Any time I have a chance to share my story to a good listener, I get to reinterpret the narrative thread that ties it all together. The story I would have told you of, say my Apple work experiences at age 25 would be different than the stories I will pull out now after nearly [...]
Tag Archives | Culture
TEDxNewEngland Talk – Nilofer Merchant on Inclusivity
How would you reinvent business, reinvent America, or reinvent the world? This is the question I was asked to answer a few weeks back for a #TEDtalk. TEDxNewEngland’s event was held at the WGBN station, just 3 weeks before the US National Election and the amazing organizers asked a range of politicians, economists, national policy [...]
Like a Virgin
I was recently flying Virgin America on my way home from NYC. I usually check my watch just as the gates are about to close, to see if we’re leaving on time and the next phase countdown for the journey. In this instance, as I looked down, there was no watch. This watch was the [...]
Yahoo’s ShakeUp Demands Fearlessness
Four longtime Yahoo board members, including the chairman, are leaving the company. In this one move, Yahoo is trying to make a clean break from the past — signaling that they are primed to reboot. It’s a much-needed and long-overdue step on the path to shifting trajectories. The Pattern of Failing Organizations Larger organizations follow [...]
Redesigning Leadership
This last year, I’ve felt burnt out on business books. I read enough of them and, frankly, I find myself less and less motivated to do so. I used to take 3-4 of them on every personal holiday and devour them. But I find myself less and less interested. Last weekend, as an example, I [...]
Be Very Afraid. For a While.
Fear of change, fear of stagnancy, fear of failure, fear of speaking up, fear of not being listened to, fear of losing a job, or making mistakes, or looking dumb to others. Fear of loss, fear of disapproval, fear of punishment. I could go on. So probably could you. It seems like the list of [...]
Must Read Weekend Reading
Seems like most of the content we find online starts with a list as in 6 ways to do X, or 5 ways to improve Y. Curating the more thoughtful pieces worth reading in full is what this post theme of must-read work is all about. This week’s assortment has a very corporate theme. Must [...]
Not Checks, but Purpose
This video montage was made from a series of questions/answers on collaboration and management. It contains some vignettes and ideas that matter. Filmed during The Art of Management Conference (where Simon Sinek, Michael Eisner, Mitch Joel and Malcolm Gladwell and I were the 5 speakers), in November 2010, Toronto. +++ When I ask you to [...]
Speed Over Greed
Anyone who wonders why we don’t have more start-ups hasn’t noticed that it is the hardest job in the world. You start from nothing. One team I was working with in the spring of this year just oozed joy when they had earned their first $49 from someone they didn’t know. Getting to this point…building [...]
Silence Hurts
This essay originally appeared in the collection End Malaria, proceeds from which go to Malaria No More. End Malaria is full of short yet meaningful posts by 61 amazing writers/thinkers. For more information or to buy the book (or 10), go to EndMalariaDay.com. [Really, do it.] HBR was also kind enough to break their rules [...]
