“Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you choose, what you think, and what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny. It is the light that guides … Read moreCHARACTER: The Undervalued Virtue of Human Goodness
The title of this blog came from an executive at Nordstrom Department Stores when I asked him about his hiring philosophy. “We hire for character; we train for cashiers.” Far too often people get hired on the basis of competence, and fired on the basis of attitude. I am often asked, “So how do we … Read moreHire For Character; Train For Cashiers
I recently overheard a manager talking with a colleague about how he was being sent to a “Respectful Workplace Program.” I couldn’t help but interrupt and ask him about it. “Yes,” he explained. “Everyone in our company is required to attend a one-day training seminar on how to build a respectful workplace.” Be assured that … Read moreHow To Build A Respectful Workplace: It’s Not A Program
“We are in the age of authenticity,” writes Adam Grant, in a recent New York Times article, “where ‘be yourself’ is the defining advice in life, love and career… We want to live authentic lives, marry authentic partners, work for an authentic boss, vote for an authentic president. In university commencement speeches, ‘Be true to … Read moreThree Attributes of Authenticity – It Goes Beyond “Being Yourself”
Over the winter, my wife, Val and I took time to transplant trees and repot houseplants. It’s been good for me to slow down and spend some time working with soil, getting my hands dirty and connecting to the land, reminding me of the value farmers bring to our culture. I’ve been learning from Val, … Read more7 ROOTS OF LEADERSHIP Living A Good Life
There is no real success in the world that can be separated from being a good person. In 1944, in Marzobotto, a small town near Bologna, Italy, two thousand civilians were massacred by Nazi troops. The Nazis were retaliating for acts of sabotage committed by members of the Italian resistance. One young German soldier, however, … Read more7 WAYS TO DEVELOP UNSHAKABLE CHARACTER