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No Coach, I Just Wanna Play!

Posted on by Jeremy Lurey

For the past 8 years, I have always enjoyed watching my son Dylan play soccer. Yes, I enjoy watching my daughter Amanda play too. Dylan just has such a passion for the sport that enables him to play at an all-star level well beyond anything I could ever imagine.

Sure, watching him score countless goals game after game is pretty cool. My joy doesn’t come from the score though. It comes from that pure joy I see in his eye the minute he steps on the pitch. Whether it’s at practice or in a real match or even when he’s just kicking the ball around in his makeshift field under our house, his love of the sport simply exudes him – all the time!

Last week, Dylan attended a sleepover soccer camp hosted by the national AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization for those non-soccer parents among us…) staff, and I was quickly reminded of this innocent childish exuberance when I picked him up. It was actually the head coach’s final remarks about one of the other campers Grant and his bum foot at the closing ceremony that brought it back for me.  Read more ›

Posted in AYSO, Commitment, Passion, Soccer

Listening from Possibility Instead of from Judgment

Posted on by Jeremy Lurey

I often find myself quick to speak in conversations, and quite commonly from a place of judgment as if I know all the answers. I regularly share with my clients that I have lots of opinions and am happy to share them anytime they ask.  Whether they accept them or not is another story. Either way, that’s very different than jumping to conclusions and sharing opinions with people when they aren’t solicited!

As I reflect on this, I’m realizing that while having strong convictions and well-articulated beliefs may at times make me seem smart, it often puts me at a disadvantage because it impairs my ability to listen. Listening is a critical aspect of communications, so that actually means it inhibits my ability to communicate effectively. Read more ›

Posted in Communications, Consulting, Decision-Making, Hearing, Leadership, Listening, Parenting, Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson

Commitment, Having Integrity and Being Accountable to Our Words

Posted on by Jeremy Lurey

The nice thing about being self-employed is that I don’t have a boss. In my experience, one of the most challenging parts of being self-employed, however, is that I don’t have a boss!

For more than 10 years now, I’ve enjoyed the freedom and flexibility of working for myself. And for more than 10 years now, I’ve known that I am the one who has to establish our sales targets and determine our strategic direction as a firm. Once those commitments are created, that also means there really is nobody else who can hold us accountable to our commitments but me.  Read more ›

Posted in Accountability, Action, Al Capone, Commitment, Elliot Ness, Integrity, Intentions, Kevin Costner, Leadership, Sean Connery, The Untouchables

Honoring Our Past While Being an Agent of Change for the Future

Posted on by Jeremy Lurey

Marshall Goldsmith may have said it best when he declared, “What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There”! That was a powerful A’ha moment for me as I’ve always known that I am likely the greatest obstacle getting in the way of my future success. Before reading Goldsmith’s book though, I never had the language to articulate what seemed so obvious to me.

 

Whether it’s in the business I founded more than 10 years ago or in my personal relationships and other day-to-day activities, I don’t know what I don’t know and therefore continue to operate in ways that I have in the past until I realize that those behaviors and approaches don’t actually produce my intended results. Well, it’s about time I start looking at that with a more critical eye if I aspire to achieve greater success in my life. Read more ›

Posted in Change management, Continuous Improvement, Evolution, Innovation, Learning, Marshall Goldsmith, Organization Development, organizational culture, transformation, values

5 Must-Dos to Create a World-Class On-Boarding Experience for You and Your Employees

Posted on by Jeremy Lurey

So much time and energy goes into finding top talent and then wooing these rockstars into our companies, so why is it that typically so little time and energy is devoted to on-boarding these folks once they do accept our offers? If anything, it would seem that business leaders should actually invest more time and energy into the process at this critical juncture to ensure that their new employees are truly set up for success as they get started.

For those who agree, we offer you the following 5 “must dos” to create a world-class on-boarding experience and enhance the results of your critical on-boarding efforts.

