Hugh's Blog

This is a super simple way to energize your team and get them on the right track (and stop the silly behavior that drives you nuts) with immediate performance improvements. I first learned about this process from Dr. Bill Guillory as we debriefed my Soul At Work conference in 2000 at the outstanding Silver Star Ski Resort.

In this video I explain the why and how of the process. I’ve never seen it fail and, best of all, it is driven by the team (not the boss).

Let me know what you think!

Tags: accountability, business, business growth, change, commitment, effectiveness, entrepreneurs, leadership, motivation, organization, productivity, success, team, time management

Ok, full disclosure here, it didn’t go well. My first book signing and I was eating humble pie. 

After a quick run in the rain with Riley (the dog) I was off in ironed shirt to my first book signing at the local Chapters store (thank you GM Paula!). I was actually a bit excited and envisioning, à la Guy Kawasaki, signing so many books that I had to replace my sharpie pen to keep up with the excited line up of rabid fans.

Well, all was not to be. After 4 hours of standing, smiling and talking to anyone going slower than 1km/hour I had signed 4 books. One customer felt so sorry for me he fetched a tea from the S’bucks for me!

I’m no math whiz, but I think my sales worked out to one book an hour and, based on the meager margin, I get after distributor, store and printer get their share I earned some $1/hour (oh, yeah, that’s before tax.) But, the eternal optimist in me found the silver lining: I get to ask people questions!

My question was “What would you do if you were given a free hour in your day?” Ready? Here are the results:

Erik: I would make more planning documentation at work for recurring projects.

David – get caught up at work – all the stuff I’ve put off.

Paula -  I would finally find time to read more of Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

Gisela – I would walk a dog (and she doesn’t own a dog!)

Just four books? Maybe. But a whole lot of interesting conversations as well.

Tags: books, business, culver, freedom, growth, happiness, inspiration, small stuff, time management

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about success. I need to.

I only have so many hours to work with and I’m frankly tired of working hard at my business. I also have loads of interests in my life that I love spending time on, like: my gals, my wife, my fitness, my writing, my travelling, my reading, my…well, you get the idea. So, success in life is important to me, in all areas of life.

So, I have come across a dirty little secret about success that no one who is really successful will want to tell you. Here it is.

It shouldn’t be hard.

That’s it: success shouldn’t be hard.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that successful people didn’t have to work hard at various times and likely they still do, on occasion. But that’s not their goal. Not by a long shot.

On the other hand…

If you’re not doing what you love, then it’s going to be hard.

If you are disorganized and let others rule your time, then it’s going to be hard.

If you think you have to do it all for it to be right, then it’s going to be hard.

And if you don’t believe you can be successful, then it’s definitely going to be hard.

So what are you making harder than it should be?

PS: My new Fall 2011 Webinars are now POSTED

And here’s another little secret…they’re FREE. Sign up now and get some great advice on how to create more success in every day. Sign up here

Tags: accountability, business, business growth, change, culver, decisions, effectiveness, entrepreneurs, freedom, goals, growth, happiness, inspiration, leadership, small stuff, success, time management