“What would it be like if you were known only for the worst thing you had ever done?” This question was how Cat Hoke, founder of multiple prison reform programs, started a resignation e-mail that she knew would destroy her career but save the Prison Entrepreneur Program (“PEP”) she had helped start in Texas and cared deeply about. For over a decade, Hoke has been…
Read More
A few weeks back, I wrote about the “Varsity Blues” scandal in which some very misguided parents were charged with “helping” their children get into elite universities through fraud and bribes. Around that same time, I listened to an almost two-hour long podcast between Tim Ferriss and Lebron James. When Ferriss asked James about his parenting philosophy and his kids, one of whom is an aspiring…
Read More
A few weeks back, I had the opportunity to hear Boston Celtics’ President, Rick Gotham, give a presentation about the organization’s strategy and philosophy on winning. Every professional sports team wants to win, ideally every year, even though they know that’s not realistic or possible. One of the most interesting insights Gotham shared was that the Celtics realize that there is a certain amount of…
Read More
Consider how many times you have thought, said or heard this statement: ”Someone should do something.” Serial entrepreneur, Jeff Hoffman, founder of Priceline, uBid and the company that built ticket kiosks in airports, was at a point a few years back where he felt some guilt about his tremendous financial success. Then, one night while he was watching the local news, a story came on…
Read More
Last year I attended a conference session titled, “Getting Clarity,” led by world-renowned clarity coach, Philip McKernan. Sitting in a circle, our group discussion began with a participant sharing that he’d been struggling with the decision about whether or not to sell his business. When McKernan asked him if he liked his business, his response was that he hadn’t enjoyed coming to work for years….
Read More
Last week, I wrote about my incredible experience visiting a maximum-security prison with a group of business leaders. I also shared three lessons that I took away from it. I was touched by the notes I received from people around the world who vulnerably shared their reactions to that post and their personal stories related to incarceration – either through a similar program or with a…
Read More
“We don’t fire warning shots, so if you hear gunfire, get down and against the wall.” Up until the Warden at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano, CA spoke these words, I had been feeling relatively comfortable about my visit to the maximum-security prison. His statements, however, quickly snapped me and the 50 or so other entrepreneurs in my group back to reality. Our group…
Read More
I often joke with my kids that most of the challenges they face are “First World problems,” and they’ve learned to remind me of the same thing. This phrase is a healthy reminder to be grateful for all the things we have and can do in our lives. It’s also about understanding that, in the grand scheme of things, what we identify as “problems” often…
Read More
As a Junior and Senior in college, I really wanted a job in management consulting. Many of my friends who were also seeking employment in this field benefited from plump internships, courtesy of their parents’ connections. As neither of my parents had contacts in that industry, I did not have that same luxury. At the time, it was frustrating. To get my foot in the…
Read More
I’ve come across different versions of this famous “pot roast” parable but regardless of the rendition, each one demonstrates the difference between people and organizations experiencing mediocrity and those achieving greatness. A mother was preparing a pot roast for her family’s Easter meal while her young daughter helped. Knowing her daughter was very curious, the mother clarified each step. As she was preparing to put…
Read More
