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  • The Millennial Solution The Millennial Solution

    The Millennial Solution

The Millennial Solution

Two weeks ago, I pointed to the perils of taking listening for granted.  But what happens if there is a generational schism in how we communicate?  That is where this Business Lesson Found begins.

When used in an email, what does an ellipsis, “…”, mean?  How you answer reveals your age.  Boomers and Gen Xers use ellipses at a sentence’s end to indicate their thoughts trailing off.  Millennials interpret ellipses differently.  As one millennial put it, “the dot-dot-dot is the height of passive aggressiveness.” (more…)

  • The 2 Sides of Listening The 2 Sides of Listening

    The 2 Sides of Listening

The 2 Sides of Listening

Last week I went to have my blood drawn for my annual physical exam.  The results included a Business Lesson Found.

The technician’s first question was if I was there for a “wellness visit”.  After a moment to consider whether an “annual physical” is considered a “wellness visit”, I said “yes”. (more…)

  • Control Your Budget – Wisely Control Your Budget – Wisely

    Control Your Budget – Wisely

Control Your Budget – Wisely

The other day, I bit into a pear only to discover it was over-ripe.  I kept eating it anyway.  This experience led to a Lesson Found on making smart spending decisions. (more…)

  • Time: Your Most Precious Asset Time: Your Most Precious Asset

    Time: Your Most Precious Asset

Time: Your Most Precious Asset

Last week’s ritual of turning our clocks back is a business owner’s dream:  We gained an extra hour to accomplish our goals!  This bonus hour suggests a Lesson Found.

This annual 25-hour day is not so much of a Lesson Found as a reminder.  Time is our most precious asset.  There are only 24-hours in the day and 7-days in a week.  But how are we using our time and how much of it do we control? (more…)

  • How Kaleidoscopes Can Make Better Leaders How Kaleidoscopes Can Make Better Leaders

    How Kaleidoscopes Can Make Better Leaders

How Kaleidoscopes Can Make Better Leaders

These Lessons Found truly are inspired from expected and unexpected sources.  For example, my favorite kaleidoscope inspired this Lesson Found.

I love kaleidoscopes.  I even have one in my computer-bag and regularly take “kaleidoscope-breaks”.  While this may sound silly, my kaleidoscope-breaks benefit my productivity and results in three key ways: (more…)

  • Family Business Case Study: Contrasting Management Styles Family Business Case Study: Contrasting Management Styles

    Family Business Case Study: Contrasting Management Styles

Family Business Case Study: Contrasting Management Styles

Family businesses Forever 21 & Nordstrom offer a contrast in management styles.  Within this contrast is a Lesson Found for other family businesses.

Founded in 1984 by the Chang family, the fast-fashion innovator Forever 21 expanded rapidly in the early 2000s only to file for bankruptcy last month.  The cause of this change in fortunes can be traced to the Chang family’s management style. (more…)

  • Owners Don’t Have the Luxury To Simply Resign Owners Don’t Have the Luxury To Simply Resign

    Owners Don’t Have the Luxury To Simply Resign

Owners Don’t Have the Luxury To Simply Resign

Over a 48-hour period last month, CEO’s were falling like mayflies at dusk.  There are Lesson Found for owners to glean from these resignations.

The carnage began on September 24th (more…)

  • Is your business’s customer service consistently excellent? Is your business’s customer service consistently excellent?

    Is your business’s customer service consistently excellent?

Is your business’s customer service consistently excellent?

Remember 25-years ago when hotel reservations were made by calling an 800-number? I recently reverted back, making a phone call to book my hotel reservation and, in the process, gained a Lesson Found. (more…)

  • Are your goals keeping you on target? Are your goals keeping you on target?

    Are your goals keeping you on target?

Are your goals keeping you on target?

Lessons Found for businesses can truly materialize from unexpected sources.  For instance, a valuable Lesson Found on business goals can be gleaned from a podcast contrasting two approaches to teaching (more…)

  • Enhancing Conversations in the Board Room & Family Business Enhancing Conversations in the Board Room & Family Business

    Enhancing Conversations in the Board Room & Family Business

Enhancing Conversations in the Board Room & Family Business

I recently was privileged to sit in on a board meeting for a family business.  How the board came to a decision on a contentious issue is a Lesson Found for all of us.

The business’s only remaining founding member* started the debate with an impassioned plea (more…)