tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:08:10 +0000http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/BIG-Ideas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)Blogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-38714823006582302Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:56:00 +00002008-08-12T15:08:10.816-07:00There is so much to enjoy about the Olympics. So much to witness - so much dreaming, competition, parity among competitors, so much drama. There is so much excitement there that I can feel it here. I've been wondering if there could be even more than meets the eye, and than is felt inside when we watch "our team" compete. It is easy to cheer on the American team if you're American, or the http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2008/08/olympic-lessons-more-than-keeping-score.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-2035705311797328708Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:58:00 +00002008-07-04T19:04:56.023-07:00One Song Every war and every conflict between human beings has happened because of some disagreement about names . It is such an unnecessary foolishness, because just beyond the arguing there is a long table of companionship set and waiting for us to sit down. What is praised is one, so the praise is one too, many jugs being poured into the huge basin. All religions, all this singing, one songhttp://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2008/07/happy-july-4-2008-to-everyone-around.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-547478542193124626Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:51:00 +00002008-06-20T14:27:36.139-07:00LeadershipExecutive RelationshipsI had a few problems recently with my mortgage refinance. See, I began the process after the sub prime mortgage meltdown. By the time my application was begun, banks had started to look at all applicants pretty much like criminals. They required a bazillion more times the evidence of income, net worth, liabilities, and blood type than before. Jumping through hoops is not one of my favorite thingshttp://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2008/06/best-business-apology-ive-ever-received.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-4907014423241636476Fri, 30 May 2008 11:55:00 +00002008-05-30T05:51:17.919-07:00Last night at dinner with friends at a local Asian restaurant, a friend of a friend we'll call Susan, lamented that she wanted to change jobs but did not really know to what. She definitely felt she did not want to remain in her current sales role, but when asked what she wanted quickly replied, "I don't know." Breaking attention from mixing my Larb with the heart-shaped mound of brown rice I http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2008/05/susan-dinner-and-some-really-important.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-3722676898359222367Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:58:00 +00002008-04-01T04:50:25.955-07:00I just returned from my first trip to the Middle East. I trained a dozen leaders in an executive development program for a telecommunications company on behalf of The Ken Blanchard Companies. Many Westerners know of Dubai because of the country's ambitious constuction programs. Three new islands, a seven-star hotel built on another new island, and more new high-rise construction than can be http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2008/03/dreaming-in-dubai.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-6061565096640804261Mon, 10 Mar 2008 03:33:00 +00002008-03-09T20:47:02.197-07:00I was shocked when I looked at the last entry and discovered it was written on 12/07/07. While this may not offer new readers any insights (if any entries really do!), I'll share with you what's been going on in the pat three months. I have been working with some terrific executives in financial services companies - some of whom are young and looking to accelerate their progress through the http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2008/03/how-time-flies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-2086439318122322338Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:11:00 +00002007-12-08T15:55:58.687-08:00For months now I've been incubating this blog wondering how to introduce the subject of politeness and propriety without coming off as someone's nag or a reminder of your least favorite auntie. I'll press forward undaunted, though, because I think these points need to be made. No More I Thank Yous Last week I hosted a party for several of my clients and friends. It was a catered doo with wine, http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/12/lost-etiquette.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-5233178857206239147Fri, 16 Nov 2007 06:02:00 +00002007-11-15T22:28:34.927-08:00Hello everyone. It's been a while. I have been very busy with both training engagements and new clients. It's been too long and it's nice to talk with you again. The fires came through San Diego several weeks ago and turned our worlds upside down. Three people I know lost their homes. They burned to the ground. Another friend was displaced because the house he was renting burned. Personal http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/11/depth-of-friendship-in-business.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-1405484912732338397Wed, 17 Oct 2007 18:06:00 +00002007-10-18T19:56:21.977-07:00email etiquetteCommunication skillspositive communicationCommunicating well is vital to success in the workplace at all levels of responsibility and influence. We need to skillfully communicate via spoken words, silence, body language and what we write in letters and emails. A skilled communicator conveys meaning and engenders trust while providing information about something important. Skilled communicators avoid platitudes and lingo because they http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/10/best-is-no-better.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-5658803370050735522Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:28:00 +00002007-10-02T06:31:08.015-07:00Wow! What a difficult game to lose. Last night's 9-8 loss to the Colorado Rockies in the bottom of the thirteenth inning was a heartbreaker for San Diego Padres fans. The late night highlights and morning papers are talking about Trevor Hoffman's back-to-back blown saves in two really big games. They mention Brady Clark's errors in center field on fairly routine fly balls. But, any focus on http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/10/loss-of-composure-costs-team-playoffs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-189491605281511560Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:13:00 +00002007-09-24T04:59:50.898-07:00Presentation skillskeeping perspectiveA vice-president client we'll call, Joe, recently presented to a group of peers and more senior executives. Half way through the material he lost his place. So, he stood there awkwardly for twenty seconds or so and tried to remember what he was supposed to say next. He cleared his throat, shuffled some papers and paced a few steps before he remembered and got him back on track. Joe asked me http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/09/get-real.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-7276277658620087372Sun, 09 Sep 2007 18:36:00 +00002007-09-09T14:37:57.188-07:00In about an hour I will sit down to watch the US Open tennis final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. More than watching the tennis, per se, the match takes my mind to thought about learning. For me, it's a chance to witness two accomplished professionals challenge themselves and each other to perform at the tippy top of their skill range, manage their energy in the face of intense, http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/09/roger-federer-and-executive-learning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-4542984767109150699Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:13:00 +00002007-07-30T14:09:24.571-07:00We may have witnessed a turning point in leadership at the Tour de France this week. It did not come from Tour officials. It was not instigated by the French media. It was not the result of a drug test. Rather, the leadership moment was siezed by a team captain who decided a team member's refusal to play by the team's ethics rules was enough to expel him from the team. The reason: he allegedly (http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/07/leadership-and-tour-de-france.