Josh Linkner's Blog, page 14

An Innovative Way to Improve Behavior

Early education in high-risk urban areas is a complex and seemingly overwhelming challenge. Often dubbed the “school to prison pipeline,” kids in troubled classrooms with negative peer influences and little family support too often end up incarcerated or repeating the cycle of poverty. Despite committed teachers and administrators, these problems are expansive with far too few resources to combat the challenges.

Typically, when young kids get in trouble, they are sent to detention where they...

What Business Leaders Can Learn from 100-Year-Olds in Okinawa

The Japanese island of Okinawa boasts the highest life expectancy, and the greatest concentration of centenarians (people who live to 100), in the world. Their culture, rituals, diet, and environment have been the subject of extensive study as researchers try to crack the code of longer, healthier life.

When questioned why their people are vastly healthier and outlive others around the world, Okinawan residents often credit two words for their vitality and longevity: ikigai and moai.

Ikiagi i...

When We Stop Doing The Things That Made Us Great

Last weekend, I went to one of Detroit’s most celebrated Italian restaurants. I’d been years ago and anticipated the same exquisite experience. Known for their impeccable service and inspired dishes, I was expecting them to nail every detail like they had in the past.

Yet the very things that made them successful had obviously been significantly diluted. It took 35 minutes for the first splash of wine to reach our glasses. Our server was curt, frazzled, and disorganized. The portions had shru...

The Hard Part

Whether you are running a startup, building a relationship, or rebuilding a community, there’s an easy part and a hard part. One requires less work in the moment while the other unlocks the potential of your efforts and concurrently is your playground for personal growth.

Those comfortable things that require little thinking, risk, or effort exist to test you. They can easily chew up your time and trick you into thinking you’re being productive. Updating your Facebook status, gossiping with c...

You’re Always Auditioning

Think how you shined during the interview where landed you your job. You were prepared to impress, fully engaged, and leaning forward with enthusiasm. Acutely aware that you were being evaluated, you made sure your answers were crisp and your questions were thoughtful. Simply put, you were ON.

Unfortunately, that moment is the brightest some of us shine. A few weeks into the gig, your effort and enthusiasm wane. As routine sets in, your performance becomes rote and mechanical. This applies to...

One Word That Will Change Your Entire Outlook

As busy people, we often sprint from one obligation to the next. The mandatory client meeting, the business lunch, the kid’s soccer game… all while keeping your seven social media streams up to date, your boss happy, and your family fed. In the modern age, we can feel overwhelmed with all the things we just have to do.

When the events in our lives are more duty-bound than optional, our vitality can take a nosedive. Running from one commitment to another, how can we possibly bring our best sel...

Making Mistakes

In school, we’re taught that mistakes should be avoided at all costs. We learn that getting something wrong somehow means that we’re wrong as a human beings, that each mistake translates to a lower self-worth score. These dreaded slip-ups can be so hurtful that we learn to recoil from the very thought of stumbling, much like we avoid the hot stove for a lifetime after burning our hand just once.

Yet hiding from mistakes can be the biggest mistake we can make in our companies and careers.

The...

The Mother of Dragons

Spoiler Alert! (if you haven’t caught up on GOT, stop reading and JUMP to “SPOILER START” below)

Wow. How incredible that the woman who built her career on kindness and empathy turned every heartfelt follower to ash this week. The power of the loyalty that she built was, prior to this week, unstoppable. Her motives pure and sincere, and those that fought for her bravely, often died for the causes that all of us can relate to: humanity, love, mercy, equality, freedom. We watched her in absolut...

The Last 10%

I was nearing the end of my three-mile run (I’m no marathon candidate), and was feeling awful. Tired, hot, sore, and ready to throw in the towel. Looking at the fitness app on my phone, I realized that I only had 10% remaining. As much as I wanted to quit, I forged ahead and completed the full run as planned. That moment of difficulty, angst, and exhaustion at the 90% mark is a place where many of us stop in fitness, business, and life.

This inflection point got me thinking… how many of us do...

Leadership Lessons from the Most Feared Jazz Song Ever Written

Ask any jazz aficionado about the most challenging jazz standard ever written, and you’ll likely get a knowing smile followed by two simple words: Giant Steps. The tune, composed and performed by legendary saxophone genius John Coltrane, has sent chills down the spines of would-be performers since its release nearly 60 years ago.

Performed at a blistering speed, the structure is a 180-degree departure from the unwritten rules of jazz. From a technical standpoint, it is as far from the norm...