September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, but some events this past week motivated me to publish this article early. I served in the United States Air Force for 28 years, retiring six years ago. Last week the Air Force took the extraordinary step of declaring a global operational st [Read More]
The Curious Case of a Belly Button Hernia, Multiple Doctors, and Amazon In March of this year we welcomed a beautiful new addition to our family: Baby Miles. We instantly fell in love with our new little guy and enjoyed every moment together as an expanded family. Even our eldest daughter, Maizey, [Read More]
Bhutan is a country rich in history, with some archaeologists believing the area to have been settled as early as 2000 B.C.E. The start of the Bhutan society began around 747 C.E. when Tibetan monks fled neighboring Tibet, seeking refuge in Bhutan. Bhutan has always maintained its independence from [Read More]
The beautiful butterfly is our society’s favorite metaphor for total transformations. Nature’s ultimate metamorphosis changes from a tree clinging, 14-legged pest into the regal flying butterfly. The metaphorical story of the caterpillar to the butterfly is both inspiring and positive. What is left [Read More]
Work-life balance is the term used to describe the proportion of time we allocate to our careers versus other aspects of our lives such as personal interests, family, social or leisure activities. Whether you are just beginning your career or a seasoned executive, it’s hard to escape the mantra that [Read More]
In and out of the gym, we live in a goal-oriented culture. Even in our formative years, we're conditioned to set goals, meet them, and repeat an ongoing cycle of achievement. Hit a goal? Good, set another one, and then set a higher one after that. We do this continuously. Sometimes, even before we c [Read More]
The first time I conducted, what I now affectionately call “The Smile Project,” I was sitting on the outdoor patio of a cafe in Lagos, Portugal. It was a January afternoon earlier this year. Picture this: blue sky, light breeze, the sounds of the sea waves nearby, and twenty or so tables full of peo [Read More]
This Thanksgiving holiday we all have so much to be thankful for. I’m a firm believer that we are masters of our own destiny for the most part, personally and professionally, and there are defining moments in our lives that fundamentally shape who we are and allow us to realize our full potential. S [Read More]
Few will forget where they were, or what they were doing, 17 years ago today. As I was driving to work this morning I reflected on that morning and the years that have passed since. I can remember it in extraordinary detail. I remember who I was with, emotions, sounds, smells, colors, all of it. My [Read More]
Below is a speech I gave to the Kelley School of Business MBA Consulting Academy for their induction ceremony on September 16, 2016. The speech is titled "Discovering Your Purpose." Good evening and thank you for being here tonight. It’s always a pleasure returning to campus and spending time with a [Read More]
2016 is an end of era for me. After nearly a decade of teaching in the Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) program at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business I have decided 2016 year will be my last year at the podium of the IT Governance, Risk and Controls (IT GRC) course. Since [Read More]
It is the day after the horrific attacks in Paris and the world is in shock. Paris holds a special place in my heart as I lived and worked there for a few months many years ago. I loved my time in Paris; the city oozes beauty, love, and dancing lights. Working in Paris, it was obvious to me that the [Read More]
On October 18, 2015 my wife Katharine and I lost our little dog of thirteen years, Dizzy. Dizzy was so much more than a dog to us; she was our little baby, affectionately called our “dog-ter.” You may remember Dizzy from the article I wrote about her last year where I distilled a few business true-i [Read More]
I have a bit of a reputation as a travel pack-rat. I tend to pack for every possible contingency. Not so long ago, I couldn't bear the thought of carrying on my luggage for fear I would miss some precious toiletry or outfit combination. After multiple instances of lost luggage and missed meetings, [Read More]
Quality. That word has so many meanings. To say something “has quality” or is “of good quality” or is “quality made” seems to be, like so many things a function of the trust you place in the person making the claim combined with individual standards we each apply to determine “what is good” and “wha [Read More]
Well friends, it’s that time of year again. That time when we reflect on the previous 364 days and take stock of the things we want to change in the next 365 days. I like the idea of new year's resolutions. In fact, last year my resolution was to set up this blog and try to write at least one articl [Read More]
As a kid, I learned an amazing trick from a waiter that I have carried with me for many years. I have performed this trick at bars, restaurants, meetings, conferences, and get-togethers and it always generates a smile, a few bewildered looks and a whole lot of fun. So, after many years of table-sid [Read More]
In my family, we have a Thanksgiving tradition but it doesn’t start until the day after Thanksgiving. It’s called T2 which loosely translates to "Thanksgiving, Part 2." You see, we take all our leftovers and make even more delectable dishes out of the scraps of whatever remains after the "day-of" fe [Read More]
This week is a bittersweet week for me. My friend, mentor and colleague – Brian Kelly – left EY to assume the role of Chief Security Officer (CSO) at Rackspace in San Antonio, Texas. I am thrilled for Brian at the prospect of new opportunities and conquests. Hands-down, I believe there is no one bet [Read More]
Last year I flew nearly 130 segments, spent the majority of my work-week in hotels and drove countless rental car miles. By most definitions I am a road warrior. Now that's a funny term: "road warrior." The words seems to imply some kind of soldier or militant deployed to the business battlefield. T [Read More]
