What do the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, Penn State's cover-up scandal, Quaker's $1.4 billion Snapple loss, the Obamacare rollout debacle, and even Watergate all have in common?

At their core, each one was a failure of candor.

In aviation, we had a saying: "See something, say something." In...

Eight seconds.

That's all it takes for someone to decide whether they can trust you, whether to share openly with you, or whether to hold back.

And those eight seconds aren't determined by your handshake or your opening words, they're shaped by the conversation you've been having with yourself all...

Imagine this: You’re sitting in a leadership class at West Point. Cadets are taking notes. Heads down. Focused. They're serious about learning everything they can to memorize what it means to lead.

Doug Crandall, their instructor, reads a list of traits and quotes most of us have heard:

Great le...

You’ve had those moments—when your commitment feels absolute. No doubt. No drama. Just follow through.

Sometimes, it’s automatic, a reflection of your values. Other times, it’s a conscious decision:

I’m going to make this marriage work. I will get that promotion. I will get off this medication.

...

Ford was losing $12.7 billion a year, over $35 million every single day.

Alan Mulally, just weeks into his new role as CEO, sat at the head of the table. Around him, Ford's top executives presented their dashboards, all of which were green. Everything is "on track." Everything is "fine."

Mulally l...

 You're at your daughter's softball game, trying to put on a happy face. But the day's frustrations loop endlessly in your thoughts. Your boss didn't acknowledge your hard work. Your spouse forgot to mention this game until the last minute. And your colleague? You're pretty sure they're going to bai...

A scalpel moves with precision. The neurosurgeon's hands are steady, but her body is running on caffeine and adrenaline, five hours deep into a shift with no break.

An ER physician makes a life-saving call, though his nervous system hasn't downshifted in months.

Meanwhile, a hospital administrator...

From Double Bogeys to Dreams: Rory McIlroy's Leadership Lesson

Rory McIlroy just did it.

After a decade of heartbreaks, near-misses, and countless "So when are you going to win the Masters?" questions at dinner parties, he's finally slipped on that elusive green jacket. He now sits in the most exc...

You'd never tolerate a 31% drop in operational efficiency for your business.

Yet that's exactly what happens to your brain's performance after eating a typical executive lunch—the sandwich on white bread, a side of chips, and a chocolate chip cookie that seemed like a convenient choice during a pac...

You're a leader with a jam-packed schedule. From the moment your alarm jolts you awake until your head hits the pillow, you're in constant motion. But here's the million-dollar question: Are you driving real results or just spinning your wheels?

The Busyness Trap We All Fall Into

Let me introduce ...