When things are good confidence is easy. It’s when nothing feels right that our resilience is tested. We have to dig deeper. A baby who goes to sleep easy teaches us nothing about how to be a parent. A baby that refuses to sleep and fusses no matter what we do forces us to...
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Do You Want To Win A Gold Medal?
When I started rowing, winning a gold medal was the last thing on my mind. I wanted to learn to row because it terrified me, and somewhere deep inside, I knew it would change my life. So when one of my first coaches asked me “Do you want to win a gold medal?” I...
Continue readingWhen Your Ideas Get Stolen, And They Will Get Stolen
Reposted from LinkedIn: Seth Godin 🌔 was right when he said people are going to steal your ideas. I work hard to share my ideas with you. And if I’m doing my job well people will share them and build off of them. They might even blatantly copy them. But at the end of...
Continue readingWhat Do You Do?
“What do you do?” It’s a common question. Small talk. I’m a doctor. A concert pianist. A mechanical engineer. That doesn’t tell us much. A better question might be “How do you make an impact?” I help people manage cancer diagnoses. I inspire people with my sonatas. I build bridges that keep people safe....
Continue readingProblem Solvers Or Makers?
There are problem solvers. And there are problem makers. Problem solvers notice something difficult and see the opportunity to make it better. Problem makers notice something difficult and whine about it. Problem solvers self-reflect, empathize, take the blame, and keep moving forward. Problem makers fire off the cuff, yell, and chastise. Problem solvers connect...
Continue readingThe Beautiful Thing About Curiosity
Kids ask a lot of questions. You’ll answer one and then they’ll have a follow up. Their curiosity is impossible to satisfy and that’s a beautiful thing. Sometimes it might feel easier to say “I don’t know” or “because I said so.” But that’s a disservice to you and to your kids. Contrary to...
Continue readingAll Leaders Make Mistakes – The Best Never Blame Their People
All leaders make mistakes. The best ones learn from their mistakes and never blame their people. In 2014 I was coaching the lightweight men’s quad out of Riverside Boat Club. The boat was rough around the edges but the guys were fit and strong and moving fast. Trials were coming up and if they...
Continue readingYell Versus Tell – Effective Communication Is All About The Delivery
Effective communication is key to high performance. If you want to get a message across you can speak calmly and directly. Or you can yell. Both will get a message across. But not necessarily the message you want to convey. And not necessarily a message that adds real value. Any kind of real leader,...
Continue readingJobseekers Need To Be Tough, But What Does That Mean?
More than ever, jobseekers today need to be tough. Layoffs. Recession. Archaic promotion processes. But what does it mean to be tough? You might think it means hiding weaknesses, and vulnerability. Always putting on a good face. Never showing doubt. Working to exhaustion every day. Well, toughness might not mean what you think it...
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How The Worst Race Of My Career Helped Me To Become A Champion – A Story of The Search
Champions are often born out of the worst of times. ...
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