Written by Dr. Dorothy Martin-Neville

One of the ironies of life is that we are called, almost compelled, to go after our dreams and set creative goals. Those visions and our commitment to them, are what give us the ability to walk around obstacles and persevere even when all seems hopeless, and yet the gift of being detached from the outcome frequently makes the attempt so much purer, so much more valuable than the “win” itself.

I saw a movie this weekend, Arthur the King, based on a true story. The ending reminded me so much of what I have seen and experienced in achieving goals, for myself, clients, and others. After previous failed attempts to win, the disgraced head of a 435-mile endurance race team, (biking, hiking, running, etc.) attempts his last chance at winning this race. He “needs” this win. His ego “needs” it. His earlier attempts to push through at all costs, with a very narrow vision of anything other than winning, cost him, and his team, dearly.

Written by Juli Shulem

How many times do you speak like this?

“Hey Steve, I understand you didn’t follow through on the customer order yesterday. Can you tell me what happened?”

Written by Machen MacDonald

Creating a high-performance culture in any organization requires a balanced approach that drives results and nurtures the human spirit. Strong leaders tend to be proponents of a “carefrontational” approach – they care for individuals and confront challenges directly. Effective leaders don’t avoid conflict, they become proficient at dealing with conflict. They are carefrontational. Let’s explore the PERFORM model, a seven-point plan to achieve excellence while staying aligned with your company’s vision, mission, values, and objectives.

P – Purpose and Vision
Every high-performance culture is driven by a clear purpose and vision. Understanding the “why” behind an organization’s existence and where it intends to go is crucial. As the Stoic philosopher Seneca once said, “Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.” In the context of organizational culture, this highlights the importance of defining a clear vision to guide and motivate the team’s efforts.

Written by Michael Goldberg

Best boxing movie?

Arguably, Rocky. The original. The one and only. And the one that helps establish Sylvester Stallone as a movie star and a member of the Boxing Hall of Fame. And, of course, Apollo Creed played by the master of disaster, Carl Weathers.

Written by Susan Fitzell

We know, from surveys and studies over the past decade, that people who are neurodivergent – those on the autism spectrum, or who are diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, etc. – have far more trouble finding employment. Globally, it’s estimated that as many as 40 percent of neurodiverse individuals are unemployed.

A White House report on bio-workforce development noted that, “Young adults on the autism spectrum have the lowest rate of employment compared to their peers with other disability types,” And yet, “In many cases, employers have found that, with relatively small changes, many individuals who are neurodivergent are able to fully participate in the workforce.”

Written by Dr. Dorothy Martin-Neville

Conversations can seem like the simplest of things yet in reality they are such an indicator of so much more. I receive this wonderful newsletter, Admired Leadership-Field Notes. It is truly inspirational in the world of leadership. However, at times, their messages are universal. Today’s conversation had me thinking of so many things.

The fact that it came after an in-depth conversation with a client over her inabilities to understand all the dynamics that take place in one “simple” relationship caused it to hit home. Have you ever had a conversation and heard later that what you said had absolutely nothing to do with what they heard? 

In my last book, Real Women Change the World: Letting the Good Girl Die so the Real Woman Can Live, I have a whole chapter on communication. Points I covered are — saying in 500 words what can be said in 10. Whining rather than speaking, blaming rather than questioning, and so on. It is so important to know that people hear your tone far more than your words. People read your face far more than your message. Consistently, speaking with respect to a peer (which is pretty much everyone on the planet) works far more than speaking down to or tolerating someone you consider less intelligent, developed, or awakened. 

Written by Michael Goldberg

Written by Joe Curcillo

If you skillfully follow the multidisciplinary path, you will never wish to come back. It would be like cutting off your hands.
Charlie Munger

If you’ve ever strolled through the annals of history, you’d note a captivating pattern. Think of the days of the Renaissance—when polymaths like Leonardo da Vinci didn’t just paint but delved into anatomy, science, and engineering. Their mastery wasn’t confined to a singular domain. Instead, they danced with diverse disciplines, creating symphonies of integrated knowledge. So, why then, in an age of exponential technological growth, do we risk narrowing our perspectives?

Written by Machen MacDonald

In the face of adversity and setbacks, maintaining a positive outlook can often feel like an insurmountable challenge. Yet, history and philosophy offer us a trove of wisdom on how to navigate turbulent times with grace and resilience. The Stoics, a group of ancient philosophers, provide particularly potent insights into enduring life’s inevitable hardships while maintaining our composure and optimism.

