“Trust is built in drops and lost in buckets.” – Kevin Plank, founder of Under Armour. Being trusted is one of the greatest virtues. Trust opens lines of communication. When you can share important or difficult thoughts, knowing they’ll be received in the best possible spirit, more gets said, and more is learned. Trust allows […]

“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 […]

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. […]

Yesterday, I shared a developmental model describing how young people can become positive, contributing adults. The model lists five C’s: Connection, Character, Confidence, Competence, and Caring. What’s good for young people becoming adults is probably good for all adults. Consequently, I believe our organization will thrive by promoting the five C’s. It’s a strategy that […]