Gerry’s Blog
I’m passionate about your success. Here are some articles, tips and suggestions for leadership and overcoming challenges you may be facing.
Latest Blog Posts
Want To Make Your Company Resilient? Start With An Inspiring Mission
Here’s a question I get asked a lot: How can I make my company more resilient? It’s a great question, and sometimes the answer is simple: Make sure you have an inspiring mission. In today’s world, people need to be resilient, but companies need resilience just a much. The business environment is more volatile and unpredictable than ever before. Technology has reduced barriers to entry for many industries, so new competitors can emerge at any [...]
You Need 3 Kinds of Wealth—Here’s Why
As the old saying goes, “Money alone can’t by happiness.” That’s true, but there’s something else too: Lacking wealth can make you very unhappy. If you doubt that, try asking people who have lived in poverty. Much of my work is about helping people build resilience, overcome challenges, and find ways to turn adversity into opportunity. One important (yet often overlooked) part of overcoming adversity is understanding, building and leveraging wealth. And it’s not just [...]
What I’ve Been Reading – September 2017
“Spend time walking with thinkers.” That’s something a mentor of mine used to say, and he was referring to reading. He saw reading as a way to connect with great thinkers and enrich intellect. He was right. When people make the time to read, they become more inspired, engage and empowered. But there’s also a challenge—many people find it hard to make the time commitment. That’s why I’m starting this new newsletter series: “What I’ve [...]
Stop Networking—Start Connecting!
Here’s a question I get asked a lot: “How can I be a better networker?” My answer often comes as a surprise: “Stop networking!” I say that because the stereotypical view of “networking” is ineffective, and it can even be harmful. Instead, people should focus on connecting and building real relationships. Here’s why relationships are important, why stereotypical networking goes off track, and how you can build the kind of relationships that will increase your [...]
Map Your Relationships and Save that Critical Project
Susan is a COO for a rapidly growing company, and she’s been charged with rolling out a customer care initiative. She seemed like the perfect lead, she’s good with technology and she is great at project management. But the project is in trouble, and the CEO is losing confidence. Here’s Susan’s big mistake: She neglected to manage the relationships needed to make the project successful. It’s a very common mistake and there’s a simple tool that can help—relationship mapping.
Building Diverse & Inclusive Businesses—A Leadership Imperative
Several weeks ago, I participated in a panel discussing diversity in the workplace. The title of the panel was “Diversity and Innovation,” but the real topic was “Why are we still having this conversation, and why haven’t we made progress?” It’s an important question for the future of American business, and it’s an area in which I believe many leaders should be taking a more active role. Diversity has been a hot topic for three [...]
How to Build a Culture of Innovation—Part 2: The Pillars of Innovation
Over the years, I’ve seen that certain behaviors support innovative corporate cultures. If leaders build a solid foundation upon those behaviors in the workplace, there’s a better chance that their organizations will be stronger and enduring. These three “pillar” practices create a work environment conducive to generating ideas, encouraging productive behaviors, and sparking imagination.
How to Build a Culture of Innovation—Part 1 Understanding Innovation
It’s hard to pick up a business book or magazine without seeing the word “innovation.” I believe that’s a good thing because innovation is the life-blood of any business—it’s how we serve our customers and differentiate ourselves from the competition. However, many business leaders privately tell me how much they struggle with innovation. They find it difficult to generate new ideas, their employees sometimes resist needed change, and the higher the stakes the more [...]
What I Learned about Public Speaking at TEDx
Several weeks ago I received a tremendous honor—I was invited to speak at TEDx Boulder. I’m a huge TED fan, and I believe the TED mission of “spreading ideas worth sharing” is incredibly important for individuals, businesses and our society. So, of course, I expected to invest a lot of time and effort into preparing for my first TED talk. However, what I didn’t realize was how much I would learn during the process—knowledge that [...]
