As a leader, do your best to put others at ease.
I saw a concert recently in the beautiful town of Jim Thorpe, PA. My wife is a huge fan of Nelson, a band formed by a twins duo and sons of legendary 60’s pop star Ricky Nelson. At the show, Kristin was able to meet with Gunnar and Matthew Nelson. As we approached Gunnar and […]
Beyond the Job Title: Why “Who Are You?” Is a Better Question Than “What Do You Do?”
You meet someone for the first time at a networking event, conference, dinner party, or even in line for coffee. And without thinking, the first question that spills out is: “So, what do you do?” It’s an easy default. A safe way to start a conversation. But is it really the best way? I’ve been […]
Your actions may be personal…but they affect business, and your ability to lead.
With all due respect to the famous line from the 1972 movie The Godfather, c-suite leaders can’t separate personal from business. C-suite leaderships is a 24/7 job and when the c-suite personally and publicly falters when it comes to ethics and integrity, everyone in the organization feels it. When I graduated college, my father offered […]
The parallels between rural Pennsylvania farmers and exceptional salespeople.
I have a home in Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, a small borough of under 2,000 people 15 miles from Penn State University. My home is surrounded by rolling farmland, hardworking families, and a strong sense of purpose. This past weekend, I saw neighbors tending to crops, raising livestock, and investing their lives in something that doesn’t […]
A professional development article involving baseball, LSD and a no-hitter.
I’ve lived and loved baseball for my entire life. From age 5 to current day. Finally “retiring” from the game in my forties after playing for some years in a 30+ league with former MLB players. Bottom line: I played the game, coached the game, loved the game, lived the game. I know the history […]
“We really need a leader who’ll roll-up-their-sleeves and do the work.”
Just because a senior leader is not attending every meeting, aren’t the loudest and most frequent voice in the room, or being the one to pitch the strategy doesn’t mean they’re disengaged or not contributing significantly. When I started growing into management roles in my late 20’s, a regional manager called me about his local […]
So, what’s a better record at the end of the seaons? 12-5 or 2-0?
Early in my career, I had the opportunity to work for a CEO who permanently shaped the way I think about business, leadership, and risk. This was the early 2000s, and our industry was clearly on the verge of major change. A lot of companies saw the signs. Most chose to wait, hedge, analyze, and […]
From the Locker Room at Cardinal Dougherty to the Corporate Boardroom: A Journey of Team Spirit and Executive Leadership.
Cardinal Dougherty High School opened in 1956 and grew to be the largest Catholic high school in the world, with nearly 6,000 students at its peak—before closing in 2010 due to declining enrollment. A few years back, in 2016, the doors were opened again to allow alums to tour the school, so I went…and headed […]
What I learned moving from the private sector to higher ed (and why I went back to the private sector).
For the overwhelming part of my career, I lived and breathed the private sector. Deadlines weren’t suggestions. Decisions were fast. Risk was a muscle we exercised daily. You were rewarded for results, not intentions. Urgency was expected. Accountability was non-negotiable. And action? That was the currency of progress. Then I made the leap into higher […]
The parallels between true crime dramas and business leadership.
I’ll admit it: I’m one of those people who unwinds with true crime shows. “Dateline,” “48 Hours” and anything on the ID channel. At first, I justified it as entertainment. But over time, I began to notice something surprising: these shows aren’t just about crime — they’re about problem-solving, human behavior, and decision-making under pressure. […]