Sheldon and Rose had retired, and they were taking a well-deserved luxury vacation to Australia. But on their way across the Pacific, their plane encountered mechanical difficulties and was forced to crash-land on a deserted tropical island. They were…
“Would You Rather…”
December 29, 2017 Gather round, kiddies — we’re going to talk about business ethics. Wait! Don’t run away! When my wife worked at Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, one of her coworkers used to ask interesting interview questions to get…
Pining for PINE
Every now and again, I have a technology-themed “Marcel Proust Moment”… In the first volume of Marcel Proust’s ‘Remembrance of Things Past,’ he dunks a cookie into his tea and immediately he’s transported back, into a reverie and remembrance of his…
Laboratories of Democracy
Back in the mid-90s, I worked at Centralia College in Centralia, Washington. It was my second time moving away from Oklahoma, and the first time where the experience changed me and helped me develop into the leader I try to be…
Play to your Strengths
October 26, 2017 One of the best parts of my profession involves being a tireless seeker of truth, and by extension, information. It’s been a part of me forever. When I was growing up minor arguments would erupt at the…
You don’t know how it feels
October 3, 2017 RIP, Tom Petty… This week I’m at the United Way’s Finance, Talent, and Technology Management Forum in Dallas. It’s my first time here — the UW has recently added “Technology” to the roster of this conference, and…
What? And give up Show Business?
My favorite joke about working in Nonprofit Leadership. From the Vaudeville era: The circus comes to town, and everyone turns up for the grand parade down Main Street. There’s the Strong Man, the Bearded Lady, and Lions and Tigers in…
The Oaks of New College
September 26, 2017 In his talks, Tom Peters used to ask his audiences “What is the oldest continually operating organization you can think of?” The answers were (a) the Catholic Church, and (b) Medieval Universities, like the University of Oxford.…
Abraham Maslow shines his countenance upon the United Way…
When I was a Business Administration student (and Organizational Behavior in particular), we were taught about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Some of which might actually be appropriate…I’ll not bore you with the whole thing, but the essence is that people…
Telco Hangover
July 31, 2017 There are things, like drinking to excess, that one does and, while you’re in the throes of worshipping at the shrine of the Porcelain God, your brain goes: “Right! NOW I REMEMBER why I haven’t done this…