Josh Linkner's Blog, page 19
November 1, 2015
How Small Choices Help You Conquer Big Temptation
When Darth Vader tried to persuade young Luke Skywalker to join the dark side, it wasn’t a very compelling proposition.
Who wants to wear a creepy outfit, talk weird, and live like a monster? If the dark side were that unappealing, it would be easy to say no.
But that’s not what modern-day darkness looks like at all. Instead it is shiny, juicy, and tempting. It comes perfectly packaged and marketed directly to our soft spots. That delicious candy bar or cheeseburger that poisons your body and...
October 25, 2015
The Past Is Dead
Most of us face incredible challenges in our lives. Difficult people. Ruthless competition. Time constraints. But so many of us succumb to an imaginary and impotent demon that strangles our potential and restricts our progress. This fictitious monster is called simply …the past.
While the past can be a great teacher, it can also shackle our imagination and relegate us to thinking small. Imagine carrying around a backpack full of rocks; each piece of stone representing some past injustice or...
October 18, 2015
The 5 Myths of Creativity
Mention the word creativity, and people begin to squirm in their chairs. The very thought can prompt anxiety, fear, and doubt — even in the most accomplished professionals. Let’s explore some common myths, and uncover the truth behind this fuzzy topic.
MYTH 1: Creativity is only needed at the top
TRUTH: In today’s business environment, creativity applies to everyone. The organizations that win in these challenging times have creativity as a core priority at all levels of the organizational ch...
October 11, 2015
The Math of Worrying
Think about how much time you spend fretting about what might happen. Those deer-in-the-headlights moments are not only agonizing but they are profoundly unproductive. With each minute you spend in a state of worry, you’re robbing yourself of the opportunity to contribute to your own success and the world around you.
The funny thing about worrying is that the vast majority of concerns never materialize. Stewing about what might happen if a client changes her mind was wasted time when in the e...
October 4, 2015
Ignore The Critics
Paul Bartolotta is no ordinary business leader. He’s the CEO of a wildly successful company that owns and operates 20 restaurants. He’s one of the most important celebrity chefs in America, having won the prestigious James Beard Award – twice. His excellence has been recognized directly from the President of Italy, and he was hand-picked by Steve Wynn to create the resort’s signature Italian restaurant. Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare, under Paul’s leadership, has won dozens of awards and has b...
September 27, 2015
How a Simple Innovation Led to Greatness
Beau Coffron wasn’t trained as an artist. He didn’t study at the Culinary Institute in Paris. He didn’t even set out to build a business.
Yet he’s currently running one of the hottest parenting/food sites on the Web, attracting major brand sponsors from around the world and serving up creative ideas to hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic visitors.
Beau (also known as “The LunchBox Dad”) is married with three kids and works with high school students as his day job. Even though he lives in th...
September 20, 2015
Flip The Fear
Abraham Lincoln worried constantly. Steve Jobs was paranoid, sometime even delusional. Jackson Pollack suffered intense anxiety.
We often think the most accomplished people are fearless; possessing the courage of a Greek God. Therefore, since you and I are afraid from time to time, we must be inferior beings, destined to a shallow and mediocre existence.
The truth iswe all experience fear. Sometimes it’s the fear of failure, other times it is the fear of abandonment. Daily fears range from fe...
September 12, 2015
A New Theory of Relativity
Einstein’s famous theory of relativity (E=MC2) celebrates its 100thanniversary this year. This elegant formula helped us understand how the world works and has impacted scientists and philosophers alike.
The business world has it’s own formulas for success. Hard work + dedication = results. Power = money + influence. Big Small. Fast Slow. Fancy degree + time = corner office.
The thing is, the world has changed. The old rules of business no longer carry the day as we cope with fist-fighting...
September 7, 2015
How Burger King ‘Forked’ McDonald’s
“Good morning McDonald’s. We come in peace. We’d like to propose a one-off collaboration between Burger King and McDonald’s to create something special — something that gets the world talking about Peace Day. The McWhopper.”
The savvy folks at Burger King took out full page ads in the NY Times and Chicago Tribune, running an “open letter to McDonald’s.” The letter went on to propose the two fast food giants blend “the best bits of the Whopper and Big Mac” to form the ultimate burger for peace...
August 30, 2015
The 4 R’s of Executing Change
The new, bold vision is revealed with dramatic fanfare. This year, the CEO boasts, we will reach new heights, delight customers, improve profits, and preserve the environment. The newcomers in the room feel a sense of excitement and relish the vivid picture of success, but you just roll your eyes and sulk back to your desk.
You’ve heard this kind of hype before and know that these proclamations of change rarely amount to anything more than executive blabber. If you have to suffer through one...
