Like many of you, for our business to grow, I need to make the move from working IN the business to working ON the business. What’s getting in my way? It’s the simplest, hardest thing I’ve encountered in growing our agency. Delegation. I keep getting in my own way. One of the biggest challenges I’ve [...]

As the pace of our work continues to accelerate, so does the speed at which we’re making decisions. It’s in these moments, when we're facing tough decisions and making choices, that one reality becomes very evident. Everything you say “yes” to means you’re saying “no” to something else. I’ve learned over time to place a [...]

We're all on a journey. Professionally and personally, we’re each navigating an endless path of ups and downs. The highs are high, and the lows are low, and occasionally some days exist quietly between the two. From leading our businesses and organizations to trying to make the grade as a spouse or parent, we’re all [...]

What does freedom feel like? Very early in my career, I felt like I needed to know the answer to every question to assert myself as belonging in my leadership positions. When people asked me things, they expected that I had the answer, and I felt the need to give them one. When I didn’t [...]

“I’m driven. I’m a hustler. I just love my work. Slowing down is hard for me.” I have lived the past twenty years of my professional life using words like those to justify my lifestyle and where I spend my energy. They’ve been a safety net for me, and to be completely transparent, they’re all [...]

I was reminded the other day of a conversation that we had early in the lifecycle of our agency. We were meeting with a mentor over coffee, and he asked one of my partners and me two questions. “First, tell me about your business.” He was probing for our elevator pitch. He wanted a simple, [...]

As the year is winding down and we’ve been meeting with clients, we’ve spent time looking back at 2018 through the lenses of both their accomplishments and challenges. Thinking back over our conversations, three themes have surfaced that will be valuable to you and your teams as you move into 2019. A great 2019 starts [...]

It is 6:53 in the morning and I am working from a local Dunn Brothers coffee shop in Chaska, waiting for a client to show up for an early morning meeting. I have been here since they opened at 6:00, preparing my notes and catching up on some much needed busy work. In the last [...]

My son Riley has spent the last few weeks performing one of the lead roles in a Twin Cities performance of Mary Poppins. In my role as his proud dad, I have seen this show many times, and there is one line that stands out to me… “Anything can happen if you let it.” “If [...]

December is here, and the year is coming to a close. As the season kicks into high gear and we’re juggling our professional lives with holiday parties, band concerts, and shopping, this can be the busiest month we encounter. These next few weeks will be hectic. How will we make the most of these next [...]