This week we’re exploring the differences between wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Let’s begin with Understanding. The Hebrew meaning of this word has been defined as, “perceptive insight with the ability to judge.” A consulting client once asked me and his other advisors to help him with an issue. One of the advisors recommended a plan that was immoral. It was ...
If you’re like me, you spend a lot of time praying for wisdom for the many work decisions that need made. I’ve discovered that many verses in the Bible reference wisdom, knowledge, and understanding all in the same passage. These three words have different meanings that build on each other. Understanding comes from learning God’s Word. Knowledge comes from the ...
Frequently I receive calls from young people who have new business ideas. The excitement of youthful leaders tends to lend itself to chasing fantasies. The most successful businesses, however, are the ones who take their new idea, develop a plan and work that plan diligently. There’s a distinct difference between focused entrepreneurs who have a new idea and creative people ...
Years ago, I was reviewing Michael’s personality profile results with him. Michael’s profile came back inconclusive, which meant there was most likely a traumatic event going on in the participant’s life. Michael was evasive but assured me everything was fine. The next day, Michael’s boss called and said, “Your assessment of Michael was correct. He missed work because his house ...
Recently, I spent three days serving as a juror. One lesson I learned is the importance of restitution. During the jury deliberation the jury struggled with how to assess an amount for the intangible value of “pain and suffering.” In Numbers 5, God told Moses, “Any man or woman who wrongs another in any way, and so is unfaithful to the Lord, is guilty and ...
Tom’s a CEO who had a leader who was struggling at work. He needed some additional oversight until he matures into his potential. But he was reluctant to release any control. Tom knew that if this leader didn’t accept his recommendations willingly he would likely sabotage any help he sent his way. He needed to prove that he was teachable, ...
Researchers Alison Reynolds and David Lewis studied how businesses tackle complex problems. These researchers labeled the businesses that were best as solving problems as “Generative.” Two key attributes stood out at these Generative companies; being Cognitively Diverse and Psychologically Safe. Reynolds and Lewis discovered that teams that were diverse in their backgrounds and thinking styles proved more successful at solving ...
When I was a young and foolish 25-year-old, I read an article about a new business concept called “Rent a Wreck.” After leaving public accounting I was searching for my next career, so I started a used car rental agency. Looking back, I heard only what I wanted to hear. When friends and bankers asked me tough questions, I had ...
Phil Cohen was telling me that his father-in-law, Frank Turpin, was a great leader. Over Frank’s career, he worked his way up to vice-president of what later became Exxon. Frank died in 2004. A few years after he died, Phil called Frank’s son, Hank, and asked, “How was your dad so successful?” Hank replied, “He knew how to attract talented ...
Hunting was not my thing, but as a teenager some friends invited me to go deer hunting. Upon arrival they pointed me towards a tree and told me to climb the tree and wait for a deer. I tried to climb the tree with my rifle, but, out of frustration and laziness, I finally left my gun at the base ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
