Nothing will undermine your effectiveness as a leader faster than a bad marriage. Your marriage is a living example of what it is like to be in a close relationship with you.

It’s that time of year, right? Spring cleaning. It’s an annual tradition that goes back forever. And most of us get a piece of the action. Seven in ten Americans participate every year. I’ve seen dozens of spring cleaning checklists, tips, and shortcuts. But there’s one thing most of these lists miss, and it’s usually […]

As leaders, we’re often forced to pilot despite low visibility. But when it comes to finances, nothing is more dangerous than flying blind. I can’t tell you how many accountants and bookkeepers I’ve interviewed who thought quarterly statements were enough to run a business. That’s nuts! Some of us know this from experience, but if […]

If there’s one thing that stands out in the ongoing presidential election, it’s the sheer nastiness. As a leader, I wouldn’t hire any of the present candidates for my business. I wouldn’t want to work for any of them either. My rejection comes down to one of the flashing neon features of this election: disrespect.

As people, we sometimes find ourselves in situations that leave us feeling uncomfortable and uneasy. As leaders, that’s pretty much a constant. You know what I’m talking about. It could be something positive—maybe speaking to a large crowd, launching a new product, or re-upping an important client. Alternatively, it could be something negative—a confrontational meeting, […]

Life can be crazy complicated. With all the distractions and variables, we need a way to focus on what truly matters. This Thursday I’m hosting a free new webinar that will show you how. And get this: It’s as simple as answering three questions. When we’re unaware, overwhelmed, and distracted, we tend to drift through […]

The current presidential election has put millions of Americans in a panic. I get it. No matter who you’re voting for, there’s a lot of troubling news. And that’s just the election. Throw economic and international instability into the mix, and sometimes it can feel like we’re being swept along in a powerful current, headed […]

If you’re an entrepreneur, corporate boss, or ministry leader, chances are good you’re not getting enough sleep. In fact, I’d bet money on it. The national average is short of seven hours a night. And that number, already below the recommended eight, is probably overstated. Why do I think that?

It’s popular to say the customer is always right. It’s also not true. Whether you run a business, nonprofit, or ministry, your team comes first. Get the right team, and you’re off to the races. Hire the wrong team, and you’ll likely move slowly—maybe even backwards. So what’s the trick for getting the best people […]

As a leader, the health of your marriage directly affects the impact of your leadership. I have witnessed this time and time again. Being effective at work or in ministry begins by being effective at home. Here’s why.

I once had a boss who with the reputation of being very harsh. He could be hard on people. But that wasn’t my experience. Why? I knew the secret. My boss was definitely tough. On a few different occasions I saw him chew a person’s face off. But here’s why: He hated it when someone […]

It’s a little hard to believe, but my new book, Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want, is almost here. I wrote it with my friend Daniel Harkavy to help people get from where they are now to where they really want to be—in every area of life. […]

We all dream of great things for our lives, don’t we? A fulfilling marriage, happy kids, a meaningful and profitable career. We all know people who have achieved those things, so we know it’s possible. And the truth is most of us have already experienced more success than we realize. But wherever we are, most […]

Last week I took my entire team on a Caribbean cruise to mark a major accomplishment. Celebrating success is something I really believe in. Family is also something I really believe in—and that’s why we included not only our employees and key contractors, but also their spouses on the trip. That meant accommodating more than […]

I’m always surprised by what I learn at the movies. I go to be entertained. But many times I walk out of the theater with insights I can put to work in my life. Over the weekend Gail and I saw the new Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway comedy, The Intern. It was great.

We’ve all felt it. Right before you try a new idea for the first time, there’s always that moment of panic. Is this really going to work? Is it too late to back out? I say “panic,” but let’s call it what it is: self-doubt. Deep down, whenever you put yourself out there, you secretly […]

During his recent trip to America, Pope Francis addressed the U.S. Congress and the United Nations. And the truth is leaders of all kinds have a lot to learn from him. Francis is enormously popular. But whatever we personally think about this particular pope—pro or con—or the Catholic Church, it doesn’t change the fact that […]

When you think about leadership, what’s one word that matters more than almost any others? In his new book, H3 Leadership: Be Humble, Stay Hungry, Always Hustle, Brad Lomenick says “habit” is the key. More than 40 percent of the things we do throughout the day aren’t the result of decisions, he says. They’re habits. […]

We all have bad days in business, right? And sometimes they’re beyond just bad. We drop a ball, miss a sale, or hurt a colleague. Suddenly, we’re doubting ourselves, doubting our worth, doubting everything. My goal-setting course, 5 Days to Your Best Year Ever, is very successful and helps a ton of people every year. […]

The Ashley Madison hack has spurred a lot of talk about adultery. An untold number of its clients have already resigned jobs or been served divorce papers. A few have even committed suicide. Several years ago a friend of mine had an affair. It was like dropping an atomic bomb in his life. He lost […]

I love Amazon, but like many I was disturbed by what I read in the New York Times’ recent exposé. Still, I was actually more disturbed by what came next. I read defenses of Amazon from entrepreneurs, leaders, tech writers, and others. Some were easy to agree with. It’s a free country, after all. People […]

Everyone knows the old line from the real estate business, “Location, location, location!” But did you know it can have a direct impact on your professional success and satisfaction? I’ve lived just outside Nashville for almost thirty years. It’s been a major center for the music business for decades, but Nashville is now a major […]

We sometimes think we have to be jerks to win at work. Standout leaders like Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos are famous for their tough approach. And we all know raging meaniacs set impossible standards and get amazing results, right? I spent most of my professional life in the publishing business. While I was president […]

If you’re an entrepreneur at heart like me, it’s tempting to wear every hat in the business. This is especially true if you’re cursed with being halfway good at all those jobs. That’s not a compliment, by the way. I should emphasize the word cursed. Think of it this way: Would you intentionally hire someone […]