I’m deep into Alastair Dryburgh’s The Pricing Genius, and he drops this military strategy bomb called the OODA Loop that completely changes how you think about pricing. OODA stands for Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. Air Force Colonel John Boyd created it for fighter pilots making split-second decisions. Luckily, we don’t have to make many split-second business decisions in business that could be fatal. Here’s the genius part of the OODA Loop. Alastair shows how this combat framework transforms...
4 days ago • 1 min read
For years, I've left a lot of money on the table. I'd charge $5000 for a project while my competitors were charging $10,000, $20,000 and even $50,000 for similar projects. Why didn't I charge the same as my competitors? Remember when you were a kid and your mom would say, "Because I said so"? That was the end of the discussion, right? Well, here's what Alastair Dryburgh taught me about pricing: Most of us are still waiting for permission to charge what we're worth. We're waiting for someone...
6 days ago • 1 min read
After decades in the C-suite, most executives underestimate their most valuable retirement resource: their accumulated expertise. While financial planners focus on portfolio management, the real question isn't how to manage your money, it's how to transform your knowledge into lasting impact. There's a natural evolution that happens when executives leave corporate life, a shift from building resume virtues that advance careers to developing eulogy virtues that define how we're remembered. The...
11 days ago • 1 min read
I remember a project early in my consulting career. I poured my heart and soul into it, working late nights and weekends to deliver something truly exceptional for the client. The results were fantastic, far beyond their expectations. But when I sent the final invoice, based on my hourly rate, it felt… hollow. The number on the page didn’t come close to the value I had delivered. It was a tough lesson: just doing great work isn’t enough. My clients frequently share a similar story with me....
13 days ago • 1 min read
I remember the moment like it was yesterday. I worked for IBM in its consulting division. Like clockwork, I would jump on a plane on Sunday afternoon for my next project. Every week it was another destination where I would work with a client then fly home on Friday night. It was the first time I became a member of United's 1K club, meaning I flew over 100,000 miles in a year. In my mid-40s, I was a road warrior living on planes and in hotels racking up frequent flyer miles and hotel points. I...
16 days ago • 2 min read
My recent health challenges have me thinking about legacy. And no, I don't mean the touchy-feely kind or getting a library named after you. I'm talking about the real part. The one that keeps you staring at the ceiling at 3 AM, asking, "Will any of this matter in ten years?" After I left my corporate role, I thought my legacy was set in stone. I led big projects and built strong teams. But I soon realized those corporate wins were resume virtues. They get you ahead, but they aren't what...
17 days ago • 1 min read
Leaving your long-term corporate career can be a double-edged sword. While the newfound freedom is liberating, it can also leave a void. The built-in purpose provided by company missions and team goals disappears, often leading to feelings of restlessness and a lack of direction. This is where finding your "Why" becomes not just a luxury, but a necessity for a fulfilling next chapter. Now stay with me here. I know finding your "Why" is too touchy-feely for some of you. Research has shown a...
20 days ago • 1 min read
After being laid off, I thought my experience would land me a new job quickly. I was dead wrong. After a few months of rejections, I lost confidence and struggled. Here's what I realized during that difficult period. Your career is more than a job title. After years in the corporate world, you possess a wealth of experience. To thrive in your next chapter, you must look beyond your former role. Your value is not in a title, but in the skills you have honed. It is time to reskill, reposition,...
23 days ago • 2 min read
For decades, you wore a corporate mask. The version that got you promoted and led teams. That mask wasn't fake. Just incomplete. You suppressed parts of yourself to succeed. The creative side. The emotional side. The curious side. After 20 or 30 years, you forgot where the mask ended and the real you began. The person you're looking for has been there all along. Look Backward to Move Forward Want to know who you are without the title? Look at who you were before you had one. What did you love...
25 days ago • 1 min read
