Why Do We Mourn the Loss of People We Don’t Even Know?
Why do we mourn the loss of people we don’t know? It’s because of one simple, yet powerful word, connection. We don’t connect to what people accomplish. We connect to who they are. I didn’t like Kobe when he first came into the spotlight. My only reason for not liking Kobe was because I didn’t want anyone to ever be as good
Dear Dr. King, … thank you.
Dear Dr. King, … thank you. Dr. King, Thank you for accepting other people for who they are rather than what they accomplished. Thank you for serving people who deserved your service just as much as those who did not. Thank you for seeking to understand, with empathy in your heart and knowledge in your mind. Thank you for giving your time and your talent,
Here’s What Walt Disney, Jimmy Buffett, and Garth Brooks Have in Common (and what it has to do with leadership…)
What do Walt Disney, Jimmy Buffett, and Garth Brooks all have in common? First of all, I love all three. Most of you do too. They’re engaging storytellers and they create memorable experiences which connect with and inspire people across multiple generations. Walt Disney Recently, my wife and I were surfing Disney +, and we stopped on
19 Leadership Lessons I’ve Learned from 19 Years of Leading People
As we close out 2019, here are 19 leadership lessons I've learned over the past 19 years, leading people in various lines of business across our great country. Some of these I learned the hard way, some of these I learned from watching other leaders, others were passed along to me from wise, dynamic
Jeff Ruby’s Leads With Hospitality
My seven-year old niece, Nora Jane, asked me what the title of my next book would be. I told her, “Lead With Hospitality”. Her brother, my nephew, Henry, piped up immediately and said “Jeff Ruby’s! Write about Jeff Ruby’s. They’re a model of hospitality.” Here’s a quick story about why Henry is absolutely correct that Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse in Lexington, KY
Believe
This holiday season, BELIEVE. Believe in yourself, believe in others, believe in a higher power, and believe in the true meaning of the season. Whatever your holiday, and whatever your current stage in life, BELIEVE. Be thankful for what you have instead of dwelling on what you don’t have. Embrace diversity and respect differences in opinions and perspectives; it makes
Four Things I Learned Working at The Brown Hotel in Louisville, KY
One year ago, I made the leap into the consulting business. My first client was The Brown Hotel, a 4-diamond historic hotel in Louisville, KY. The General Manager, Brad Walker, who hired me for the project gave me clear direction and expectations for my role. From the word, “go”, he was very clear. He needed me to simply be
First Choose HOPE, Then Spread It
H – Heart We all have a heart. We all have feelings. We all care. The only question is - to what extent. Wouldn’t it be great if other people truly cared about us? The quickest way to inspire others to care is to simply lead the way, and open our hearts to truly care for others. Soon they will feel the love, and they just might
If Your Best Employee Left Tomorrow, What Would You Tell Them?
Would thank them for their hard work, effort, and devotion? Would you write them a hand-written note card, telling them how much you’ve appreciated them, as a person and as a contributor to your team’s cause, progress, and mission? Would you show your love and appreciation by throwing them a special going way potluck in the office, or even a night
A Quick Story of What Happens When Leaders Make Their People Feel IMPORTANT
A thirty-two-year-old middle manager working for a rental car company had a tough gig. She was in a corporate, regional role supporting multiple locations’ Operations Managers and frontline associates. Her role was to teach, coach, consult, inspire, and motivate front line associates and leaders to maximize sales with every transaction. One day the District Manager leveraged his talented Sales Performance Manager to
