Years ago I’d write business ideas as I came up with them. I don’t remember how long ago I posted the last one, but one of them ended up getting a large number of posts by people considering doing it. Readers of my latest book Initiative, which I recommend reading, know the principle The idea of a lifetime comes once a month, so why hoard ideas? Doing them takes the[…] Keep reading →

Dr. Hamilton interviewed me on her radio show, “Enabling People To Take Initiative with Joshua Spodek.” Here are her episode notes: As much as curiosity breeds creativity, many still struggle in taking the initiative and ownership of their ideas. In the entrepreneurial world, an idea-generating culture is what most aim for. Joshua Spodek, the bestselling author of Leadership Step by Step, helps people to spark ideas that may bring down[…] Keep reading →

Chatting about my upcoming book, Initiative, a friend and fellow blogger, Joe Byerly of From The Green Notebook, asked if people could learn to take initiative. I saw his question as rhetorical, since he’d read an advance copy, so he knew I’d taught just that, but he wanted to see how I’d answer. A lot of people believe you can’t. First, there’s a big reason why, independent of the answer,[…] Keep reading →

Various stages of satisfaction come with finishing a book — signing with a publisher, finishing a first draft, reaching copy editing (meaning no more substantive edits), seeing it type set, getting your first reviews from prominent writers, seeing the cover, and so on. Seeing it for sale at a retailer is one of the biggest. Since my last blog post, Initiative has appeared on Barnes and Noble and Amazon for[…] Keep reading →

Yesterday I shared the blurbs from early reviewers of my book, Initiative, set to launch May 21. Today, I’m sharing the front and back covers. I’d love your thoughts. Naturally, I want them to intrigue and attract non-readers. The front cover’s image refers to the book’s content but, I believe, stands on its own nonetheless. Reading the book will imbue the cover image with newfound meaning. Here’s the front. Initiative‘s[…] Keep reading →

My new book, Initiative: A Proven Method to Bring Your Passions to Life (and Work), is going to press, on time for a May 21 release. In the meantime, I’ll share excerpts and inside views. Today I bring you the blurbs. I don’t know about you, but they make me want to read it. Email me if interested in reviewing it before its release to post reviews so others know[…] Keep reading →

It’s been a while since I wrote about an idea I think would improve the world or make someone money. Ideas are cheap. We have them all the time. I’m focused on environmental leaders so would rather someone run with these ideas than let them wither. I live across the street from a firehouse. When they go out on call, the firetruck has to exit the building, then the firefighters[…] Keep reading →

“Fail early and often” “Fail forward” “Fail, fail, fail” The business world, especially around entrepreneurship, promotes failing as a way to learn. I recognize its inevitability and necessity for learning, but I suspect many people who promote it have never experienced devastating failure. I’ve failed huge in life and I wouldn’t speak about it as cavalierly as many do. I consider physical injury inevitable in fitness and learning and I[…] Keep reading →

How Your Tuna Is About To Get Plant-Based There are a lot of non-meat meats on the market, but not as much non-fish fish, which Ocean Hugger Foods is looking to change. I tasted their “tuna” in a sashimi roll and had CEO David Benzaquen not told me it contained only tomato, I would have guessed I was eating fish. I act more on the environment than most and believe[…] Keep reading →