More inspiration from Martin Luther King, especially if you haven’t achieved much yet

on January 20, 2014 in Blog, Education, Freedom, Leadership

Perhaps the best honor one person can give another is to understand them and continue their legacy. I’m writing today’s post to suggest you can do that with Martin Luther King more than you think. Many people believe Einstein got bad grades, but I understand he didn’t. Martin Luther King, Jr got bad grades. He started graduate school at a school near Philadelphia called Crozer. Note among his grades —[…] Keep reading →

How to lower executive pay

on October 18, 2013 in Blog, Education, Leadership

The New Yorker this week has yet another article on executive pay, how high it is, how it continues to grow, and how attempts to slow it aren’t working. Everybody knows the situation. We’ve read tons of such articles. We know executive pay is high enough that it isn’t getting what shareholders are paying for, but no one can stop its growth. Want to lower executive pay? Basic economics and[…] Keep reading →

You tell me what you do best. I’ll tell you what you do worst.

on October 16, 2013 in Awareness, Blog, Leadership, Tips

Today I’ll cover an exercise I do in my seminar and when I address a group of professionals. You can do it while reading this post. It teaches you about Yourself Self-awareness Teamwork, especially team building I can cover it in a few minutes or can use it to discuss teamwork, self-awareness, and my experience for thirty-minutes or more. Introduction I start by telling the group “I’m going to ask[…] Keep reading →

Choosing idealism in the face of contrary evidence of what works is a recipe for disaster

on October 10, 2013 in Blog, Education, Leadership, Nature

I posted the following in response to a bunch of articles I’ve read about a report co-authored by over a dozen science-related organizations describing how reducing funding for science has led to research and the benefits it brings to society leaving the U.S. — The writing on the wall became apparent to me with the 1993 cancellation of the Superconducting Super Collider, when I was getting my PhD in physics.[…] Keep reading →

An example of effective, understated leadership

on September 25, 2013 in Blog, Education, Leadership

I wanted to share an example of effective leadership I once saw. When I was in graduate school, Columbia was considering its policy on allowing the military to have programs like ROTC on campus or not and held hearings anyone in the university could attend to speak their mind. I attended one. The President of the university, Lee Bolinger, ran the event. I had strong feelings about risking militarizing the campus[…] Keep reading →

Reminder: See my leadership seminar this weekend!

on September 17, 2013 in Blog, Education, Entrepreneurship, Events, Leadership

Brought to you by the Distinguished Leaders committee of the Columbia Business School Alumni Club of New York (copying the following announcement from that site): Leadership Through Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence In a weekend, learn how to develop your personal leadership skills, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence through the latest advances in cognitive behavioral science, evolutionary psychology, and positive psychology. While business schools and corporations are increasingly focusing on personal leadership,[…] Keep reading →

Taking on the New Yorker on the English Major

on September 12, 2013 in Blog, Education

Last month the New Yorker wrote a defense of learning and teaching English. It says English Departments are under attack. What kind of fool would take on the magazine many call the best in English about English? I guess I’m that kind of fool. I wrote the following in the comments.  “We need the humanities not because they will produce shrewder entrepreneurs or kinder C.E.O.s but because … they help[…] Keep reading →

One of the most important lessons I learned in business school didn’t come from a teacher and it applies everywhere in life

on September 9, 2013 in Awareness, Blog, Education, Leadership

I wrote before about “Business school’s first major lesson: how to resolve ethical dilemmas.” Today I’ll talk about another important lesson I learned in business school, also within the first couple weeks, also applying in many places in life I would not have expected from a vocational school. Context First I have to note my mindset before starting business school. I considered the most relevant parts of my life that[…] Keep reading →

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