Stuck between mediocrity and excellence

Over the past few years, I've read a lot of business books.  And I mean A LOT.   I'll read two books in parallel on my iPad (Kindle and iBooks).  I'll listen to another one on my phone through audible.com.  Some days I may even go retro and pop a CD into my car and listen to that. It's probably safe to say that if there is a top " whatever"  list of business books that an entrepreneur, business leader, or manager should read -- I've definitely read at least two that are on the list.  Unfortunately for me, my reading comprehension skills have been terrible since the Pre-SAT which means that I'm probably missing out on many key messages or themes that these books are communicating.  However, out of everything that I'm reading, here's what I've remembered: Values matter - Not just values, core values. Individuals need to define their core values as leaders. Companies need to identify their values as an organization. It's t...

I've been collecting success quotes for a few years now. I've watched enough TED talks to believe that I'm on the verge of becoming a genius.  My archive of Success Magazine and the CDs that come with it have become so vast, that I'm at least 6 months behind in consuming all of the information. In addition to my Kindle collection, I have a stack of hardcover books and have started using  audible.com  because my back can't take lugging books around from home to work and back.  To cap it off, I went to experience Tony Robbins live and in person.  Yet I still do nothing. Education and insight without action is meaningless. I know that. There are a lot of us out there that have an inner super-hero or beast that is aching to get out. But something is keeping us in the same place.  The pull to be great has to be so strong that getting out of what's comfortable should require zero thinking and unquestioned doing doing.  If you are still t...

After over a decade of experiences and information overload, I've come up with the top 3 things that I would tell people as they enter the management consulting profession.  If I think about them, they probably apply to entering any profession. I would be interested to hear what you think.  It doesn't matter how you get there, it only matters what you accomplish when you are there. Just like the military, everyone has the same Day 1. Pedigrees, relationships, and nepotism aside, you've made it. Figure out what it takes to differentiate yourself from the pack. You're not better than anyone else, but you should be bettering yourself  each and every day. Find the experiences that will improve you as a person. Find the mentors and people that you want to be like. As Jim Rohn says, " Formal education will make you a living, self-education will make you a fortune."  It is and it isn't about you. The consulting profession is about helping others. When ...