Change Is Coming In 1975, an engineer at Kodak invented the first digital camera. But instead of seeing it as the future, the leaders saw it as a threat that would cannibalize their lucrative film business. So, in a move that would seal their doom, they buried it. Kodak chose to protect what was rather…

The Climb I spent years building my dream. From an idea in my garage to a thriving company that was (and is) revolutionizing the window industry. To say that FlexScreen was built on blood, sweat, and tears is no understatement. I gave my heart, soul, energy, and every bit of resource I could muster to…

The Toxic Leadership “Value” That Brings No Value At All During my many years as a business owner, entrepreneur, and team leader, I learned some hard truths about leadership—lessons that challenged traditional wisdom and forced me to rethink. One of the most powerful lessons? Lockstep loyalty to the boss is overrated. You may have past…

Mentorship: The Leadership Superpower That Can’t Be Ignored When you think about the defining moments in your career or life, there’s a good chance someone played a pivotal role in shaping those experiences – a boss, a coach, a parent, or even a colleague who took the time to invest in you. For me, one…

Is It Worth It? I remember the first time I questioned my sanity as an entrepreneur. It wasn’t some dramatic, rock-bottom moment like you see in the movies. No violins playing in the background. No slow-motion montage of me staring at bills piling up on the kitchen table. No. It was a Tuesday afternoon. Middle…

Did You Make The Right Decision? (And Why It Might Not Matter) In 2014, Amazon shook up the tech world by launching the Amazon Fire Phone. Under the leadership of Jeff Bezos, Amazon seemed primed to disrupt the smartphone market just as it had done with books, e-commerce, and streaming. The excitement was palpable, but…

The Dreaded Dotted Line Have you ever been the victim of a “dotted line” org chart strategy (reporting indirectly to a secondary manager or supervisor)? I have, and it solidified an inner commitment to never subject my employees to the same confusion and chaos that resulted. While I’m all for collaboration and organizational layers, I’m…

Approach the problem with the mindset that you could have something to do with it, and be willing to be wrong. I have found that not only is being right all the time impossible, but it’s also self-sabotaging behavior that ultimately reveals insecurity.

When “Changes” was produced, rock and roll had solidified its place as king in the music world. However, artists like Bowie ushered in a new musical landscape that continued to stretch the boundaries of the familiar, delve into some social/political messaging, and break all the stereotypes. I wonder how all those “rock and rollers” felt about this industry shake-up. Probably not good. Change will always be a tension to manage because we seem to have a default setting that naturally resists it. But sometimes we have to “turn and face the strange,” especially in business.

As the year draws to a close, it’s prime time to don the analyst hat and dive into the highs and lows of the past twelve months. It’s that annual ritual of looking back to move forward (which is one of the few valid reasons for looking back at all.) It’s time to evaluate those successes and failures. It might sound cliché, but trust me, this ritual isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s your secret sauce for leveling up in the coming year.