I recently met a man who quit his job as a tenure-track professor to use his skills elsewhere. He told me that almost every single friend of his in academia had gone through a job change since the pandemic started. I asked him why, inviting him to tell me his story. His answer shocked me: “I was tired of being …
Tim Jackson: Automotive influencer searching for his flying car
Mike talks to auto industry legend Tim Jackson, the former president and CEO of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association. A member of the Colorado Automotive Hall of Fame and organizer of the Clear the Air Foundation, Jackson’s upcoming book covers the auto industry’s past, present and future. Tune in to hear the naming of two hit bands … the reason …
Want innovation? Cultivate humility.
Do you want employees who buy in to being proactive, constantly improving, adding value? If so, you’ll need to foster a culture of humility. Take it from Japanese factories–and medieval monks. Humility is the secret weapon of innovation. The reasons are both spiritual and practical. Let’s start with the Japanese. Specifically: Toyota. “The workplace is a teacher.” I saw a …
AI rewrites a memo: From foul-mouthed to corporate vanilla–is this a good thing?
Have you ever wanted to tell off a coworker? AI can help you … not get fired. A memo rewrite has gone viral–but is the rewrite really any better? “Karen from Accounting” is going to be replaced … but what are the human soft skills that AI can’t replace? And could AI be a tool to help you engage with …
When the suffering stays
“Now Dad, your job is to hold her shoulders down. Don’t let up under any circumstance.” When my oldest turned 1, the pediatrician wanted to do some bloodwork. He wanted to eliminate some concerns, and to do that, he needed vials of blood. I pressed her shoulders against the mat. The nurses pierced her and began to draw out blood. …
The dichotomy of culture vs. innovation: Why not both?
From the mail bag: A listener asks an extremely important question for any organization that plans on a long-term future. Which is more important to an organization, culture or innovation? Mike and Mark find answers in a Toyota factory and a bunch of monkeys. Questions? Comments? Ideas for future episodes? Email Mike and Mark. Listen here … subscribe on Spotify, …
More people, more problems–and their two solutions
“One, one, two, three, five … eureka!” Thanks to a parrot saying that in the series Mathnet on Square One Television, I will always remember the Fibonacci sequence. Growing problems I know there are maybe three of you left who remember that show. But you don’t really need to understand Fibonacci to profit from this Les McKeown article: “The Fibonacci …
Dealing with despair in the workplace
Suicide is a tragedy. When I started writing this post, I thought that introductory sentence might be over the top. But then news organizations started publishing the following headlines: “Canada offered assisted suicide to a Paralympian veteran who wanted a wheelchair lift installed: report“ “Canadian soldier suffering with PTSD offered euthanasia by Veterans Affairs“ “Trudeau Liberals to facilitate suicide for …
Teens aren’t buying cars: the case for CX
So it turns out Gen Z is less interested in driving and car ownership than any generation that came before it. They are getting their driver’s licenses later and driving less miles. Read the comments of The Washington Post article to get a sense of the change happening in culture. My generation, plus those of my parents and grandparents, view …
Before AI destroys us all … can it help you at work?
Mike is a believer! He has seen the light–the value of artificial intelligence–in the form of ChatGPT. He’s ahead of the curve … as we went to press, news broke that its creator was in talks with investors for a valuation around $29 billion. Tune in for a demonstration of the power that just may change everything. This is …