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Articles from Rand Golletz | Selfgrowth.com
- The One Absolute Requirement For Becoming Valuable and Successful - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2013 from Rand GolletzLast week, I was listening to one of our pop culture icons/movie stars being interviewed on a talk show. The questioner reviewed the star’s laundry list of very successful films, paused and added, “and then there was __________ (the star’s only bomb).” The star winced a bit, agreed that it was a ...
Views: 1297(1 vote) - What Do You Stand For? - by Submitted on Nov 09, 2010 from Rand GolletzSomeone once said that "if you don’t stand for something, you'll DO just about anything." My hero, Jim Rohn, once said that the foundation for having a successful life is having a personal philosophy. I agree with both of those assertions. Having "rules of the road" for our lives can help us to ...
Views: 3857(1 vote) - What Really Killed Borders and Why We Love Nordstrom - by Submitted on Feb 08, 2011 from Rand GolletzA couple of years ago, I was standing in an unacceptably long line, waiting to pay for my purchase at a Borders. I counted ten people in front of me, six people behind me, one person working a register, and a manager who was fulfilling the role of disengaged observer. After paying for my ...
Views: 1211(1 vote) - What the HR Pros and Headhunters Don’t Tell You About Your Job Search - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2013 from Rand GolletzYou’re looking for a new job. Either you have your eyes on a promotion with your current employer or you’re looking for a new job in a new place. You’ve read the “how to write a killer résumé” books, and you can talk at length about all of your functional responsibilities. It doesn’t ...
Views: 1594(1 vote) - Learn a Big Lesson From AIG - by Submitted on Mar 06, 2010 from Rand GolletzAbout 15 years ago, I got a call from a lead partner at one of the largest executive recruiting firms asking if I’d be interested in talking to Mr. Hank Greenburg about a senior level job at AIG. That company was the big dog in property and casualty insurance and was led by an iconic figure ...
Views: 1454(6 votes) - Character Matters in Leadership - by Submitted on Feb 05, 2011 from Rand GolletzOne of my clients and her husband, Cheryl and Michael Heller, have created a unique way of teaching their daughter Annebeth two important lessons: money management and the importance of “giving back.” They require her to divide her weekly allowance into three parts. Annebeth gets to keep and ...
Views: 1079(4 votes) - Character Matters in Team Effectiveness - by Submitted on Feb 05, 2011 from Rand GolletzScott Pioli is the General Manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, an NFL team that has been miserable for the last several years but in 2011, is going to the playoffs. From an article about him in Sports Illustrated: “Pioli has longed to capture something from his childhood, something difficult ...
Views: 1230(3 votes) - Commit Yourself to Action Now - by Submitted on Dec 09, 2009 from Rand GolletzI've noticed a lot of changes in myself as a direct consequence of aging. Overall, I have a higher level of equanimity than I did as a 30 year old. I'm better at accepting without agreeing with points of view that diverge from my own on almost any subject. I more regularly and rigorously remind ...
Views: 1092(1 vote) - Want Success? Discard Hardheadness for Tough Mindedness - by Submitted on Apr 04, 2010 from Rand GolletzMost business executives talk about the importance of collaborating with others. When it comes to execution, however, their behavior often violates this espoused belief. Why? Because "getting things done" becomes a higher priority than "getting people on board." Fearing being perceived as ...
Views: 1492(3 votes) - Why Smart Executives Make Dumb Decisions - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2011 from Rand GolletzWhen I help senior leaders with their strategy creation efforts, I’ll review past strategies and then the results, financial and otherwise, that those strategies produced. I’m frequently amazed when I see that smart, capable executives have developed and implemented strategies that should have ...
Views: 1117(1 vote) - Do You Know Your “Water-Cooler Story?” - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2010 from Rand GolletzHere’s a list of some people I feel really sorry for: • Mike Tyson’s accountant (only kidding Mike – really!) • The choir director in my church (Would somebody please tell those people the truth about their voices?!) • Derek Jeter’s social secretary (busier than a one-legged man in a ...
Views: 1096(3 votes) - Dysfunctional Habits Of Highly Functioning Leaders - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2012 from Rand GolletzMy mission is “to help business leaders discover and achieve their potential.” One of the things that I discover is that many business leaders – more than half – limit their success because of inadequate attention to reflection and self-examination. My clients would say that I’m not prone to ...
