The Myth of Stakeholders

It’s not stakeholders don’t exist. The myth is there’s one universal type of stakeholder.  If there was only one type, then the conversation about shareholder-stakeholder alignment would be easy.  But it takes a village. And anybody who thinks everybody in the village is exactly the same… I have a rational-agent economic model to sell you. … Continue reading The Myth of Stakeholders

The Highest Level Of Employee Trust Is…

Rachel Botsman asked this question the other day, and every group leader will want to think on this for themselves. As a leader looking inward,  What do you think is the highest expression of employee trust? (Please leave in the comments below.) I was speaking with Eugenio Pirri - FIH, CEO of the Dorchester Collection, … Continue reading The Highest Level Of Employee Trust Is…

What’s Best For Your Customers Is… (Business Building Advice From Derek Sivers)

I’ve been arguing with a vendor over a nickel-and-diming type fee that they think we should just pass on to the end customers.  They’re not (completely) wrong. They have an understandable logic behind their decision and I can see why they’re pushing for it. Hrumph. Adult real worldy stuff, blah blah blah.  But I also … Continue reading What’s Best For Your Customers Is… (Business Building Advice From Derek Sivers)

Podcast Of The Week: Rick Rubin And Rory Sutherland

How many times have I talked about Rick Rubin? Click here. One of my favorite producers of all time. The guy knows how to LISTEN. What about Rory Sutherland? Click here. One of my favorite marketers. Modern David Ogilvy. And a source of so much behavioral economics and evolutionary psychology - I so adore him. … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Rick Rubin And Rory Sutherland

Communityism (+ Shareholders, Stakeholders, And Steakeaters)

How to keep a community together 101. Don’t blow it up by understanding who’s here and why. Remember - you won’t like them all, but you can understand why they’re there (and that’s half the battle). Pardon this “rant to self” edition, but I’m experimenting over here! The concept of shareholders and stakeholders has been … Continue reading Communityism (+ Shareholders, Stakeholders, And Steakeaters)

Stuck? The 7-Step “Unstuck Yourself” List (Via MBS)

A big idea and then “the seven questions Michael Bungay Stanier uses to get unstuck.” I’m preserving these here because when I’m facing too many choices OR can’t quite seem to get moving on what’s next, reading this list makes me feel like someone just loosened the lid on the ol’ pickle jar brain: Stuck … Continue reading Stuck? The 7-Step “Unstuck Yourself” List (Via MBS)

(Re)Making Friends, After You Screw Up

In a few weeks, I’m going to see one of my best friends. Brother-level best friend. We shared rooms. Plural. And we hadn’t talked in years until not all that long ago.  Why? Good question, easy answer: I said some dumb s***.  I don’t remember saying this specific line of garbage, but he certainly remembers … Continue reading (Re)Making Friends, After You Screw Up

Bukowski On Why Most Writers Are Boring

I keep a bunch of Bukowski sketches on our walls. There’s an edge they remind me of. A nudge to “take it there.”  Just. Say. It.  Not necessarily up to 11. Not necessarily straight to hell. But it’s the rush of standing on the edge of something that makes it interesting.  In this interview,  Buk … Continue reading Bukowski On Why Most Writers Are Boring