Our Thinking

Chapter 7: It’s About the Future The challenge for me was: How do I convince the Disney board that I was the change they were looking for without criticizing Michael [Eisner] in the process? There had been some decisions I disagreed with, and I thought the company was in need of change given all the…

I understand that learned Republican economists know that tariffs are bad. Trade wars are terrible. I don’t understand much about trade economics, but enough to assume free trade is best. Many of you know that I supported President Trump in the 2016 Election. Like about a quarter of the electorate, I did so holding my…

The Driving Force of Change Today On the afternoon of Election Day, November 8, 2016, the decision rooms of the major news organizations were buzzing with activity and excitement. In these huge rooms their pollsters, analysts, news producers and many of the anchor-people would be reviewing the last polls they had done, and the exit…

Our country has suffered horrific acts of gun violence in the recent past. The immediate causes may be mental illness or Islamist fanaticism. Still, we must reckon with the prevalence of guns in our society and culture. It is said there are 300 million guns already in circulation in the United States. My family owns…

Frolic with our cute German Shepherds!  Enjoy the high-intensity fire-hose Jacuzzi!  Meet your public officials face-to-nightstick! It’s amazing to think that it was just a little over fifty years ago that newly-elected Governor George Wallace promised in his inaugural address, “Segregation now!  Segregation tomorrow!  Segregation forever!” for Alabama.  Bull Connor and other officials vowed to…

What is a college to do when rock-climbing walls and in-room yoga mats become standard equipment among your competitors?  How to differentiate? How do you up your value proposition for your most highly valuable consumer targets? Let’s face it, it’s a cut-throat world out there in student marketing. And it’s no wonder. These market targets…

Many Democrats, as well as a few Republicans, like Senator John McCain, have said that Congressman Devin Nunes should step down from his position as head of the House Intelligence Committee, because he is becoming “a distraction.” This is a word with meaning that is peculiar to Washington, like “reconciliation” or “sequester.” It means your…

These days, the start-up incubator run by big companies has become a kind of corporate fashion accessory. All the cool guys have one. I assume there are two objectives: first, maybe they will come up with an idea that can be developed in their sector; second, maybe this will create a more innovative atmosphere around…

Almost every successful revolution, including that of Donald Trump, has expanded its base with a growing refrain: “You are not alone!” This is what allows it to grow and shape itself into something meaningful. With Trump’s election, the Democrats and progressive commentariat have settled into what they call “The Resistance.” And the overwhelming refrain of…

The model for training leaders in most businesses today is broken; it’s hopelessly obsolete – developed for a different age, a different business environment and a different work force than we have today. It was developed by and for market leading companies, by business incumbents, but it’s even failing them today. For many decades, those…