Observations from Korea
I write these words on the last leg of my journey home from Korea. I normally don’t use the blog to comment on business trips, but given the hoopla regarding the political climate in Korea, I feel this trip to be different. Fear Many people were surprised that I was going to Korea. “Are you […]
Creating a Wide Enough Net
I received another rejection notice the other day for a potential speaking engagement. I was somewhat relieved. A few observations… First, I was relieved because I have thrown my name in the hat for several speaking engagements. So a few “you have not been chosen” messages are actually relieving. Second, I take rejection as a […]
Who is the hero?
Many sales people “show up and throw up.” In attempting to overcome every anticipated objection, they describe all the features and benefits of their service or company. “Our quality is impeccable, our on-time delivery is 99.9%, our pricing is competitive, and our customer service is second to none.” Have you ever heard a pitch where […]
Did WE get a bonus?
“Did WE get a bonus,” asked Sarah as I walked into the door. It was the end of the year, the company had done well, and so her anticipation was appropriate. “Yes, WE did,” I replied. All of us play a “we” game. Take me for example. Without Sarah, I wouldn’t travel nearly as much. […]
Confidence vs. Courage
What’s the difference between confidence and courage? Are you willing to do what is uncomfortable?
On Mentoring
A few weeks ago, a family friend asked me if I could mentor their child. Of course! Anyone who knows me knows that I believe in being 100% transparent. So, I share the email I wrote to this individual below in hopes of modeling one way of doing so —“one way” is the key phrase […]
Show and Tell….
Yesterday was an extremely difficult day at Hoffer Plastics. Some thoughts on our family, and a challenge to show and tell. (Note: Excuse the bad video angle. I was not filming this message twice!).
I didn’t have the guts…but the story doesn’t end there.
I have a ritual where I reflect monthly on a few documents I created to remind me of important professional endeavors. One of those documents pertains to areas of improvement for the company and its culture, and a few ideas that are more personal in nature. In short, I have discovered that thoughts not captured […]
Making Yourself Better vs. Making Yourself Feel Better
Recently on his podcast, Tim Ferriss considered the differences between making yourself better and making yourself feel better. As he explained, making yourself better forces you to confront your own weaknesses and do something about them. This takes time, humility, and a willingness to sacrifice short-term comfort for long-term growth. Conversely, making yourself feel better […]
Training the Mind
I want to become a better putter when I play golf. I have a 6.5 handicap, and my putting is what holds me back from going lower. While my life won’t necessarily be any better when I achieve a scratch handicap, what motivates me about this goal is overcoming the resistance to it. As most […]