In a comparison of national productivity statistics, research revealed Germans tend to work 600 fewer annual hours than Greeks, yet Germans are 70% more productive. At first glance, this may seem outrageous. But these numbers align with what I’ve seen in my coaching practice. The individuals who constrain their time produce a greater output. This […]

A few years back, my team and I prepared for the launch of our new leadership product. We were excited. We even skipped a few key steps in our rush to market. We just knew we had something special. We messaged hundreds of thousands of people about the product, and when the launch was over, […]

When it comes to politics, my brother-in-law Loren and I are on totally different planets. On his annual visits to our home, I count on our high-spirited debates. The surprising thing about our discourse is that it’s actually … civil. Could your family say the same? Loren has taught me a lot about discussing sensitive […]

Most people think intensity is the key to accomplishing huge goals, but Jerry Seinfeld would disagree. When this stand-up comic, co-creator of Seinfeld, and actor worth $950 million considers the reason for his success, he credits one word: consistency. Early on in his career, Jerry started writing at least one joke per day. He hung […]

With the rise of industrialization, a false belief spread like wildfire. In the pursuit of efficiency, we started viewing humans like machines. We assumed we could consistently operate at maximum capacity so long as we managed our time appropriately. This is short-sighted. Yet, somehow, this belief persists today. It’s time to confront reality. Productivity isn’t […]

While fighting in the Korean War, my dad’s tank was hit by a missile. Shrapnel knocked him out, and he lay in a coma for months. When he finally stood up from his hospital bed, he learned he would limp for the rest of his life.  As a young boy, I didn’t know about his […]

Science proves it: decision fatigue is a real thing. By the end of your workday, your emotional and intellectual horsepower is depleted. When leaders invest precious energy in low-impact decisions, everyone pays a price. Hoarding decisions undervalues employees. It also keeps you from making bigger decisions that really matter. You can’t escape decision-making, but you […]

When I was CEO at Thomas Nelson Publishers, we spent half a million dollars to attend an annual trade show. For several years, we invested in this event without stopping to ask whether or not it was the best use of our resources. Everyone assumed it was an essential expenditure. After all, our competitors would […]

“Someday I’m going to climb Everest.” In the early 1940s, professional beekeeper Edmund Hillary shared his seemingly insurmountable goal with the world. At this point, no climber had successfully reached the Everest peak. The mountain’s difficulty level echoed loudly through 30 frozen bodies lying on its route. Louder still was the public criticism for Hillary’s […]

In 2013, the Romanian hacker Marcel Lazar cracked open email accounts belonging to the members of George W. Bush’s family. Lazar found paintings by the former president of animals, still life, even some self-portraits. Lazar released the images to the media, many people were surprised to discover Bush’s hobby. They need not have been. Presidents […]