Today Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States. Leadership junkie that I am, I was up early with coffee in hand to watch this most magnificent and peaceful transfer of power. Around 8:30 the President Elect and Mrs. Obama emerged from Blair House to begin what would be arguably the most important day of their lives. Then I heard TODAY host Matt Lauer, as he outlined the tightly-scheduled and pressure-filled agenda ahead, make the almost off-hand comment that the Mr. Obama still managed to get in his workout this morning. That our new President plays basketball, and that … [Read more...]

I normally adhere to the conventional wisdom to stay away from politics and religion when talking with two groups of people– business colleagues and customers, and family. (The Thanksgiving table with my family of origin can be a little like having Keith Olbermann, Rush Limbaugh and Tina Fey over for dinner. Entertaining, yes, but also dangerous.) So I'm going to bend my own rule here, in service of a greater good. Let me start with a short disclaimer. I didn't start out as an Obama supporter, although I have been fascinated with him as a leader from the get-go. My business is to help … [Read more...]