Wandering Into Wisdom

This blog chronicles the knowledge, insight and wisdom I encounter every day as a leadership consultant, executive coach, educator, father, friend and citizen. This site is dedicated to my father, Louis (Jack) Laughlin, who passed on to me an appreciation for wisdom. A special thanks to my friend Isaac Cheifetz, a businessman and journalist, who helped me understand the value of blogs and encouraged me to write one.

Today's Problems

"Today's problems come from yesterday's solutions."
Rule #1 from The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge

Allies and Confidantes

You can depend on an ally so long as your goals align but you must be able to trust a confidante indefinitely.  Confusing the two can lead to disaster.

Weak and Powerful

"A weak person in power can never be generous with power because they see questions or alternative possibilities as threatening their own supremacy and dominance. If you are going to be creatively confrontational with such a person, you need to approach that person very gently in a nondirect manner. This is the only way that the word of your truth can reach such a frightened, powerful person."
From Anam Cara by John O’Donohue

A Farmer’s Wisdom

When I was a kid I asked my Grandfather how he decided what crops to plant. “I plant the crops that had a low price the previous year because most other farmers plant the crops that had a high price.”

Why Do It

"All great things are done for their own sake."
Robert Frost

Breakfast Culture

"Culture eats strategy for breakfast."
Peter Drucker

The Power of Words

How we say something profoundly changes the impact.