Views: 1539(1 vote) - Meet the Real Nick Saban – Executive Par Excellence - by Submitted on Feb 10, 2013 from Rand GolletzFor many of us, the name Nick Saban conjures up the image of a cold, calculating automaton – grim, frowning, win-at-all-costs football coach who cares more about the score of his games and the margin of his victories than the development of the young men at the University of Alabama. Until I did ...
Views: 2765(1 vote) - You Still Have to Manage - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2012 from Rand GolletzYour job is to create, align and sustain aspiration, inspiration and perspiration! Many of today’s leaders, however, have become convinced (often times with the instigation of OD gurus), that management is no longer important, and that aspiration and inspiration are sufficient to propel ...
Views: 1151(1 vote) - Get to Know Pete Carroll - by Submitted on Oct 05, 2013 from Rand GolletzSeveral years ago, Pete Carroll was the head football coach at the University of Southern California. During his tenure, the school won three NCAA championships. In the last 20 years, only Nick Saban has enjoyed a better record as a college football coach. Pete left USC in advance of a ...
Views: 1399 - Additional Thoughts: Needs, Wants, Values and Priorities - by Submitted on Jan 08, 2012 from Rand GolletzI once worked with an executive who stated with certitude that his family was his number one priority. He also lamented the fact that he spent virtually no time with his wife and kids. I responded that priorities are defined by how and where we spend our time and that, by definition, his family ...
Views: 1509 - Are You A Skillful Reasoner? - by Submitted on Nov 09, 2014 from Rand GolletzThis is one of my favorite business quotes: "Vision without execution is really hallucination." I know several people who have taken credit for originating that masterpiece. I may have even done that occasionally. As obvious as its truth is, however, many organizations with lofty visions and ...
Views: 1243 - Are You A Victim of Your Thinking? - by Submitted on Mar 09, 2015 from Rand GolletzMy business passion is helping executives get out of their own way. Some of that work involves helping them come to terms with the business implications of the following: The human brain is geared, at least in part, to keep us comfortable and that "comfort" rather than "truth" predisposes us to ...
Views: 1576 - Are You Mentally Tough? - by Submitted on Jan 09, 2010 from Rand Golletz"Mental toughness is essential to success." -Vince Lombardi This past spring, San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary brought a new kind (and new level) of pain to his team's training camp. Known simply as "the hill," it's a 45-degree incline that he had built for running. Singletary ...
Views: 1175 - Are You Obsessed With the Brutal Truth? - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2014 from Rand GolletzI was shopping for a new tennis racquet in a store in northern Montgomery County, Maryland. It had recently changed hands after the prior owner had declared bankruptcy. The new proprietor greeted me with a hearty "good morning." I inquired as to the details of the transfer of ownership. He ...
Views: 1247 - Are You Persistent and Audacious? Jerry Weintraub’s Story - by Submitted on May 05, 2017 from Rand GolletzUntil his death a couple of years ago, Jerry Weintraub was a legend (in his own time) in the entertainment business. The consummate showman, he promoted concerts (including Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, etc.) and produced movies (including Nashville, Diner, Ocean’s 11, ...
Views: 1167 - Are Your Coaches and Consultants Financially Literate? - by Submitted on Feb 05, 2010 from Rand GolletzI was attending a meeting at one of my client companies a couple of years ago. They regularly conducted sessions for the external executive coaches with whom their leaders worked, to provide updates on company results and strategy. During one segment of the meeting, the presenter used the ...
Views: 863 - Are Your Decisions Objective? - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2013 from Rand GolletzAs a part of an engagement with a client (an insurer), I walked the executive leadership team through a discussion of company strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats. I stood at the white board posting their answers as the discussion migrated to an assessment of ...
Views: 1164 - Are Your Financial Projections Pro Forma or Bull Sheeta? - by Submitted on May 06, 2014 from Rand GolletzI highly recommend Berkshire-Hathaway's annual report for your pleasure, amusement and education, even for those of you who don't enjoy reading business publications. More specifically, I recommend chairman Warren Buffet's annual message to shareholders. Buffet always educates and ...
Views: 1491 - Are Your Values Explicit? - by Submitted on Jun 08, 2013 from Rand Golletz"You know nothing about me. I was lost long before the [Berlin] Wall fell. I was once destined to become a man much like yourself: true-hearted; determined; full of purpose, but … character is easier kept than recovered. We cannot control the things that life does to us. They are done before you ...
