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.

Not My Emergency

A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.
A sign I saw outside someone's cubicle

Good to Know

The person I am with has Alzheimer's. 
Please be patient. 
Thank You

A card created by the memory unit of an elder care facility that can be handed out by family and friends when they are in public.

Friendship

“What kind of friendship is this when friends give advice?  I wish they knew healing or simple, ordinary sympathy.”

From the sanscrit writings of an ancient Indian poet, Ghalid

Fear

The most destructive and dangerous of all human emotions is fear.

Belief

It is much easier to refute a fact than change a belief.

Be careful


Talent is from God so be thankful
Fame is from man so be humble
Pride is from self so be careful

Passed on to me by a customer in a store where I work.

You choose


We offer three kinds of service:
GOOD - FAST - CHEAP
You can pick any two

Good service fast won't be cheap
Fast service cheap won't be good
Good service cheap won't be fast

A sign I saw recently in a store I visited.

Practice

"Practice makes permanent."
 - Bobby Robson

Action and Compassion

This is a note I put outside my door during a reduction in force where I and some of the people in my group were laid off.

As we all struggle to make sense of recent events I offer you a parting thought.  In leadership we must never confuse being in charge with being in control.  The only power we truly have is over our decisiveness and the way we treat others.  Leadership is born of action and compassion.  The leaders of this company made a decisive and difficult move.  It is impossible for them to predict all the implications of the choices they made.  They showed leadership, not because they determined the outcome with precision, but because they took action in, what I believe, was a humane and respectful manner.

Action and Compassion

This is a note I put outside my door during a reduction in force where I and some of the people in my group were laid off.

As we all struggle to make sense of recent events I offer you a parting thought.  In leadership we must never confuse being in charge with being in control.  The only power we truly have is over our decisiveness and the way we treat others.  Leadership is born of action and compassion.  The leaders of this company made a decisive and difficult move.  It is impossible for them to predict all the implications of the choices they made.  They showed leadership, not because they determined the outcome with precision, but because they took action in, what I believe, was a humane and respectful manner.

No Reason for Failure

 "Sometimes, you can make no mistakes, do everything right, and still lose."
 - Captain Jean-Luc Picard

Breakfast with the President

A friend of mine was invited to breakfast with the company president when he was an entry level manager.  He asked his father's advice on how to handle himself.  His father said, "Just be yourself and end it before he does."

Wounded

Turn your wounds into wisdom.
by Madalina

Stand for Something

"If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything."  - Peter Marshal

A Real Hero

“Anyone can slay a dragon, he told me, but try waking up every morning & loving the world all over again.  That’s what takes a real hero.”  - Story People

Good Enough

Better is the enemy of good enough.
Often associated with Sergey Gorshkov

Get It Right

In addition to consulting I do custom woodworking.  Above the threshold to my shop it says:

  • Precision not Perfection
  • Form and Function
  • Handmade not Homemade