In Epiphany 15, I introduced the Real World Power Triangle, a practical lens for navigating organizational change through the eyes of executive sponsors, beneficiaries, and those at risk of being disintermediated. It’s a high-impact way to ensure initiatives gain traction by acknowledging the emotional and political terrain of change. But in more complex initiatives—especially within […]
One of the most transformative insights in my career didn’t come from a boardroom or the Marine Corps, but from my grad school public policy course for Developing Markets. In that course, we were evaluated not just on the quality of our solutions and the depth of the policy recommendations, but on how well we
Epiphany 15: Respecting the Real World Power Triangle Read More »
There is a growing chorus in international SEO circles claiming that Google will soon utilize AI or some other form of automation to replace hreflang especially after Google’s recent ccTLD domain consolidation. On the surface, it sounds reasonable—why wouldn’t Google, armed with increasingly powerful machine learning tools, “just figure it out”? The answer: because there’s
Why Google Isn’t Racing to Replace Hreflang with AI—And Probably Never Will Read More »
Every employee, at some point before they were hired, whether for a new role, a backfill, or a stretch position, someone made a business case to support the need for their hiring. You might not have written it out, but the thinking was clear:We believe this person will help us generate revenue, reduce expenses, enhance
The Forgotten Business Case for Every Employee: Why Contribution Matters Read More »
When building an agency, a startup, or any business, one of the most potent assets in the early days—and often well beyond—is the founder’s unique combination of passion and subject matter expertise. These are the founders’ superpowers. But like any superpower, they can accelerate growth and unintentionally create friction. This epiphany lesson is about how
Epiphany 13: Embrace the Founder’s Superpowers Read More »
“When employees understand the ‘why’ behind their work, they’re not just doing a task — they’re participating in a mission.” While working in the yard yesterday, I noticed something out of place in my neighbor’s yard. The downspout extension was directed directly towards the house’s foundation. Clearly, someone did not understand the purpose of the
Understanding The Why Read More »
Recognition is one of leadership’s most potent yet underutilized tools. It inspires loyalty, reinforces values, and creates momentum. I discuss some of the applications in Mission First, People Always. But, like any sharp tool, it must be used carefully—or it can cut in the wrong direction. People will go to extraordinary lengths when they feel
The Double-Edged Sword of Recognition: When Rewarding Good Work Goes Wrong Read More »
When you buy a car or house, you are faced with the never-ending tasks of preventative maintenance. From painting the house trim to rotating the tires and changing the oil, all of these tasks are necessary to preserve the life of these assets. However, I find that many people do not truly appreciate the benefits
The Power of Preventive Maintenance Read More »
“The effective leader must find a way to balance mission completion with the welfare of the team.” — Bill Hunt Balancing high performance with human-centric leadership is another key to successfully managing high-performing teams. At NCO school in the Marine Corps, I was taught “Mission First, Marines Always” to prioritize the care of my Marines
Mission First – People Always Read More »
My first introduction to international trade and tariffs came when the freight forwarder called, asking me to deliver the check for the “aggregate tariff fees” for my shipment so they could pick up the container from the local port. When I placed the order, the final price was supposed to be delivered to my warehouse.
My Introduction to Tariffs Read More »