A captain doesn't leave the dock, set a heading, and expect to arrive without touching the wheel again. Wind shifts. Tides change. Conditions evolve. The destination stays the same, but the course requires measured adjustments. Business is no different. I've seen too many teams treat structure and flexibility as opposites. They aren't. The best teams … Continue reading The Myth of Rigid Execution

I tried to play professional golf on the PGA tour. I failed. After years of practice, hundreds of thousands of swings, lessons, tournaments, and early mornings, I got a recommendation from a PGA professional, paid the entry fee, and flew to Georgia to compete in the PGA tour qualifying tournament. By the fourth and final … Continue reading The Best Lessons Don’t Come From Winning

As a Program / Project Manager we know what the most challenging aspect of PM is: the people factor. And, a particularly challenging type of person to deal with I’ll refer to as The Wizard of Oz. PM’s - How many times have you been in a situation where you are asking important questions about … Continue reading PM & The Wizard of Oz

Five years ago, I walked into my boss’s office and said, “I quit.” Not because I was unhappy. But because sometimes life changes the priorities in front of you. Both of my wife's brothers have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and at the time, they were struggling to find the full time care they needed to survive. … Continue reading Success Looks Different Sometimes

In our professional lives we are often focused on growth, continuous improvement, and constantly learning new skills. Today I was reminded of the importance of something that can’t really be taught. Treating people like people. The highest performing teams don't become high performing simply because talented people happen to work near each other. The strongest … Continue reading What Can’t Be Taught