Higher Education: Undergoing Substantial Change & Survival of the Fittest
Higher education has historically been viewed by many as a place of occupational safety characterized by tenure, solid endowments and the absence of the make or break competition that characterizes the business world. Rarely have institutions of higher education failed. Until now. Fifty-five high quality, private colleges have closed down and
Feedback or Advice – Which do You Prefer?
People with a growth mindset are eager for feedback. Seeking input from others on how to get better is necessary for success in any field. So, would you like some input on how to get better input? As with so many aspects of communication, it’s not what you say, it’s how you
A Little Fun: Amazed and Amused
Entertainment is at its best when we’re amazed and amused. If you’re open to 3 minutes and 15 seconds of both, check out four women who offer a stunning musical combination of talent, comedy, and teamwork. If you never played a musical instrument you’ll be amused; if you have, you’ll be amazed. Spend a
Days of Disruption No. 24 – Both Ends Against the Middle
Amazon rocked the grocery world two years ago when it bought premium grocer Whole Foods. The distribution giant is now looking to secure the other end of the grocery market with a new format that is sure to disrupt mainstream grocers like Kroger and Wal-Mart. Amazon offers interesting lessons in strategy for
A Gratitude Sampler
This week, Thanksgiving Week in the USA, take some time to be thankful ….and hopefully acquire the habit of doing so every day going forward. To assist you in your reflections, here are a dozen of my favorite quotations: “My wish for you Is that you continue
A Pocketful of Mentors
Motivational speaker Jim Rohn famously remarked that “you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” ( Or, alternatively, as James Michener wrote, “Bad companions bring bad luck”) The question is: who should these five people be? One answer, and maybe the best one, is “mentors.” Clearly, having
Good help is hard to find….and keep
Everyone knows there’s a war for talent, but there are some aspects of it that may surprise you. For example, despite the hot economy, many workers are finding their wages not keeping pace….unless they quit. A recent Associated Press article indicates that workers who leave their jobs are enjoying raises that are
An Ode to Opening Day
The baseball season is here! Not everyone agrees with George Will’s take on politics and other aspects of American life, but most baseball fans regardless of their political stripe would acknowledge that few students of the game are more passionate or informed about the sport than the Pulitzer Prize winning columnist
The Core of Leadership – Trust
Trust is the glue that holds our leadership together. In a world of science and big data, we’d like to be able to reduce “trust” to an equation; but according to master marketer Seth Godin, that level of objectivity is not to be expected. Godin suggests that “trust” comes from some
“Exactly the Right Words, Exactly the Right Way”
Speaking of Presidents…..It’s hard to believe that it’s been thirty years since the Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986, when seven astronauts, including the first teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe, died tragically when the space shuttle exploded minutes after liftoff. That evening, then president Ronald Reagan delivered an unforgettable 4-minute
