Leadership Archives

The Best Business Advice I Ever Ignored (Until It Was Almost Too Late)

When I was just starting out in business, I read a book by Michael Gerber. This was the core focus:

“Don’t just work in the business—work on the business.”

Too busy to think
Back then, I was coding during the day, handling proposals at night, managing clients somewhere in between, and generally trying to do everything myself. Growth meant more work, more chaos, more duct tape.

I wasn’t working on the business. I was sprinting in it—head down, inbox full, and calendar jammed. And I told myself that was what success looked like.

It took nearly burning out, missing some important family moments, and watching key people leave for me to finally listen to that advice.

Working on the business meant stepping back.
Not to disengage—but to lead. To think about where we were headed. To build systems. To delegate, hire better, and create a company that didn’t depend on me being everywhere all the time.

When I started carving out time to work on the business, things changed:

We hired stronger leaders
Our delivery process became repeatable
Client relationships deepened
Profitability improved
I slept better

Funny how that works.

What I’ve learned since
That advice wasn’t just good—it was essential. And the best leaders I know? They carve out regular time to work on their business like it’s a non-negotiable.

They treat strategy like a discipline, not a once-a-year retreat.

They document what works so others can repeat it.

They create a culture where growth doesn’t mean chaos—it means clarity.

So here it is again:

Don’t just work in the business. Work on the business.

You can thank me later. Or ignore it and learn the hard way. Either works—I’ve done both.

What I’ve Learned About Leadership From Watching Youth Hockey

I didn’t expect to learn anything about leadership sitting in freezing rinks at 6 a.m. on a Saturday. But after watching hundreds of youth hockey practices and games (and drinking gallons of burnt coffee), I’ve realized something:

Youth hockey is a masterclass in leadership—if you’re paying attention.

Here are a few things I’ve picked up between faceoffs:

1. You can’t coast on talent.
Every team has one or two kids with raw skill. They skate circles around everyone—until they don’t. As the season progresses, the grinders catch up. The lesson? Talent opens the door. Hustle keeps you in the game. Same in business. I’ll take a consistent B+ performer who shows up every day over a moody A+ who only plays hard when they feel like it.

2. Everyone has a role. Even the quiet kid.
In hockey, not everyone scores. Some win faceoffs. Some block shots. Some just skate hard and wear the other team down. It’s the same in a consulting firm. Flashy presentations might win work, but follow-through and behind-the-scenes execution keep clients coming back. Great leaders notice the quiet contributions—and reward them.

3. You’re only as good as your last shift.
In youth hockey, kids forget the scoreboard five minutes after the game. What sticks is how they played. Did they hustle? Did they support teammates? Did they give it their all? Business isn’t so different. Reputation isn’t what you say—it’s how you show up, over and over, especially when no one’s watching.

4. Coaching matters more than you think.
I’ve seen kids transform under the right coach—not just skill-wise, but in confidence, attitude, and self-belief. The best coaches teach, encourage, and hold kids accountable without yelling. Leaders in business would do well to take notes.

5. It’s supposed to be fun.
Yes, hockey is competitive. But when it stops being fun, kids burn out. The same goes for work. Culture, camaraderie, and a little levity keep people engaged. As a leader, your job isn’t just to drive performance. It’s to create an environment where people want to keep showing up.

I didn’t set out to write a leadership manual based on youth hockey. But it turns out you can learn a lot when you’re standing in the cold with your hands wrapped around a coffee cup, watching kids chase a puck and slowly figure things out.

Just like the rest of us.

Let’s Start Q2!

As we move from Q1 into Q2, businesses, managers, and leaders should take the opportunity to assess performance, refine objectives, and mitigate risks for the rest of the year. Here’s what should be on the radar:

1. Evaluate Performance & Adjust Goals

Q1 KPI Review: Are revenue, profitability, and other key metrics on track? If not, why?
Customer & Employee Feedback: Are there recurring pain points or emerging trends that need attention?
Budget vs. Actuals: Are expenses in line with projections? Are there areas to cut or invest more?
Sales Pipeline Health: Is there enough in the pipeline to hit annual targets, or does lead generation need a boost?

2. Identify Growth & Market Opportunities

Industry Trends & AI Adoption: Are competitors leveraging AI, automation, or new tech in ways you’re not?
Customer Needs: Has anything shifted in customer expectations or behavior that presents a new revenue opportunity?
Strategic Partnerships: Any new collaborations that could accelerate growth or provide a competitive advantage?
Expansion & Diversification: Are there adjacent markets or services that make sense to explore?

