No man would listen to you talk
if he didn\'t know it was his turn next.
--Edgar Watson Howe
Speaking is an art. But when we think like the audience, it becomes a conversation. Let me share an example to show what I mean.
I was about to announce the beginning of a 20 year project to find ways to speed the rate of individual improvements by 20 times. But no one new it.
How would I...
Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest.
--Mark Twain
The moment of truth, the sudden emergence of an insight, is an act of intuition. Such intuitions give the appearance of miraculous flashes, or short-circuits of reasoning.
--Arthur Koestler
Many people look into learning to meditate so they can enjoy more peace. Others hope for greater clarity of...
In 1995, I started a project to help the whole world make improvements at 20 times the usual rate. I knew it was a good idea, but I wasn\'t so sure that anyone else would think so.
How would I pursue this project to engage the interest of great leaders? I had no idea, not even a clue. All I knew was that I was supposed to make this announcement at the autumnal equinox.
I quickly...
Do you already enjoy an ideal, secure lifestyle?
Here are a few questions to help you check on whether you do:
Think back to 6:30 p.m. on your last day of work. Were you at home? If not, why weren't you at home with your loved ones? What could possibly have been so important at work that it took you away from your family?
How do the hours you spend commuting each week compare to the...
My first business school course was in marketing management. The professor told us that most marketing problems occurred because those in charge of marketing failed to do their homework about what customers wanted and needed.
We were curious about that observation and asked him why this was the case, and the professor said he had no certain answer. His best guess was that people became...
One of my college roommates often invited girl friends to visit for the weekend. It was challenge for him to make a good impression during those visits because my roommate's clothes, snacks, cigarettes, ash trays, books, and papers were strewn everywhere.
He also wasn't very energetic: After arising late, he was normally sprawled on our broken-down couch smoking while he watching bowling...
The contribution I make to a client is basically to be very stupid and very dense; ask simple, fundamental questions; demand that he be thoughtful with the answers; and demand that he make decisions on what is important.
--Peter F. Drucker
Establishing a group of executives to study stock-price improvement through my consulting practice had another helpful impact on me. The members asked...
However much thou art read in theory,
if thou hast no practice thou art ignorant.
--Sa'di
After working as a strategy consultant as my first job after graduate school, I was interested in learning more about what it takes to make change from the inside. I also was hoping that an insider would be able to pursue more difficult tasks than consultants usually addressed.
The management at...
I want to be part of the best team in the world.
--Will Carling
Let me tell you how I started a successful consulting firm so that you can learn from my experience . . . and get better results than I did.
After three years at head of corporate planning and development at Heublein, I was tired of the 100 mile commute each way. Contacting my old clients, I was pleased to find that they...
I went to law school, but ended up taking some business school courses in marketing. I learned that I enjoyed business thinking more than legal analysis and drafting. I didn't want to spend two years earning an MBA, so I decided to look for a job where I could continue to learn.
Based on my favorable reaction to these business studies, I decided to join a strategy consulting firm, The Boston...
