The Climb: Insights on People, Process, and Growth

Words matter. What you say. How  you say it.Your inflection. Your tone. Your presence. You can have the best idea in the world or the most impactful message, but if you don’t deliver it with conviction, clarity, and confidence, you diminish not only the power of the message, you diminish yourself. Recently I saw a post mourning the “death of cursive writing” because it’s no longer taught in schools.But maybe we should be talking about something even more concerning: The slow

As we head into Thanksgiving week, I'm reminded of something simple but powerful: Success is never a solo climb. Every summit I've reached, professionally and personally, has happened because of the people climbing alongside me. The leaders who invest deeply. The teams that show up with grit. The individuals who choose to grow, stretch, and push past the comfortable. I’m especially grateful for the teams who want to perform at their highest level…and the leaders who are commi

Growth depends on aligning the right people, from leadership to individual contributors. When the team is not aligned, execution slows, initiatives stall, and productivity drops. A mis-hire can cost 3 to 5 times the employee's annual salary, including recruiting, onboarding, lost productivity, and team disruption. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that a bad hire can cost up to 30% of a first-year employee's earnings, underscoring the critical importance of talent alignm

The Challenge Leaders Everywhere Face You have invested in assessments. Your team has data on drives, motivations, and behavioral patterns. But there is a common problem. The data often sits unused because translating assessment scores into practical insights requires expertise, time, and mental bandwidth that most leaders simply do not have. What if you had an AI thought partner who could instantly translate assessment data into actionable guidance, whether you are hiring, c

During a podcast interview last week, I was asked a question I've been asked many times before: “What advice would you give your 21-year-old self?” My answer hasn't changed in decades: it's the quality of the people around you that matters, not the quantity. For as long as I can remember, my personal tagline has been: "I’d rather have four quarters than 100 pennies.” I've said it so many times I sometimes joke I may have contributed to the death of the penny. But the truth be

In the pursuit of closing new deals, sales professionals (and the organizations they serve) often chase the adrenaline of “Now we’ve won the business !”.  But here’s a truth that deserves equal, if not greater, airtime: the long-game of customer success drives far more sustainable value than the one-time win. Why retention matters (and why we still get it wrong) Consider these data points: The probability of selling to an existing customer is  60-70% , whereas for a new prosp

What if we led our teams the way great coaches lead theirs? I love sports, but especially collegiate sports. Running a business is a lot like running a championship program. The best coaches aren't just calling plays; they’re building systems, developing people, and expecting accountability. Take a few examples: 🏈 Curt Cignetti (Indiana University) – Took over a struggling team and rebuilt the foundation fast. He didn't just change the playbook; he changed the mindset. Peopl

Confession time. I love Betty White. The woman was a legend. Independent, sharp as a tack, and could deliver an inappropriate joke with perfect timing. She didn’t wait for permission. She didn’t blend in. She blazed her own trail (in heels). In a world where everyone's trying to fit in, I dare you to stand out. Take a risk. Break some glass. Drop a one-liner that makes people spit out their coffee. Be more Betty.

Aligning People and Processes for Scalable Growth. During a GREAT conversation with a leadership cohort last week, this discussion hit home. Scaling a company is exciting, but it’s also where many great businesses lose momentum. Growth exposes every weakness: misaligned teams, unclear processes, and goals that no longer fit the company's evolving vision. Bringing in a consultant isn’t just about “fixing” something; it’s about aligning everything. Whether you have 10 employees

Building Teams Starts with Listening One of the most overlooked responsibilities of leadership is truly building a team. Not just hiring one. Not just managing one. But building one, intentionally, thoughtfully, and with care. That starts with listening. When leaders create an environment where people feel safe to tell the truth about their challenges, goals, and motivations, they unlock something powerful: alignment. When individuals are understood and supported in aligning

AI is reshaping how we hire, train, lead, and grow, and 2026 will be the tipping point. From SMBs to global enterprises, one truth remains: good hiring is essential to sustained success. But “good” is being redefined. Today, it’s not just about filling roles; it’s about deeply understanding who you're hiring, how to best manage them, and who has the potential to lead tomorrow. That's where the next generation of AI tools comes in. As a Strategic Advisor for  Aptive Index  and

In my work with clients, I’m reminded again and again that the foundation of an exceptional experience culture isn’t technology, it’s alignment . You can have the most beautifully designed processes and innovative tools, but if your people are misaligned with their roles, the experience, both internal and external, will always fall short. Too often, organizations continue to place people in positions based solely on their last role  or their degree . But let’s be honest, how