, as only brothers can do. As the years pass, it seems there are more “old” ones with us in them! He just sent me a snapshot of the one I’ve posted with this article; that happens to be yours truly awhile back. […]
Momentum
When a team has turned the tide, is gaining strength, and is pressing forward, you can sense it. Momentum isn’t something you can measure in a classic business sense, but you can sure feel it when it’s building! We can all relate to our favorite sporting events, when one team begins to build on small […]
Force Multiplier
“Perpetual Optimism is a Force Multiplier”, declares General Colin Powell in his autobiography, as Rule #13 of his Rules to Live By. His remarkable life experiences and significant accomplishments are a testament to that belief. The defining word here is “perpetual”. To provide exponential effects, optimism must be ever-present; it can’t be occasional, moody or […]
Next Best Thing
When it comes to meeting in person, the next best thing……. isn’t. There’s simply no substitute for face-to-face communication to convey content, intent and emotion. When it really matters, choose in-person. It’s true that the dramatic advances in communications technology have remarkably sped up our ability to connect “real-time”. There’s a drawback to the ease […]
Committee or Task Force?
What’s the difference? Plenty. The form you choose to accomplish special projects will define the process and shape the outcome. You’ve probably served on a committee at some point in your life. Perhaps it was a homecoming committee, a homeowner’s association committee or a nominating committee. Whatever it was, do you recall it as being […]
Five!!!!!
It’s more than a number to Team Jacksonville! When it was “1” it was fun. When it became “2” they weren’t through. “3” was all about the “Three-peat”. “4” meant even more. But what about “5”? “5” is to thrive! I looked up expressions for 5-time repeat winners and discovered that the Urban Dictionary hasn’t […]
Team
It’s the single most important aspect of any successful enterprise, yet the most difficult to measure. The quality of your team will define the path, and the pace, of your growth. Today I heard an African Proverb, shared in the most unlikely of situations: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want […]
Zero Discussion
That’s what happens when a leader and service delivery team know exactly what to do. “Zero Discussion” is required; their response becomes instinctive and driven by commitment to the cause. Oddly enough, you don’t get to this point without tons of robust communication. That provides the foundation, along with constant reinforcement of the team’s mission […]
“Meaningful Adjacencies”
Just after sunrise on a hot, humid July morning, I gathered with nearly 500 landscape professionals at Arlington National Cemetery for our annual green industry day of service, known as “Renewal & Remembrance”. That place always humbles me and inspires deep reflection unlike any other place I have ever visited. Mere words don’t do the […]
What Floats Your Boat?
The answer can be quite literal, as in the case of a rather unique “boat building competition” that I participated in this week. With the limited time and materials available to us, however, the reality is that most of the crafts barely floated at all and none for very long! I am pleased to announce […]