Views: 1330 - Buck Showalter's Leadership Lessons - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2012 from Rand Golletz"I'm happy for the players; I didn't do this," he said. "All I did was create an atmosphere of accountability. When you see something done the wrong way, you say, 'Hey, that ain't good enough.' And after a while you get the players to do that for each other. It's about helping them take ...
Views: 2336 - Business Lessons From the Final Four - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2011 from Rand GolletzI frequently draw from the military and sports worlds for leadership lessons. Wooden and Lombardi gave us examples as relevant and compelling as Winston Churchill from politics or GE’s Jack Welch from business. The teams that have made the NCAA’s Final Four provide lessons that are easily ...
Views: 898 - Coach Jim Harbaugh’s Lessons For You - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2012 from Rand GolletzJim Harbaugh has been successful at every level in football. In college at the University of Michigan, he was an All-American quarterback. As the leader of the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts’ offenses, he was known as a modestly talented but gritty, independent and inspirational ...
Views: 3838 - Develop Your Strengths and Starve Your Weaknesses - by Submitted on Jan 08, 2012 from Rand GolletzI once worked as a partner in an international consulting firm. As a part of that assignment, I helped executives learn to think strategically. Strategic thinking and strategic planning are distinct but equally important disciplines. While strategic plans are frequently and inappropriately ...
Views: 1146 - Development Lessons from RGIII and Aaron Rodgers - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2016 from Rand GolletzIf you've read some of my past articles, you absolutely know that I'm a sports fan. I've always been a participant as well as an observer. I believe in keeping a VERY active lifestyle. But I digress! Along with many people (male and female) in the U.S., I'm an unabashed NFL fan. I cheer for ...
Views: 1165 - Do You Ask Compelling Questions? - by Submitted on Aug 11, 2014 from Rand GolletzStrategy is an approach to managerial leadership – both a state of mind and a bias for relevant action. It's not merely a process to create plans. The days are gone during which attention to strategy could be episodic. At one time, even strongly managed and adroitly led organizations created ...
Views: 1304 - Do You Capitalize On Leverage? - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2016 from Rand GolletzIn the real estate world, we read and hear a lot about the power of leverage. Essentially, it means investing a limited amount of personal cash to geometrically increase net worth. Let's say you buy a piece of rental property for $300,000 with a down payment of 20%. You laid out $60,000. The ...
Views: 1387 - Do You Convert Suspects Into Clients? - by Submitted on Sep 08, 2013 from Rand GolletzI was standing in a line at the grocery store. The person in front of me was paying by check. At what I thought was the conclusion of the transaction, the cashier called the manager to her workspace. I watched quizzically as he initialed the check without even pretending to see what was on it ...
Views: 1139 - Do You Have a Consistent Philosophy and Belief System? - by Submitted on Sep 05, 2011 from Rand GolletzMost people assume I'm a Republican. I'm a former CEO, former CMO, and now a business coach and consultant - you get the idea! The fact is, I have NEVER been a Republican. I was once a Democrat. Then I became an Independent, and for the last several years I've been a registered Libertarian. When ...
Views: 844 - Do You Have the Necessary Discipline? - by Submitted on Jan 09, 2017 from Rand GolletzI believe 100% in the importance of "mindset" in successfully accomplishing goals. If you believe in your heart of hearts that you either don't deserve success or lack confidence, you simply will not. All of your efforts will be in vain because you are programmed to fail. How can you tell if ...
Views: 1468 - Do You Lead A "Linear Life?" - by Submitted on Mar 08, 2014 from Rand Golletz"Life is an endless unfolding, and if we wish it to be, an endless process of self-discovery, an endless and unpredictable dialogue between our own potentialities and the life situations in which we find ourselves. By potentialities I mean not just intellectual gifts but the full range of one's ...
Views: 1623 - Do You Strive for the Brutal Truth? - by Submitted on Nov 09, 2015 from Rand Golletz“Human beings are poor examiners, subject to superstition, bias, prejudice, and a PROFOUND tendency to see what they want to see rather than what is really there.” Dr. M. Scott Peck Discovering areas of your life and/or business that require some work to improve is a meaningful first step in ...
Views: 1232 - Do You Understand Our Financial Malaise? - by Submitted on Aug 06, 2011 from Rand GolletzMy interest here is to provide a very basic explanation of our country's financial condition and not an analysis of "who shot John," or a prescription for our salvation. With that in mind, I'll keep my personal politics, philosophy and beliefs out of my argument. During the last several ...
