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Should nonprofit leaders be like boiled broccoli?
Nicholas Kristof had a very interesting column in Tuesday’s NY Times called “The Sin of Doing Good,” focusing on Dan Pallotta and his new book, “Uncharitable.” Kristoff leads off the column with this...
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Dan Pallotta at TED
I had the privilege of attending the TED conference last week – a bounty of new ideas, optimistic predictions, and insightful reflections on the world today and the world as it could be tomorrow. The...
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The $30 million question
I’ve just heard a story of a major nonprofit organization that receives tens of millions of dollars annually from a single donor – around half of its operating budget – but is laying off staff because...
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The quantum mechanics of intentions
Think about a Spotify playlist for a minute (or whatever music service you use). Today it’s easy for a computer to put together a list of songs on a common theme or genre, and it’s just as easy to have...
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The quantum mechanics of intentions (Part 2)
I’ve been thinking more about my post from last week, trying to figure out why I found myself questioning the value of good intentions. As my friend Greta rightly pointed out on Twitter, “I believe...
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By when?
Behaviors around time and deadlines are some of the most important unspoken elements of your team culture Do we ship? Or do we delay? Do we let plans and projects float around without deadlines? And...
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The right reaction to a mistake
I come from a family of musicians and have played classical piano all my life. So, naturally, all three of my kids play too. It’s not always easy, because unless they practice regularly at home, they...
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How to avoid hiring a consultant for the wrong reasons
Before spending money on a consultant to solve an important problem, ask yourself what would happen if: Everyone on your team set aside 8 hours to work on this problem. You all agreed that this work is...
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What’s it worth
At some point in every negotiation, the conversation turns to price. Sometimes this is straightforward. It’s been discussed all along and you are formalizing what everyone expects. And sometimes, a new...
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Seven Words
“I’m going to tell you a story.” This was the first thing Acumen Fellow Aaron Kirunda said last week in a talk I heard him give at Acumen’s Partner Gathering. Upon hearing those words, the audience...
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It’s alive
For your next sales-and-storytelling practice session, try this. Think of your favorite popular song, one that everybody knows. Then tap out the tune on the table with your hand, and have the rest of...
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The blanks
Compared to you, the people you’re communicating with (customers, colleagues) don’t have the whole story. They don’t know each and every detail, they can’t see every tiny nuance. How could they? They...
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3018
I was working in a spreadsheet and I mistyped a date, entering the year 3018 by accident. And I thought, “that’s ridiculous, there’s no such thing.” But of course there is. It’s a real, actual date,...
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A Great Yoga Practice
My yoga practice today Happened next to a half-made bed A few clothes strewn nearby My daughter entered the room a few minutes in Plopped herself onto the bed To read her book I stopped once or twice...
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Ritual Reflections
At a reception at the Lean Startup conference, where I was speaking last week, I struck up a conversation with a couple as waited on a food line. The three of us had started the day together in the...
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The 21st Century Resume
In a world in which access to knowledge is democratized and elite universities are exposed as little more than factories for social network currency and expensive badges, how should we be reading...
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How to give and get better advice
The problem with most advice is that it’s delivered as “here’s what I think you should do.” Yet it typically reflects, “here’s what I did in a similar situation.” That old situation and this new one...
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My Daily Book Escape
My end-of-day ritual is to read in bed, usually for 30 to 60 minutes until I am falling asleep. This has become one of the best parts of my day, a quiet sanctuary: the door is closed, our phones and...
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Bonus: Your Fantasy Fiction Picks
Tuesday’s post about fun fantasy fiction got an amazing response. I guess we all need an escape every now and then. So many of you shared your favorite books with me that I wanted to pay it forward...
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Whole30 and the Forever Problem
About 10 days ago, I started the Whole30 diet. Whole30 is a popular elimination diet that purportedly helps with everything from weight loss to chronic inflammation. I’m trying it because I’ve had...
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