How to Get More Done…By Being Lazy

Back in 1985, I worked for Unisys (then Burroughs) as part of an engineering co-op program while in college. This gave me hands-on experience working in the production control department for this large computer manufacturer. As I was leaving the company, the department head called me the laziest person he ever met. He meant it […]

Does the Pursuit of Major Goals Reduce Performance?

In today’s USA Today, an article discussed “players who are slumping in pursuit of milestones.”  The examples they give are: Barry Bonds, who is eight home runs shy of Hank Aaron’s record of 755, has recently hit only 2 home runs in 124 plate appearances.  Earlier in the season he hit 11 home runs during […]

How to Remain Detached

Doug Busch, former Chief Information Officer at Intel once told me, “The best things I have ever done in my career came shortly after I decided that the best thing that could happen to me is that they fire me.” Doug is referring to the concept of detachment. Detachment is not indifference. It is about […]

A Simple Test

I put together a simple test that takes less than 2 minutes to complete. It tests your ability to perform a seemingly straightforward activity. Want to give it a try? Click here to launch the video (WMV format – 7Meg) There is audio associated with the video, but the test can easily be done without […]

How to Change Your Emotions by Changing Your Language

Most readers (hopefully) know that there is a huge difference between being goal-less and being goal-free. Goal-less implies a complete lack of direction, motivation, and action. Goal-free means having a sense of direction, not a specific destination, and then meandering with purpose. Goal-free versus goal-less is an example of different words with different meanings. Sometimes […]

A Really Creative Guy

No guy wants a beer belly.  Right?  Most would rather have a “six-pack.”  Of course.  But what if you could have a six-pack AND a beer belly at the same time?  Well, now you can.  The Beerbelly is a “removable spare tire” that holds 80 oz of beer (more than a six-pack), allowing you to bring your favorite beverage into any […]

How to Lose a Sale…by Charging Too Little

I learned an interesting lesson many years back: Charging too LITTLE for your goods or services can price you out of a sale. Let me explain. I was with the management consulting firm Accenture for 15 years. Back in 2001, I left the company to become a “professional speaker.” Although I had been giving speeches […]

Quote of the Day

I’ll play it first and tell you what it is afterwards. – Miles Davis, jazz trumpeter extraordinaire

Make Everyone Accountable

Here’s another tip from my Little Book of BIG Innovation Ideas (this book was replaced by Best Practices are Stupid)… Because a few individuals at the top cannot possibly plan all of a company’s activities, give employees a set of rights, responsibilities and rewards that make them accountable for their own actions. Example: Koch Industries […]

Podcast with Michael Wiederman

In a previous blog entry, I commented on Michael Wiederman’s article in Scientific American Mind entitled, “Why It’s So Hard to Be Happy.” Dr. Wiederman is a Professor of Psychology at Columbia College and a proponent of the “goal-free” philosophy. Today we spoke for 30 minutes discussing many topics including goals, happiness, money, performance, investing, […]