By Chris Brady There are two important questions we should each ask ourselves on a regular basis: Ten years from now, what will I wish I had done today? If I knew I couldn't fail, what would I be working on? Life is complicated. No matter who you are, you will encounter problems and challenges. There are endless tasks to … [Read more...]
Leadership Lessons from Burgoyne’s Downfall
January 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment
By Chris Brady In June of 1777, flamboyant General "gentleman Johhny" Burgoyne initiated his attack on the colonies from Canada. He commanded over seven thousand infantrymen, a combination of British redcoats and Hessian mercenaries, a small army of artillery specialists and 138 cannon, 400 Native Americans, and some Canadians and colonial … [Read more...]
Anyone Could Lead Perfect People
January 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment
By Chris Brady Leadership is with, for, and about people. One of the most important things for a leader to learn is how to deal with people. I am amazed at the vast variety of people in our world. From different cultures, races, creeds, geographical locations, and a whole host of other orientations, the range of people out there is extremely … [Read more...]
Are Blind Spots Crippling You?
December 28, 2010 by 1 Comment
By Chris Brady There is a saying that I have always liked: "The difference between self-perception and reality is often enormous." The size of that difference is called a "blind spot." Unfortunately, we all have them. Perhaps the way you chew your food drives people crazy. Or maybe you interrupt others constantly and annoy them as a … [Read more...]
Give Them Something to Shout About
December 13, 2010 by 1 Comment
By Chris Brady There is a comfortable, easy lifestyle available to anyone who wants it. You can have peace and even affluence, if you wish. You can pass through your days without anyone bothering you too awful much, and can slip through the pages of history without so much as an enemy. What is this lifestyle, you say? It's the life … [Read more...]
If We Had Less, Could We Do More?
December 1, 2010 by 1 Comment
By Chris Brady I once heard a fascinating presentation from Erik Weihenmayer, the blind mountain climber who summited not only Mt. Everest, but all the other tallest peaks on the planet. Weihenmayer and his team of 21 members set a world record by having 19 of them make the summit. What was more incredible than Weihenmayer's feats of … [Read more...]
When the Sun Comes Up
November 18, 2010 by 1 Comment
By Chris Brady On the wall of my garage I have posted a photo of a lion. It contains the message of how a lion awakes in the morning and begins hunting for a gazelle. It also shows a distant gazelle and states how it must be ready to run to escape the lion. The message is that when the sun comes up, lion or gazelle, each must awake ready to … [Read more...]
Lighten Up or Toughen Up
November 9, 2010 by 1 Comment
By Chris Brady There are two attitudes toward life that I think are paramount for leaders, especially in our modern, pampered times. They are: 1.) Lighten Up, or 2.) Toughen Up. There is nothing more off-putting than a person who takes him or her self too seriously. One of my favorite phrases is, "Take everything seriously except … [Read more...]
Hiding From Destiny
October 28, 2010 by 3 Comments
Do you believe in destiny? I do. I believe that each one of us was given special talents and a calling all our own. We all know it deep inside. It's there when we are quiet enough to listen, when we shut off the media, the noise, the busyness. Perhaps it scares us. Perhaps we don't think we're worthy. Maybe we don't want to be held … [Read more...]
Only You Can Stop You
October 18, 2010 by 1 Comment
I've studied for years the many people who have achieved tremendous things in life, and one thing I find common to them all is the audacity to follow their own inner voice. If you think about it, much of our unhappiness comes from wrong turns and calamitous dead-ends that result from us not really knowing what we want. Just how did you become … [Read more...]
