3 Hours to a Leadership Makeover
Raise your hand if this has never happened to you: you see a picture of someone from high school online and think, “Wow, what happened to Bob*? He looks like an old dude now!” Maybe this says a lot about my…
The Best Leaders Know Their Purpose
Want to be more influential and a better leader? Get clear on your purpose. Ready to stop quitting your job all day long while "technically" still working there? Same answer: find your purpose. Getting clear on your purpose only takes…
3 Reasons You Should Talk to Strangers
I talk to people I don’t know - a lot. You know how some old people just randomly talk to people? Yep, it’s like that only different. Maybe that’s not so weird here in Portland but it sure seems…
A Hero’s Journey at Work
Joseph Campbell once said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” Reading a quote like that takes me to a mythical place, somewhere lofty, and expansive, where I wonder what…
5 Dos and Don’ts for a Team Makeover
What's the before and after shot for your team? Lately I've been working with teams going through tough stuff: conflict, confusion, misunderstanding, things not getting done, you name it. I wish I had before and after shots of the teams I…
The Art of Reinvention
It’s been 3 years since I started Positive Disruption and in that time there’s been a lot of reinvention. Like reinvention from my cushy corporate life to the nail-biting that can sometimes come along with starting up a business. There’s…
To See and Be Seen
6:30 Tuesday morning. It’s dark out. Slowly, our neighborhood starts to come to life: lights go on, teeth being brushed and so it goes. I take the mascot on her walk and as we make our way through the park,…
Are You the Bottleneck?
It’s 10 PM and one of your direct reports sends you the budget updates you’ve been waiting for. He’s spent all day and into the night working on them, trying to get them as close to right as possible. You…
Holiday Fun – Hold the Drama
Last week, a dozen Santas full of Christmas “cheer” cruised down my street on skateboards shouting about elves! By this time of year in Portland, several Santacons have already taken place and the Christmas ships are about to finish their…
Change is Calling. What’s Your Number?
One million air miles, two continents and at least 14 places called “home,” 7 schools, 5 careers, and 1.2 million emails. This is the story of my life, up until now. If someone shared these stats with me and…