The Stoic philosophy, which emphasizes virtue, wisdom, and the importance of controlling what’s within our power while accepting what’s not, offers invaluable guidance for modern business professionals navigating the tumultuous waters of their industries. From the teachings of Stoic philosophers like Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius, we can extract practical strategies for staying positive even when the odds seem stacked against us.

Written by John Hetherington

It's not just a strategy; it's a game-changer. Discover the secret behind billion-dollar companies like Uber, Airbnb, and TripAdvisor – they're all Networked Founders! Groundbreaking research reveals how this approach leads to soaring profit margins, unprecedented revenue growth, and remarkable scalability. But it's not just about networking; it's about building relationships, fostering collaboration, and helping others.

Wharton published research showing that Networked Founders will produce the largest profit margins, generate the most revenue growth, and are more scalable than traditional start-ups. Think of Uber, Airbnb, and TripAdvisor. All billion-dollar companies that have scaled fast because of being Networked.

Written by Juli Shulem

Case Study:

An ADHD client I was working with resisted putting structure in place. Like many I work with, he knew it would probably be beneficial, yet never having imposed structure in his life as an adult, he figured he could get by without it. However, anxiety and stress were present on a regular basis and that didn’t feel so good.

Written by Juli Shulem

Many are thinking about what they are planning to DO in the new year, but don’t neglect thinking about what you will STOP or No Longer do in the new year, too. 

Maybe you took on a variety of new tasks, projects, or responsibilities this past year. 

Written by Dorothy Martin-Neville

As we near the end of the year, I get excited about new beginnings, new adventures, and new ways of doing old things. Soon, it will be my chance to start anew – to grow – and to become even more of myself than I have ever been. For me, one of the best ways to do that is to take on more challenges. To reach higher, to take on those scary new risks that show up, and that I create.

Simultaneously, I am also aware of the need to look at the things I have done this year. What am I extremely proud of, what can I applaud myself for? What risks did I shy away from? What limiting beliefs popped up? Which impacted me and which could I simply identify and then ignore? Also, I look each year at whether or not I ever lost my passion and love of what I do and if so, why? In this, I easily learn from my clients.

Written by Machen MacDonald

Your brilliance lies at the intersection of the four P’s.

Imagine a Venn diagram with four circles. Where those circles intersect is your zone of brilliance. That is where you must seek to spend the majority of your time and energy so you can feel happier and be more productive.

Written by Joe Curcillo

Innovation is critical for progress, and it often comes from unexpected sources. Whether it's a medical breakthrough, an artistic masterpiece, or a technological advancement, the common thread is the multidisciplinary perspective and the power of synthesis. The power of synthesis refers to the process of combining diverse viewpoints to create something innovative and new. By bringing together people from different fields, we can unlock new insights and develop breakthroughs that would not have been possible otherwise.

Cross-disciplinary learning is essential for fostering a multidisciplinary perspective. When we learn from other fields of study, we gain new perspectives and challenge our assumptions. We learn to think outside the box and see problems from different angles. When we combine those perspectives, we can create new ideas and approaches that have the potential to change the world. It is not just about gaining knowledge, but also about learning how to think differently and approach problems from a different angle.

Written by Dorothy A. Martin-Neville

One day this week I posted on LinkedIn, with a picture from above the clouds and said: “No matter where you are with your business or your life, it is an amazing adventure to watch how expanded our field of influence is.” A wonderful, hilarious, woman and friend who follows me responded: “Ohhhh, what an adventure! What a trip!” with a couple of emojis of a face in terror.

Her life isn’t in the best place right now. There are so many things I wish I could take from her plate and throw away. However, as we all know, I can’t. Life does have many ups and downs that are presented to us, created by us, or what feels like, simply dumped on us. That is certainly a part of what this life of ours is all about.

Written by Michael Goldberg

Business networking often does not have an immediate business outcome.

It takes time to make connections, develop relationships, and translate that into business. Or job search. Or whatever.
 
Great business networkers know it takes more than just showing up at every live or virtual event under the sun.

Written by Michael Goldberg

Based on “knock out” strategies of existing members!

I’m so proud to have founded a national business networking organization called (wait for it!) THE Networking Group!

Written by Michael Goldberg

As in a more valuable email intro.

Ever get an email introduction and it’s connecting you to someone in the hopes that there’s value? Relevance? A reason for connecting? Other than for the sake of just connecting?

Written By: Machen MacDonald

Imposter Syndrome, a psychological phenomenon characterized by feelings of self-doubt and a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud, affects individuals across various walks of life. Despite its prevalence, many myths surrounding this condition perpetuate the idea that successful people are immune to such feelings. I am here to debunk these myths and shed light on the reality of Imposter Syndrome.

BE REAL