Over the past two years in discussions with clients and the 2040 team, I have continued to raise the point that “ it ain’t over until the lady sings.” Many have already sung with sighs of relief and many more have yet to sing. …

You’ve developed an aspirational strategic plan that is going to help you crush it compared to your competitors and allow the organization to expand its customer base and be more relevant to existing customers. …

The Fault in Ourselves … Revisited Issue 57, May 26, 2022 When we originally published this newsletter, Ukraine was not making headlines; there was no fifth wave of Covid; state primaries hadn’t happened; Disney was running theme parks in Florida without taking a public political position; the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard spectacle fighting out their…

Issue 56: May 19, 2022 Two colleagues just attended their monthly executive committee meeting. One is the chief revenue officer of the organization, and the other is the head of marketing. The organization is struggling with diminishing membership revenues and sponsorship sales are running behind. The salesperson gave an upbeat…

When we published the Leading with Courage newsletter last Fall, we were still emerging from the worst of the pandemic, slightly dazed and confused. We were facing a perfect storm that tested our resolve and creativity in leading our way to the future. Today, the entire world has seemingly collectively…

Issue 54: May 5, 2022 In times of uncertainty and ambiguity, context is essential to providing clarity in communications and interpersonal relations — both personal and professional. It has become a challenge to understand others when there is an abundance of misinformation and personal spin on the facts. Even more…

Process, Planning and Response Some people are quick processors, others way slower. Some people are decisive, others less so. Some people thrive on structure, others won’t be boxed in. And some people are planners, others can’t be bothered. …

Are You Ready for Transition and Reinvention? Does this sound familiar? You have spent most of your professional life perfecting who you are and have chosen to become. It’s a significant investment to fine-tune a life that conforms to your beliefs, hopes and dreams. Then wham! You have become marginal, or even worse, irrelevant. Suddenly (although it…

The Fear of a Blank Canvas Issue 51: April 14, 2022 Here’s an existential question: How do you fill an empty/white space? Spoiler alert: First, ask yourself is it worth filling? Second, is what you’re filling it with valuable, relevant and meaningful? …