I listened to a podcast where author A.J. Jacobs described his experiences as a “human guinea pig.” Jacobs wrote a book about a time when he conducted experiments every single day in an effort to better himself. Doing experiments regularly is one of the core concepts behind lean manufacturing. The idea is that if you […]

“Don’t tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and let them surprise you with the results.” – Phil Knight, Nike founder, in his book Shoe Dog. Leaders often struggle with this challenge. They get promoted based on how they do things. But the more responsibility leaders take on, the more leadership becomes […]

Here’s another insight I learned from Rescue House pastor Matt Hudson in Mocksville, NC, at a leadership conference when he shared 7 Things a Boss Wants to Say to You: “I love it when you receive responsibility with joy.” Last week, I shared Matt’s idea that “responsibility is a reward, not a right.” Using that logic, […]

My goal is to be the “best blue-collar employer” in the markets we serve. I use the term “blue collar” to acknowledge that our work is hard, exposed to the outdoor elements, and not for the weak. So, we aren’t going to have yoga classes and free massages that high-tech companies are proud of describing. […]