What is Mike’s blog about? This blog is about things that interest me and, hopefully, a large group of readers as well. I feel most comfortable writing about business topics like growth, leadership, improvement, and innovation. But I’m also interested in many other topics that I’m sure will find there way in here as well. Things like podcasts that are influencing my life and my thinking, Angel Investing – staying engaged in new ideas, technologies and companies, personal health & fitness, private equity, books & other writing and, who knows what else.
Recently, I recorded a How’d it Happen podcast with Tah Whitty, who I first learned about on Mike Dillard’s podcast [you should check out Mike]. It was a special conversation and my first recorded video podcast (yeah!). We talked about a ton of things. Very personal and, sometimes, uncomfortable things. You might agree with some…
Continue reading ➞ Being Honest Without Negative Consequences
[This is a lightly edited transcript from Episode #100 of the How’d it Happen Podcast. I wanted to share it with you – just in case you prefer reading (does anyone prefer that to listening anymore?) – plus I thought it would be important to share it as well. Click the guest's name to take…
As Leaders, it’s our job to be helpful to others, particularly when things are scary, confusing and unknown, as they are today, amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. Whenever I face challenges that I’m unsure about, I always turn first to Dan Sullivan, the Founder of The Strategic Coach Program, because I’ve found that he always delivers…
Continue reading ➞ 10 Ways to be Successful During Scary Times
I feel like an only a lot. Like I'm the only person feeling the way I feel right now. The only person thinking about the situation I'm in. The only one wondering why I'm wondering about what I'm wondering. The only one expecting something from me. The only me there is. If it wasn't for…
I was doing some quick math recently to calculate how much I've invested in my personal leadership and entrepreneurial development over my lifetime. So far (I’m not done). What made me do that? It was a casual conversation that I overheard in the gym. One guy was telling another about a program he'd spent $2K…
There are so many people writing about Leadership these days that it feels close to impossible to know who’s right about what Leadership really looks like - and who’s not. There are tons of varying opinions, and most sound convincing. It’s everywhere. There’s Leadership advice from Ex-Navy Seals, Corporate CEO’s, Unicorn Start-Up Founders, Shark Tank Celebrities and from…
Continue reading ➞ 10 Leadership Habits that Work, for Me at Least
It was one of those days that reminded me about the things that drive me nuts. Not things, exactly, but words. Specifically, why and how words are used and what it does to me when they are. Turns out that I’m not the only one. I didn’t wake up today expecting to wade into this debate with…
I’m not dead and I’m not dying. I’m not even sick. But I’m thinking about funerals anyway. Sometimes, when I’m in bed, I lie flat on my back with my right hand on top of the left, both resting on my stomach. My wife tells me to stop it because I look like I’m dead and it freaks…
Earlier this week, our Vistage Chair encouraged me and the other CEO’s and Presidents in the room to present our 2018 Reflection and our 2019 Goals to the group. It’s one of those exercises that’s easy to take seriously while also being just as easy to blow off. There’s no reward for doing it well, and no…
In a previous blog post, titled “I Thought I Hired a King,” I describe writing a letter to myself about what I needed to do about a person I’d hired, who I thought would be our sales team leadership savior, and wasn’t. About what I needed to do, because he “wasn’t.” There was no blindside…
