Trust, Properly Understood….Remember the Alamo’s Leadership Lessons….Not Shy OR Retiring…..Econ Recon: Out of the Woods?….Lost in Life?

“Unless you are willing to drench yourself in your work beyond the capacity of the average man, you are just not cut out for positions at the top.”

James Cash Penney
1875-1971
Founder, J.C. Penney Stores

Trust, Properly Understood

Selling has been described as the transfer of trust. In a world of science and big data, we’d like to be able to reduce trust to an equation; but according to master marketer Seth Godin, that level of objectivity is not to be expected. Godin suggests that trust really comes from some uniquely human (and therefore subjective) elements: symbols, expectations and mystery.

Godin’s one page essay on trust should be read by anyone in sales (and we’re all in sales) who’d like some useful insights on why we trust, and how to be trusted.

Remember the Alamo’s Leadership Lessons

Sunday, March 6 was the 180^th anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo. While the battle was a total rout of the defenders, it was a crucial link in a chain of events in the birth of what became the state of Texas and the southern expansion of the United States.  Every success and defeat contains teachable moments; this short article explores why we should “Remember The Alamo’s Leadership Lessons.”

Not Shy OR Retiring

If you’re a Millennial and waiting for the Boomers to shuffle off this mortal coil (or at least retire and free up a job opening for you), you may have a longer wait than you think. This Fast Company Article is a “6 minute read” that will help you understand that the Boomers are living longer and want (or need) to keep “suiting up and showing up.” 

Econ Recon: Out of the Woods?

The first three months of the year have many worn out due to the volatility in the financial markets and the accompanying uncertainty in the oil and gas sectors. More to come? Not so says Alan Beaulieu of ITR Economics. In a recent talk to the annual MFG Conference sponsored by the Association for Manufacturing Technology, Dr. Beaulieu shared his reasons for thinking that the worst is behind us and the balance of the year should be good. Find out why he says  “we are fundamentally poised for a good run.”