Sometimes we get so caught up in our own priorities, we forget that not everyone can be a favor taker. Someone has to actually do the favors. It turns out that the doing of favors is much more satisfying than asking for the same favor to be done for you. Embracing that world view of […]
The Transformational Leader
A manager understands the scope of work and the deadlines to be met. She sees the priorities at a high level, in addition to understanding how each of her team members fits into the bigger picture. She orients the team toward the larger goals for the year through status meetings and checkins. The manager holds […]
High Potential
In second grade, I was in the “Discovery Program” for high potential kids. In fifth grade, I was selected as top pitching prospect at Georgia Tech baseball camp. In seventh grade, I was picked to participate in the Duke TIP program for high potential students. In my junior year of college, I was selected for […]
Body of Work
It’s easy to get caught up in vanity metrics. Organizational politics are seductive. Another feature in the media strokes the ego. But when you’ve achieved the vanity metrics… left the organization… and the attention fades from the latest media feature… what’s left? The work. We’re quite creative when it comes time to avoiding the work. […]
Vanity Metrics
“I have 2,379 Facebook friends.” How many of them have you spent quality time with in the last year? Do you know their biggest personal and professional goals or dreams? “I had 139,578 visitors to my website last month.” How many of those people actually read what you had to say? Did you get any […]
A Better Bee Hive
Bees are crucial to the entire food chain, all the way up to humans. They pollinate plants across the planet. In other words, they serve a critical role in the world. The average person thinks of bees as a nuisance. Something to be avoided or killed. We all have an image in our heads of […]
The Summer Slump
In 2014, we saw an interesting phenomenon at Fizzle… our growth rate took a downturn in the summer as compared to the rest of the year. Why? It turns out the summer slump is common in the business world, especially for consumer companies. Kids are out of school, people go on vacation, things slow down. […]
The Best in the World
Before you can be the best in the world, you have to be the best in your country. Before you can be the best in your country, you have to be the best in your state. Before you can be the best in your state, you have to be the best in your city. Before […]
Gender at Work
36 Republican presidential candidates for 2016. 2 women. 500 S&P CEOs. 23 women. 15 teachers of an online course. 1 woman. I’m a glass half-full kind of person. But that’s not progress. That’s a lack of willingness to embrace positive change. It shows our discomfort in acknowledging our biases. It shows our fear of empowerment. […]
How to Develop Beliefs
Developing beliefs about the world is hard work. Sharing your perspective with the world is even harder. And yet, one of the most powerful things you can do to lead and influence others is just that: develop beliefs and share your perspective based on those beliefs. Not everyone will agree with your beliefs, but that’s […]