“They need courage.”

“Oh. They need courage.” For almost a decade, I have heard this phrase. It’s a line murmured by many after hearing a brand name that’s stuck in neutral. Every once in a while, I’ll collide with a brand that doesn’t simply need courage because they need to change. They need courage because they are on […]

5 Questions with Patagonia’s David van der Sanden

David van der Sanden is the Head of Internal Communications & Engagement at Patagonia. His job goes well beyond company communications. I imagine his job feels a lot less like a job or a career and more like a calling. This feels in alignment with many who are gifted the opportunity to spend their days […]

Oh, How I Failed

As a teen, I was cut freshman year from my college soccer team. Which means I never experienced a single minute on that college soccer stage. But if it hadn’t been for soccer, I’m certain I never would have been accepted into Ithaca’s first-rate Television-Radio program. In my 20s, I was never considered part of […]

Chief Belief Officer: Blake Mycoskie

There might not be a more perfect guest for #TheCourageousPodcast than Blake Mycoskie. Blake and his team turned TOMS into a global movement, giving away more than 95 million pairs of shoes and proving that business could be a force for good. Most don’t realize Blake’s most courageous chapter didn’t happen while building his behemoth […]

Fear of People

The worst fear of all is invading America. It’s not The Robots are coming or that AI Agents are talking to take down humanity. That is not the Fear that keeps me up at night. In fact, my idea of the fear of all fears is just the opposite. But first, a story… On Monday, […]

ROI v COI

You’ve watched leadership wrangle with a decision. They’ve talked about it. And talked about it… And talked about it. But, as you know, talking the talk isn’t walking the walk. There’s a difference between speaking something into existence and having the courage to take that first bold step. We all know ROI. ROI = Return […]

Accidental Leader

You were hired to do one job. Then you got a promotion. And then another. And another. Some of us went to business school. Others went to trade school. I went to communications school. But where was the leadership class? Who taught us how to build those critical muscles? A friend recently shared a study […]

Heard of Funner, California?

Did you know there’s a real city nestled between San Diego and Los Angeles called Funner, California? I know because my company came up with it. We were also responsible for recommending Funner, California’s very first Mayor: Mayor David Hasselhoff. For those down in Southern California, none of this will come as breaking news. Funner, […]

Dear Inner Critic

Where Do You Need Courage the Most? This line sums up the versatility of my business. Sometimes, it’s a change mission with a corporate client.  Or, like last week, it’s running a workshop or giving a keynote.  On other days, it’s guiding elite performers through the coaching program. A week ago, I had one of […]

Which ASAP works for you?

Speed is the name of the corporate game. But speed doesn’t always mean fast.   Some things simply get better over time. Art. Fine wines.  Friendships.  Memorable Stories. I once heard Bill Simmons talk about the power of slow-cooked storytelling.  How there were major benefits for giving a story the time it needed to breathe […]