Power corrupts. Or so we believe. And yet, it is feeling powerless which truly corrupts. Why? Because people who feel powerless often become dysfunctional.

Yes, I agree, we must often begin problem solving by making assumptions because we seldom have all the information we need. But we will create a more effective work environment if we start with constructive assumptions.

Now that I am wise to the burden of freedom, I see how freedom fathers too many dreams, which time relentlessly kills. In my case, I once wanted to be a yachtsman. Maybe a pilot. Or an engineer. Why not an architect? An artist! The list goes on.

Do you do things mainly to impress others? Or do you do things to accomplish something of consequence?

You cannot build a sustainable, competitive strategy based on what is wrong and what you are against. If you tried, the strategy you design would be to react to what-is or what-was.

Without mutual respect, mutual trust is dead in the water. And without trust, we are so f... flawed at collaborating that we might as well dust off our spears and aim for the caves.

Why do we react without thinking to gossip in groups, catty comments from colleagues, and prophecies spouted by political opposites? Because we don’t apply the Law of Two Feet. We don’t walk away.

Pay attention, because I am going to help you spot unreasonable people at work. What do you mean you don't need my help? You think you know unreasonable when you see it?

We set goals because we think we know what outcomes we want. We think we must do “this” because we want “that.” Yet, we don’t always think deeply about *why* we want what we want. Not deep enough to get clear on what we want it FOR.

Every day is the start of a new year. But we like to forget that, don't we? We prefer to wait 300-and-something days for a ritual that will energize us to kick off a few grand resolutions.