Read more ›

Posted in HR, Human Capital Strategy, Human Resources, Integrated Talent Management, New Hires, Onboarding, Orientation, Recruitment, Recruitment and Selection, Talent Management

Taking a Step Back at Mid-Year to Move Your Big Rocks Forward by Year-End!

Posted on by Jeremy Lurey

As we reach mid-year, I invite you to reflect on your goals for the year and assess how you’re doing. Are you on track to achieve your strategic intentions? Did something in your market shift to where you need to course correct or adjust your plans? Perhaps you never took the time to establish “big rock” targets for 2012 such that you don’t even know where you are going. Wherever you may be, the good news is that you don’t have to stay there any longer!

For those of our companies that have calendar-year planning cycles, now is the time to revisit our strategic intentions and recalibrate our intended destinations for year-end. At Plus Delta, we have experienced some significant changes we did not expect when we kicked off 2012. Read more ›

Posted in Action, Big Rocks, Mid-year Reviews, Reflection, Strategic Planning, Year-end Goals

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

Posted on by Jeremy Lurey

This past Friday, my 11-year-old daughter Amanda culminated from elementary school. Now I already think I’m not as smart as a 5th grader because I had no idea “culminate” was even a word until my son did the same 2 years ago. Apparently, graduating from elementary school is different than high school and college, or at least that’s what the word might suggest but I digress.

During the culmination ceremony, I had the most profound thought that maybe all of us – especially those of us working in organizations – need to be more like these young and talented 5th graders. The following are some of the greatest A’has I will take away from my daughter and her class of future leaders: Read more ›

Posted in Culmination, Family, Fifth Grade, Friendship, Graduation, Leadership, Perseverance, Procrastination, School, success, Teachers

Are You a Commodity or a Priceless Gemstone?

Posted on by Jeremy Lurey

Sure, I’ll admit it! One of our “survival strategies” during the recession was to reduce rates. I wouldn’t say that we were the Walmart of management consulting firms always striving – let alone promising – to be the guaranteed low-cost provider. We did, however, negotiate steeply reduced rates with our clients. On a couple of occasions, I even agreed to offer all-inclusive rates without passing through our out-of-pocket travel expenses just to win some work.

While that may have been a justifiable – if not downright savvy – business strategy to generate some positive cash flow during the recession, somewhere along the way it felt like we simply became a commodity for our clients. Well, at least some of them! Read more ›

Posted in Customer Relationship Management, gemstone, Marketing, Recession, Sales, success, Value, Walmart commodity

Right Now! What Are You Waiting For?

Posted on by Jeremy Lurey

I’ve been a huge Van Halen fan for years! Yes, I prefer Sammy Hagar’s tunes over David Lee Roth’s, but the change in lead singers didn’t impact my love for the group one bit. And with all the music I’ve ever listened to in my life, “Right Now” still ranks up there as one of my favorite songs of all time.

Sure, it has a great hard rock beat for those of us who are into that sort of thing. Beyond that though, it offers an inspiring message for those who more regularly hem and haw their way through life, unwilling or maybe just unable to take the actions required to produce their intended results. Read more ›

Posted in Action, David Lee Roth, Future, Inspiration, Past, Present, Rock Music, Sammy Hagar, Van Halen

Forget the Problem…What’s the Solution?!?

Posted on by Jeremy Lurey

So many people I know and consult with are brilliantly adept at identifying problems. Throughout their days, they are quick to find fault in others, and they regularly blame their environment for what isn’t producing their intended results. While this may be appropriate – dare I say accurate! – at times, I would offer that it is never as productive as taking ownership for one’s actions – and especially ownership for how one can contribute to any number of potential solutions.

 

Not nearly as many folks as those who can identify problems in the world seem to be as skilled at going the next step in determining potential solutions. Is it just me, or is that a problem? Read more ›

Posted in Accountability, Coaching, Executive Coaching, Leadership, Problem-Solving, Problems, Solutions, Taking Ownership

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