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
Joy and Inspiration Forever
Last night at EPCOT thousands gathered around World Showcase Promenade to watch Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, for the last time. For many years this show has been the capstone, inspirational close to a magical day and/or evening at EPCOT. As Disney and all great companies tend to do, there will be yet another iteration of
Five Reasons Every Leader Needs to Listen to Elton John
My parents raised me with a nice balance of tough love and fun-loving experiences. One thing we always had growing up - whether it was a car ride to school, going out to dinner, setting sail on a road trip, or simply hosting a mid-summer family gathering - was music. My dad has seen Elton John live, in concert,