Views: 982 - Do You Understand the Power of Your Voice? - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2014 from Rand GolletzI talk to strangers all the time. Elevators, department stores, office buildings, Whole Foods and gas stations are some of my favorite places to engage people in conversation. I've actually met some really interesting people that way. I enjoy hearing people's "stories:" HOW they became WHO they ...
Views: 1298 - Do Your Beliefs Guide Your Behavior: What Do You Believe, Where Do You Stand and How Are You Doing? - by Submitted on Apr 05, 2014 from Rand GolletzIf you want to live your life with meaning, you must reflect on the things that are important to you, and then act on what you discern. This goes for your professional life as well as your life overall. Every once in a while, put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and document your beliefs ...
Views: 1626 - Don't Blame Gravity - by Submitted on Jun 07, 2015 from Rand GolletzPicture this: A light plane goes down in the Arizona desert. A team from the NTSB descends on the scene to investigate what happened. After three months of rigorous study and analysis, they're ready to report. They call a news conference. The NTSB administrator approaches the podium. You've ...
Views: 1636 - Don't Punish "The Many" to Control "The Few" - by Submitted on Jun 07, 2015 from Rand GolletzI disdain bureaucracy. When I use that word, however, I do not mean that I disdain procedures or rules. My definition of bureaucracy: "Policies and/or procedures that create no value for stakeholders." For example, I don't consider procedures governing the conduct and frequency of ...
Views: 1240 - Don't Succumb to the "Boiled Frog" Syndrome - by Submitted on Dec 09, 2012 from Rand GolletzTake a six-quart pan. Fill it with water. Put it on the oven. Turn the heat on high. While waiting for the water to reach a rolling boil, catch one mid-sized frog. When the water achieves that boil, toss the frog in. Don't worry; the frog won't get hurt. The shock of the temperature change will ...
Views: 1974 - Employ Leverage and Discipline for Success - by Submitted on Sep 06, 2015 from Rand GolletzPeople in the real estate business talk a lot about the power of leverage. Essentially, it means investing a limited amount of personal cash to geometrically increase net worth through appreciation. Let’s say you buy a piece of rental property for $300,000 with a down payment of 20%. You laid ...
Views: 1124 - Get Mentally Tough - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2013 from Rand GolletzAs a freshman at Duke, my wife's second cousin Ansley was a great tennis player. She finished that year as the NCAA's second-ranked player and was a first team all-American. She also carried a GPA of 3.8. After that year, she decided to leave school and join the women's tour. During the ensuing ...
Views: 1222 - Get Ready for Round 2 - by Submitted on May 09, 2010 from Rand GolletzI keep hearing pundits and business people insisting that our economy is getting better. In the very short run, that might be true, but WHO is going to pay for our massive $13 trillion ($10 trillion of it incurred in the last year) federal debt? No one seems to have an answer to that question. ...
Views: 1477 - How I Became a Libertarian - by Submitted on Jun 09, 2014 from Rand GolletzHere's my story: When I began voting in the 1970s, I was a staunch Democrat. My view of life was idealistic rather than tragic ("tragic" as in the context of Greek tragedies), and my belief was that government could be a force for good. Over time, as I assessed the results of government ...
Views: 1554 - How to Develop Real Vision - Mark Bertolini's Story - by Submitted on Aug 10, 2015 from Rand GolletzThe concept of “change” is incremental and limited. It’s an extrapolation of the present with some new stuff added and some current stuff extracted. By anchoring to “what was” as a starting point, it’s often insufficiently ambitious. “Transformation” on the other hand, begins with a vision of ...
Views: 1549 - If You Want Performance – Do These Five Things - by Submitted on Apr 08, 2012 from Rand GolletzI’m going to fill you in on something many leaders don’t get: You must fulfill five very basic requirements if you expect people to perform. You MUST give your people an explicit sense of the overall organization’s mission and values, and why they should care about them. You MUST develop ...
Views: 1135 - If You Want to Succeed, Do This! - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2014 from Rand GolletzThis is one of the questions I hear most: "What one thing or one recommendation can you tell me that will have a huge impact on my life?" My answer is always the same: Accept 100% responsibility for everything in your life. It sounds obvious, but it's one of those recommendations that's easier ...
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