First principles are those things that make your foundation. They are what you most are, ranging from ideas to attitudes to beliefs. We could also call them founding principles, originating principles, foundational principles. They are temporal and earthly, spiritual and secular, up there and down here. You get the point. How often do you stop and reconnect to first principles? Is there a … [Read more...]
March 13, 2012 by
March 12, 2012 by
Your history folds over onto itself, layer by layer. Here's one such instance in my life from this past weekend. We had dinner plans at another family's house. They've friends of our two daughters and ourselves. I had to drive separately and arrived about five minutes ahead of my wife, our two girls, and my mother-in-law. I was seated at a kitchen table when they walked into the family's living … [Read more...]
March 6, 2012 by
· The title of this 2-part Leadership Walkshop is “Plans, Shocks, And Your Leadership: Two Walks In the Civil War Experience Of Benjamin Harrison.” · A maximum of 5 people can participate in a walking group. · When registering for the Walkshop, you are registering to participate in both Walkshops. I have decided not to permit people to select one Walkshop and not the other in this particular … [Read more...]
February 27, 2012 by
Gave a presentation to a group of master's-level students a couple of days ago. They were in their 20s from what I could tell. My topic with them was US Air Flight 1549, Sullenberger's emergency landing in the Hudson River. I told them something that both you and I need to remember for ourselves. My title for the module is "The Extraordinary Ordinary Day." 155 people took off from an airport … [Read more...]
February 24, 2012 by
Remember what I've said before that I do stuff that strikes me as fun? Well, another example began yesterday. Pass it along to someone you know in the appropriate position. I'm calling it "Quick Points." I've designed it for chief executive officers and people in similar positions within an organized entity. It's an email that I send out, oh, perhaps once a month. In this Quick Point I offer a … [Read more...]
February 24, 2012 by
I met with an alumnus of mine yesterday. She shared something with me that I need to share with you. It might strike a chord. She related that the hardest thing about being a leader was that in addition to managing her own projects, she now has to manage those of her “direct-reports.” She found it frustrating because she can’t always rely on them to use the same degree of professionalism and … [Read more...]
February 23, 2012 by
Because of my weird turn of mind, I see a lot of history every day when I open up a newspaper. Some days, however, you don’t need to be weird. It’s so obvious it jumps right out at you. Today is one of those days.According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, the mayor of a Japanese city outraged thousands of Chinese internet users. The mayor asserted publicly that Japanese atrocities against … [Read more...]
February 22, 2012 by
Think of a big event in your life, something that you believe has left a deep impression on you since it happened. Got it? OK, I’d like you to go with me for the next minute of so. Keep your chosen event in the front of your mind. How much time has passed since the event occurred? Do you see it differently now? Does it have a different meaning, to whatever degree, than it used to have for you? … [Read more...]
February 21, 2012 by
A Personal Leadership Service from Dr. Dan Miller of Historical Solutions LLC For the last 18 months, I’ve been offering a new and exciting form of leadership growth for my clients. It’s called “Creative Conversations.” At this point, I’ve had six people who’ve fruitfully gone through the experience and emerged with a clearer sense, appreciation, and idea of where they’ve been, where they are, … [Read more...]
February 21, 2012 by
I posed a question earlier today to my Alumni of Historical Solutions, a closed group on Facebook. The question was this: when have you tried something, failed, and then regretted it? One of the group members asked for clarification. Was I referring to regretting the try or the failure? Once again, my alumni have improved my work. It’s an excellent question and deserves a bit more space than a … [Read more...]
