Formula One racing teams don’t wait until a tire fails before bringing a car into the pits. The stop is planned. The crew is ready. The goal isn’t to fix a problem. It’s to prevent one. The fastest cars on the track deliberately pause so they can perform at the highest level when they return. The same principle exists almost everywhere we look. Toyota doesn’t wait for machinery to break before performing maintenance. Farmers understand that fields sometimes need a season of renewal … [Read more...]
When Was the Last Time You Really Disconnected?
A few years ago, one of my sons, Neil, and I went hiking in Grand Teton National Park. It was spring, although we had been warned that some of the trails at higher elevations still had snow and ice. We were only going out for the day, so we packed light day packs. Of course, we each brought our cell phones. Even when you're packing light, somehow the phone makes the cut. It adds a little weight, has to be strategically positioned away from liquids, and needs to be secure while still being … [Read more...]
The Rock is in Our Hands
When I was a kid, if my brother and I were standing beside a lake with a pile of rocks nearby, I’m pretty sure our first instinct would have been simple: pick up a rock and throw it into the water. The bigger the splash, the better. Chances are we were there with my Dad. At some point, he probably picked up one of those nice flat rocks, turned it in his hand and threw it across the surface of the lake. Skip. Skip. Skip. Skip. Now he had our attention. It wouldn’t have taken long … [Read more...]
Building Something Better
America is celebrating its 250th birthday. In the history of nations, is 250 years old…or surprisingly young? The answer depends on what we’re measuring. Civilizations around the world trace their histories back thousands of years. By comparison, the United States is still a relatively young nation. Yet in only 250 years, America has become one of the most powerful and influential countries the world has ever known. How does that happen? I don’t believe the answer begins with geography, … [Read more...]
The Power of Contribution Over Recognition
As our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, I’ve found myself reflecting on a lesson I never expected to learn. It began with something I had completely overlooked. I grew up near what is now JFK Airport, only a relatively short drive from the United States Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point). Yet if you had asked me back then what the Merchant Marine did, I probably couldn’t have given you much of an answer. Like many young people, I never thought much about where the clothes in my … [Read more...]
When Nobody Questions the Process
Over the years, I’ve spent time inside organizations of all sizes. Some were growing rapidly. Some were struggling. Some were trying to figure out why growth had stalled despite having talented people, solid products, and years of experience. Interestingly, one pattern appears more often than you might think. A process exists. A report gets produced. A meeting takes place. An approval is required. A customer issue is handled a certain way. And when someone asks why, the … [Read more...]