“No” is a necessary response – to give and to accept – in a lot of leadership, life, and business situations. But sometimes, it should be out of the question. But how do you know? I believe that largely depends on one thing – passion.

I’m not known for my patience, and my wife would attest that this is an extreme understatement. Sometimes my impatience can lead me down some dangerous paths. Here’s an example of one of my riskiest (and potentially most foolish) business moves that happened because I was tired of waiting.

They say the devil is in the details, and I can’t disagree with that statement. A new to-do list filled with worthy projects always invigorates me – for a little while. But then, the responsibility required to make it all happen kind of kills the vibe, doesn’t it?

Did you ever see the viral videos of that guy that sets up a table on a busy street and invites lively debate by putting up a sign with a provocative statement that ends with “Change My Mind”? Well, here’s mine;
LinkedIn needs a “laugh” emoji.

what are you looking at? Ever heard the quote, “We are born with our eyes shut and our mouth open – a flaw of nature that most of us never overcome”? I don’t know about you, but I find it all too relatable in my own life. Why is it so hard to see something…

If you own or run a business or have any type of leadership role, you’ve probably learned a thing or two about scrambling to save yourself from unexpected, potentially painful situations. And if you’re going to play the game, you better be light on your feet, keenly aware of your surroundings, and ready to move because someone on the other side will always be looking to fire a kill shot – or throw a wrench.

Do you tend to overthink and detail things to death? Do you have to research every feasible outcome, feel completely ready before making a final decision, and then second-guess yourself anyway? (I’ll raise my hand a little bit on this one.)

As leaders, we have to will ourselves not to throw up our hands and slip into complacency when we’re feeling overwhelmed. How our companies emerge from all of this madness will depend on how we lead through it, and your teams are looking to you for calmness, reason, stability, and hope. So how do you provide all of that in the midst of extreme pressure?

Real problems like poverty and famine, or perceived problems like a too-short phone charger cord, drive business. And innovation happens because problems (real or perceived) will always exist.

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on our health, our economy, and our way of life. But if there is anything good to be found in this worldwide pandemic, it’s this: for the first time in our lifetimes, we are genuinely all – the entire world -in this together.