January 20, 2025
Good morning! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I’m indoors, but our old-fashioned, under-insulated, thin walls are only 3 1/2″ away from twenty-below-zero! If you have the day off, you might be starting to read a bit later than usual — and the sun might already be up in your neck of the woods. This is the 41st year of the national holy day established to remember and to recognize The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King.
Ron Reagan signed the measure into law.
After two generations, it is slowly becoming a part of our cultural fabric.
In perhaps one of the greater ironies of this holy day, both Mississippi and Alabama celebrate Robert E. Lee and The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King on the same day.
- Here’s one for the physicists out there who are also among my readers.
- All other variables being equal, does a fuzzy blanket provide more warmth to its user than a non-fuzzy blanket?
- If you think you perceive it, it might be true.
- The average age at which people are getting married* in the United States nowadays is 30-years-old, slightly older for men, slightly younger for women.
- Fifty years ago, that same statistic was 22-years-old. (U.S. Census Bureau)
- *Does not include data other than for first marriages, so the data aren’t skewed for divorces.
- Do you understand the TikToks and the latest action(s) related thereto?
- If so, count yourself lucky; I’m fortunate — and, as such enlightened — to have a TikTok expert on my team.
- It might all be a moot point come noon (CST) today anyway.
- Traffic congestion in Manhattan appears to be lessening with the addition of the tolls — on top of the tolls — on top of more tolls.
- But, not everyone is happy, can you believe it?!
- Less traffic equates to fewer people buying stuff.
- It became much more personal when we learned the brother and family of one of our clients lost everything in the Pacific Palisades inferno — everything.
- Tragedy rarely brings with it sufficient vocabulary.
- (Read the incredible story of the resilience, planning, preparation — and survival — of the J. Paul Getty Museum which thus far has escaped the carnage surrounding its two campuses.)
- Would you fly on an airplane piloted by someone who didn’t use a printed, pre-flight checklist?
- You might, but it wouldn’t be wise.
- And, as the leader of your organization, everyone would benefit if you used a printed checklist with discipline and regularity.
- Systematize — Regularize — Calendarize — Audit yourself
- If you don’t have a list, use this as a working draft — as informed by Dewar, Etc., et al, 2025:
- Do we have a clear and compelling vision that reframes what winning looks like — and is it owned by the whole enterprise?
- Do we have a short list of clearly-defined big moves (strategic imperatives) that will distance us from our competitors?
- Are we actively reallocating resources to our highest priorities, even when it’s hard to do?
- Are we systematically pursuing specific areas of cultural change to further execute our strategic imperatives?
- Are we characterized by a balance of stability and agility that maximizes the speed and effectiveness of execution?
- Are the most value-creating roles in our organization filled with the right talent, and do they have a strong leadership pipeline?
- Is my senior team (my leadership team) the right size, composed of people with complementary skills and does it have an organization-first mindset and work ethic?
- Does that senior team use data and dialogue to make timely decisions on topics only they can address?
- Is my senior team using a systemic, calendarized checklist like I’m using for my role?
- Do I build, strengthen, and sustain total trust with my Board and/or owners?
- Is our Board the right Board, not only for the moment, but also for the future?
- Are our Board meetings properly focused on the future, the big picture, and long-term strength, stability?
- Do I manage my time, effort, energy, health, and happiness well – with systems in place to keep me on the right paths?
- Am I a genuinely authentic leader, true to my principles while also aligned with my company’s vision and imperatives?
- (This one is difficult to self-assess, and so develop a process for gathering objective feedback.)
- Do we know and understand the wants, needs, and wishes of our customers?
- What’s in a brand?
- Brand is MUCH more than logo, look, jingle, colors, and design — those are extrinsic
- Next week: A fresh look at your brand
- Shocking news: This just in — the best way to raise a healthy, confident child?
- Research-based: Quality time spent with confident, healthy parents. (Austin, Etc., et al., 2025)
