MYM BLOG
Get Your Career Off to the Right Start
When asked by a young person, just starting out on a long and hopefully successful career, for advice on how to make it in the business world, I always tell them that the first secret of success is simply, BE HERE NOW. Too often in my career I have witnessed many young and talented people […]
Coach’s Corner
THIS WEEKS MANAGEMENT LESSON: An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing. A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, ‘Can I also sit like you and do nothing?’ The eagle answered: ‘Sure, why not.’ So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a […]
My Best Performance Review in Three Words – “Be More Mark”
I am a BIG fan of Coach John Wooden. He doesn’t make any claim to be an expert on performance reviews, but his powerful philosophy on life, success and mentoring has some great and helpful insights for all leaders and managers. I recently read one of Coach Wooden’s books, “A Game Plan For Life – […]
Change Your Culture with Two Words
By Mark Lindstrom Patty Morales is one of the best Retail General Managers I’ve had the privilege of working with during my time at Starbucks and the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. I worked with over 4,000 Retail GM’s during my career. I know the great ones when I see them. Patty is a […]
It’s Not About You. Really.
Ask yourself at the end of each day: “What did I do specially today to be ‘of service’ to members of my group? Was I truly a ‘servant’ to them?” This all-powerful idea derives from Robert Greenleaf’s extraordinary book, Servant Leadership. Here are two exam questions that Greenleaf urges leaders to ask concerning the people […]
The 3 Races
In old times, fable retells the story of the young athletic boy hungry for success, for whom winning was everything and success was measured by such a result. One day, the boy was preparing himself for a running competition in his small native village, himself and two other young boys to compete. A large crowd […]
“Do the Right Thing.” – Bear Bryant
At a Touchdown Club meeting many years before his death, Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant told the following story: “I had just been named the new head coach at Alabama and was off in my old car down in South Alabama recruiting a prospect who was supposed to have been a pretty good player and I […]
Focus, Clarity, Simplicity & Teamwork
While reading a recent article about Ford’s dramatic turnaround plan under CEO Alan Mulally, it brought me back to the mantra that guided Starbucks thinking during their impressive growth in the early 2000 time frame. Under the leadership of our very focused CEO Orin Smith we followed the direction of the simple mantra Mr. Smith […]
The Model of Immediacy
improving performance by getting specific about the here & now. Does the following scenario sound familiar to you? You’ve diligently planned for a crucial coaching conversation with someone. You’re prepared to talk directly about their need to improve performance, their current challenges and the necessary changes they need to make to improve their effectiveness. But […]
See it, Feel It and then – JUST DO IT!
It is hard to believe that I’ve become as addicted to golf as I once was to business, but I have. After having taken a twenty year hiatus from the game of golf I now play it, practice it, talk about it, read about it and I watch far too much of it on television. […]
Engaging Leaders Listen For the Truth
We all know how critical good listening skills are to be highly effective leaders. Most important is a leader’s ability to Listen for the Truth.When leaders commit to listening at these heightened levels transformational changes take place. Trusting relationships are created. The organization engages at a higher level. A company’s culture becomes stronger. And all […]