In his early 20s, my friend, Butch, bounced from job to job. I remember feeling sorry for him because he seemed lost. That’s until the day Butch proudly pronounced to his father, “I was hired today to work at your company.” Butch’s father was a successful construction superintendent. Butch’s dad was apprehensive because of Butch’s past work history. But ...
Years ago, I was selling my used car. One family came to look at the car for their teenage daughter. This father tried to negotiate the price lower. But I knew my price for this car was a fair price and I could tell his daughter loved the car, so, I said, “No.” As the family drove away, I ...
If you’ve ever rented a vacation home, you’ve probably experienced the lack of price transparency. You see a reasonable nightly charge, only to discover that as you go through the process, they begin adding hidden service charges and cleaning fees. Last month, the state of California passed a law that requires more transparency in lodging and restaurant fees. The ...
Last month, Wendy’s floated the idea of using dynamic pricing. Just like Uber and many airlines, Wendy’s considered changing their food prices instantly based on high demand. Imagine going to Wendy’s. When you arrive, you see a cheeseburger is $3 but there’s a long line. When you finally reach the front of the line the board says your sandwich ...
Kathy had been negotiating with a contractor named Luther on a project for our home. We were supposed to sign a contract the following morning, but I needed to change the time. Although it was 11:30 at night, Kathy texted Luther to modify our appointment. Luther and I had not met, so the next morning Luther astutely realized he needed ...
Bruce Feiler, author of “The Search: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World” has been researching today’s workforce. Feiler discovered that the average worker goes through a moment of disruption, reevaluation or reinvention every two-and-a-half years. Feiler has labeled this a workquake. Last year, fifty million Americans quit a job. Three-quarters of Americans said that they plan to look for ...
Author, Bruce Feiler, wrote in the Wall Street Journal about his research on the search for meaningful work. As Feiler interviewed people from around the country, he asked each interviewee about the biggest turning points in their work lives. Among those who said work transitions improved their lives, he discovered that six in ten interviewees earned the same, or less, ...
Many businesses covet the “Best Places to Work” distinction in their community, but few are willing to do what it takes. Dave’s company won that distinction multiple times. Dave and his wife made a commitment to create a workplace that builds community, emphasizes family, and focuses on the peace and prosperity of their team. They love their people and make ...
Recently, I met with a new friend who was carrying a burden of concern for his children. My friend’s father had established trusts for each grandchild to be funded from the success of their family business. In the beginning the trust amounts were modest, but as the business flourished, the trusts had grown larger than the family ever imagined. My ...
When Black Friday began in 1975 as a new Christmas marketing idea, there was only one choice for shoppers: go to the store and buy in person. Due to the internet, Black Friday looks much different today. In 2021, 66 million people went to a store on Black Friday, while 88 million people shopped online that day. Predicting how much ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