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-1218663730860591459Fri, 06 Jul 2007 09:24:00 +00002008-06-20T14:41:37.461-07:00I started planning a summer vacation recently. Like many Americans I know, vacations are sort of stressful events, mainly because slowing down and walking away from work is hard to do. Americans are addicted to work. We equate personal power--and, dare I say, our self-esteem is tied--to work productivity. I'm no exception. While my friends in Europe take several weekly breaks throughout the year http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/07/learning-vacation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-6497173462287346668Tue, 05 Jun 2007 21:07:00 +00002007-06-05T14:19:49.771-07:00The longer I live the more I realize a big part of life is about relationships. If relationships are a big part of life, they are a big part of business. We all know that. But my point today is that relationships are not just something that we have or flop into by virtue of our jobs or group associations. They are to be made, built and cultivated. How? The first step is connecting the people we http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/06/extending-influence-and-goodwill.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-5971679070032191694Sun, 03 Jun 2007 15:23:00 +00002007-06-03T10:07:57.518-07:00I'm pleased to announce that I have completed graduate school and received a Master of Science in Executive Leadership degree. MSEL for short. I felt great walking across the stage after my name was called, shaking the hand of the university president and smiling ear to ear. It is not that graduate school was all that difficult. Nor was I glad it was over. My smile and pride came from achievinghttp://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/06/happy-graduation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-2638723220899147639Tue, 22 May 2007 20:42:00 +00002007-05-22T13:45:02.716-07:00Since the advent of the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) decades ago, the connection between patient and doctor has become increasingly slight. As a kid I went to a family doctor whose office was around the corner. His office was in a single-story building with cedar shingle siding. All the machines inside stood out like 10-penny nails on a plank of pristine pine because of their bright http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/05/do-doctors-care-anymore.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-3492787286887259038Mon, 21 May 2007 16:35:00 +00002007-05-21T09:38:46.319-07:00Dear Faithful Readers, You may have wondered why there were so few postings in May. Turns out my blog software had a problem I could not fix. I no sooner got my friend and web-guru Adam Levenson of www.pixelgroove.com on it and the problem magically disappeared. So, I will resume posting and we will be in contact again. I look forward to that - and exchanging thoughts with you. ~ Davidhttp://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/05/technical-problem-fixed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-1413123394706511214Wed, 02 May 2007 01:03:00 +00002007-05-02T09:18:17.419-07:00Leadershipchange managementA few weeks ago syndicated radio host Don Imus was fired for making degrading remarks about the Rutgers University women's basketball team. By almost any standard other than his own maybe, his remarks were regarded as racist. So, after a short brouhaha played out in the media, Imus was fired. MSNBC dropped his program from television and CBS fired him from their network. Not long after I asked http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/05/change-requires-conversation_8365.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-2483018878864086735Mon, 23 Apr 2007 01:07:00 +00002007-04-22T18:44:05.455-07:00Today I met with a client in a mid-size technology company in Illinois.She has had a terrific career. A dozen years there, numerous high profile successes. She's a gifted marketing professional with expertise in product design and business-to-business promotion. She has a unique combination of skills that have made her sought after for several new product projects over the years. Two weeks ago http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/04/nothing-is-more-important-than-truth.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-6254821215386394453Mon, 16 Apr 2007 01:25:00 +00002007-04-15T18:26:45.845-07:00I've spent the past few days reading and listening to television news stories about why radio talking head Don Imus should be reprimanded for his racist and mysogenistic comments about the Rutgers University (the state university of New Jersey by the way) women's basketball team. If you don't know what he said, I promise you, it's worth reading. BUT, I feel it would be irresponsible to repeat http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/04/why-was-don-imus-fired.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-1863222702636179403Fri, 30 Mar 2007 03:06:00 +00002007-03-29T20:11:40.400-07:00LeadershipFor weeks I have anticipated the premier of a new program on Discover Channel: Planet Earth. Filmed in high definition (HD), the program explores all the usual facets of the natural world: deserts, mountains, the African plains animals, plants, rainforests, and life and death. But, that is half the story and a smaller part of why this show pertains to business. A BIG part of a leader's http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/03/leaders-should-watch-planet-earth.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-6779181758148095776Thu, 08 Mar 2007 01:54:00 +00002007-03-07T17:55:40.801-08:00Oh man! What a great time of year to learn about teamwork and emotion and leadership the easy way! Watch what the athletes say about teamwork, pulling their individual weight, trusting each other to bring their best skills and make smart decisions. Watch them hustle like mad for a loose ball as if the game depends on it. Watch the level of engagement by the coach. Watch the intensity of http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/03/march-madness-lessons-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-6915555989291415817Mon, 05 Mar 2007 08:56:00 +00002007-03-05T01:33:44.459-08:00I crossed paths with a friend I hadn't seen each in five months or so. We caught up on the happens and goings on in each other's world. He recently left his job of five or so years with a big retail chain to start a business with his roommate. He was so proud of his move. He had wanted to leave his job for a while and so when he stepped away onto the entrepreneurial path he was so proud, and a http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/03/5050-decision.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11362229.post-117140307130387998Tue, 13 Feb 2007 21:43:00 +00002007-02-13T13:44:46.570-08:00Marty Schottenhemier was fired because of a relationship breakdown. A.J. Smith and Schottenheimer didn’t like each other and they stopped talking. If it is true that Chargers president, A.J. Smith refused to talk with Schottenheimer about their relationship problems then significant blame belongs at Smith’s door. Of course, we cannot know what really happened. As in any relationship where http://www.activatepotential.com/blog/2007/02/failure-inevitable-at-chargers-park.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Activate Potential)