Staff Picks

Amaze Every Customer Every Time

By Sally Haldorson

Customers don't do business with a company. They do business with the people who work for the company. Everyone seems to have a story about their favorite Ace Hardware store.

Staff Picks

You Are Now Less Dumb

I like to think. At least I like to think that I like to think. This idea I have about myself is exactly what drove me to pick up David McRaney’s new book, You Are Now Less Dumb.

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Take a Day Off: Read a Book!

By Sally Haldorson

It is nearing the end of summer, at least in these parts, but there is still time to whittle down that long "to-read-on-vacation" list that you might have created in May, imaging long hot days laying in the sun, book in hand. If you are like me, summer is never quite the vast wasteland of time during

Staff Picks

Become the Real Deal

I’ve recently caught myself using the phrase, “(s)he’s the real deal,” when talking to friends and colleagues about people who have distinct reputations for success or innovation. It’s somewhat aphorismic, but what does this phrase even mean? Off the bat, there’s one word that comes to mind: authenticity.

Staff Picks

Time for Design

By Sally Haldorson

I've had a copy of Lee Devin and Robert D. Austin's book, The Soul of Design: Harnessing the Power of Plot to Create Extraordinary Products, on my desk since September. On it was a little sticky note that read, "blog," as a reminder to myself that I wanted to take a longer look when time allowed.

Staff Picks

True Story: How to Combine Story and Action to Transform Your Business

By Sally Haldorson

"Metastory is a story that is told through action. It is not a story that you say, it's a story that you do. Every individual has one.

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Brick by Brick, or How LEGO Was Awesome, Failed, and Then Became Awesome Again

We have reached a point in time when those of us who missed out on playing with LEGOs as kids have by now had the opportunity to buy the iconic toys for our own children. I am fortunate enough to have experienced the joy of LEGO both as a child and an adult, so my interest in David C. Robertson’s Brick

Staff Picks

Reinventing You

“What do people think of you? What do they say when you leave the room? ” Maybe you don’t think you have a brand.

Staff Picks

Untapped Talent: Unleashing the Power of the Hidden Workforce

By Sally Haldorson

Kudos to the author and publisher for coming up with such an intriguing title. It's impossible not to wonder just who this "hidden workforce" is, and surprisingly, organizational development expert Dani Monroe reveals that an untapped source of talent is right under our noses: our current underutilized

Staff Picks

Nice Companies Finish First

Bad management—chances are we have either worked under bad management or we know someone who has. The harmful effects of a bad manager often extend as far as the private lives of staff, but the more obvious effects can be seen inside the workplace. Sadly, bad bosses are not all that uncommon.