Inc.com

My post on Inc.com the other day, "If You Voted for Trump, Let's Meet.," began If You Voted for Trump, Let's Meet. Two key skills in leadership are empathy and compassion. Is either side trying to understand or empathize with the other? Living in Manhattan, I confess I don't know a single person who says he or she voted for Donald Trump. I consider New York City one of the most diverse places on Earth and I like diversity. But politically, in this last election, I lived in a bubble. The New York Times predicted a Hillary Clinton win at over 90% probability a few days before the election. They were unbelievably wrong and blindly so. Most people were. People around here thought Trump and…

My Inc.com post yesterday, "The Truth Behind Trump's 'Hoax'," began The Truth Behind Trump's 'Hoax' Entrepreneurs and big business know that meeting demand to curb emissions is good business. How can we get our president-elect to agree? First, some context: Tesla is wagering $2.6 billion on renewable energy Tesla is running an entire island on solar power Google pledged to nearly double its renewable energy investment Many in big business support government support into renewables Entrepreneurs are changing energy resources around the world Entrepreneurs feel that lack of government support for renewable energy is hurting them China is the world's largest investor in renewable energy Reducing carbon is well beyond popular global support. It's good business. It's great business. Yet our president-elect calls the global…

My Inc.com article today, "If You Don't Live in the Past, You Never Get Old," began If You Don't Live in the Past, You Never Get Old If you look backward, you see what you lost. If you look forward, you see opportunity. I recommend looking forward. Mainstream American culture loves youth. It led me for most of my 45 years to expect life to get worse. Instead it's gotten better. Much better, at least for me. Inc.'s median age is 37, so I'm ahead of most of you, but time marches on for all of us. I bet your life is getting better too, contrary to the mainstream message. How do these changes resonate for you? Food is better now I just got back…

My post on Inc.com today, "Science: Your Vote Matters," begins Science: Your Vote Matters Even in noncompetitive states, research shows that votes count more than previously believed. Do you live in a decided district and feel unmotivated to vote? If you live in a battleground state, you know your vote counts. What about in decided states? It turns out your vote counts in decided states and districts too, according to a study in the peer-reviewed journal of economics and political science, Public Choice. Conclusion: Your Vote Matters According to its authors, Steven Brams, of New York University, and Marc Kilgour, of Canada's Wilfrid Laurier University: In US presidential elections, voters in noncompetitive states seem not to count--and have zero power, according to standard measures of…

My Inc.com article today, "I Wrote 70 Gratitude Emails. Here Are My Awesome Results" began I Wrote 70 Gratitude Emails. Here Are My Awesome Results Science shows gratitude improves your life. I expressed it and found out for myself. You can too. Research shows gratitude helps your brain, well-being, and business. I had an experience that helped develop gratitude, like a skill. The exercise was free, rewarding, and improved my relationships. You might want to try it. Gratitude exercises come in many forms--writing down three things or people to be grateful for before sleeping is the most common one I know. The one I did came from a friend's class. My friend, Jeffrey Madoff (no relation to the other Madoff), teaches a wonderful class, Creativity:…

My Inc.com article today, "Elon Musk and Alan Mulally: Help Me Avoid Flying for a Year!," began Elon Musk and Alan Mulally: Help Me Avoid Flying for a Year! I vowed not to fly for a year to reduce emissions. Can two heads of car companies help make it happen? Marshall Goldsmith is making my life difficult. Elon Musk and Alan Mulally can help and you'll benefit from it. I'll explain how. The Challenge I'm trying to go one year without flying. For an activity that was impossible before 1903, I'm finding it remarkably difficult. Society today, especially business, pressures you to fly. I'm taking on the challenge for two reasons. The first is because flying pollutes, the sea levels are rising, and I've found…

My Inc.com article today, "How Not to Save New York City, or Your Home" begins How Not to Save New York City, or Your Home The New York Times and New York Magazine show how not to lead on the biggest issue of our time. It's up to leaders to lead. This is a post about what leaders, entrepreneurs, and other Inc.com readers do best--to lead people to improve their lives. People used to consider climate change anti-business. As more of the population sees it affecting their lives intimately and significantly, that view is dying. Times are changing, and that means opportunity. At least for those without their heads in the sand. I live in Manhattan. In the past week, both the New York Times…

My Inc.com story today, "These First-Graders Will Teach You to Make Your Team More Productive" begins These First-Graders Will Teach You to Make Your Team More Productive This master educator walking these first-graders through the iterative process of peer-learning will teach you Teams beat individuals in business, end of story. There are exceptions, but rarely, and you can tell when. People and teams who learn beat ones who stagnate, end of story. If you want to excel as a leader, there are few better ways than to get your teammates to teach and learn from each other. Instilling Peer Learning In Actions This video shows a veteran teacher walking a group of first-graders through a process of how to help each other master a task.…

My Inc.com story today, "Employers Reject Résumés. Why You Should Stop Sending Them." begins Employers Reject Résumés. Why You Should Stop Sending Them. Nobody gives a final yes to a résumé. But they do give final no's. What to do instead. A well-placed woman, "Jane," who saw me speak on a panel began the process of offering me a job. To put me in touch with her boss, Jane asked for my résumé. I told her I preferred not to send it. Why did I decline? The role would complement my personal projects and had autonomy, leadership, and the opportunity to grow. My résumé looks great and fit the role. The problem with résumés I avoid sending résumés because people don't approve résumés. People reject…