3. Address Risks & Operational Bottlenecks

Talent & Workforce Planning: Any high-performing employees at risk of leaving? Does hiring align with business goals?
Supply Chain & Vendor Risk: Any vulnerabilities in procurement, logistics, or dependencies that need mitigating?
Tech & Cybersecurity: Are systems secure and scalable? Are there process inefficiencies that tech upgrades could solve?
Regulatory & Compliance Risks: Any upcoming legal, tax, or compliance shifts that need preparation?

4. Reinforce Culture & Engagement

Employee Motivation Post-Q1: Are people feeling engaged and aligned with company goals, or is burnout creeping in?
Leadership Development: Are managers equipped to lead effectively and adapt to changing workplace dynamics?
Remote & Hybrid Work Adjustments: If hybrid/remote work is a factor, does the setup still support productivity and collaboration?

5. Plan for Q3-Q4 Success Now

Mid-Year Adjustments: If Q1 wasn’t strong, what immediate pivots can improve trajectory?
Summer Slowdowns: If Q2/Q3 is historically slow, what strategies can keep momentum going?
Big Projects & Initiatives: What needs to be set in motion now to hit year-end targets?

Bottom line: This is the perfect time to correct course, capitalize on early trends, and ensure the rest of the year unfolds with fewer surprises. What’s the biggest challenge or opportunity you’re seeing as Q2 approaches?

Five Areas Not to Use AI

Here are the top five areas where you should not use AI in business, management, and technology, along with examples and reasons why AI is a poor fit.

1. High-Stakes Decision-Making Without Human Oversight

Example: AI suggesting layoffs, restructuring, or major strategic pivots
Why Not? AI lacks true contextual understanding and ethical reasoning. It can analyze data but doesn’t grasp the nuances of human impact, long-term cultural shifts, or moral implications. Major business decisions should be guided by human judgment, with AI as a support tool, not the final decision-maker.

2. Sensitive HR & Employee Relations Issues

Example: AI-driven hiring/firing decisions, performance reviews, or handling harassment complaints
Why Not? AI can introduce bias rather than eliminate it. While it can analyze trends, it lacks empathy, discretion, and the ability to account for unique personal situations. Using AI for performance evaluations or disciplinary actions can lead to unfair treatment, legal risks, and loss of trust from employees.

3. Legal, Compliance, and Regulatory Advice

Example: AI drafting contracts, providing legal strategy, or ensuring compliance in highly regulated industries
Why Not? AI-generated legal advice can be outdated, jurisdictionally incorrect, or outright wrong. Misinterpreting regulations or compliance laws can lead to lawsuits, fines, and business risks. Always rely on human legal experts for critical matters.

4. Handling Customer Escalations & Crisis Communications

Example: AI responding to major customer complaints, PR disasters, or sensitive negotiations
Why Not? AI lacks emotional intelligence and nuance, which are crucial when de-escalating a crisis. A tone-deaf response (or worse, an incorrect one) can make things spiral out of control. A human should always handle high-stakes customer issues where trust, reputation, and relationships are on the line.

5. Innovation & Creative Strategy Development

Example: AI generating a company’s long-term business strategy or innovative new products
Why Not? AI can assist with brainstorming but lacks true creative insight, intuition, and visionary thinking. It pulls from existing ideas rather than breaking new ground. Great innovations come from human experience, imagination, and risk-taking—things AI just can’t replicate.

Final Thought

AI is a powerful assistant, but it shouldn’t replace human expertise, judgment, or creativity in these areas. Instead, it works best when used to augment human intelligence—providing insights, automation, and efficiencies while people make the final calls.

Boosting Personal Performance with AI: Tools and Techniques for Every Professional

In today’s competitive work environment, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) can significantly enhance individual performance. Here are practical ways professionals can integrate AI into their daily tasks to work smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

1. AI-Powered Task Management

Using AI-driven task management tools like Todoist can help prioritize daily tasks based on deadlines, project timelines, and personal productivity patterns. These tools learn from your behavior to suggest optimal times for tackling complex tasks versus routine work, helping you manage your energy and focus better throughout the day.

2. Enhanced Data Analysis with AI

For those who work with data, tools like Tableau or Microsoft Power BI incorporate AI to assist in analyzing large datasets to uncover trends and insights without the need for complex queries. These insights can help in making data-driven decisions swiftly, providing a competitive edge in strategic planning and operations.

3. AI for Writing and Content Creation

AI writing assistants like Grammarly or Jasper can enhance writing quality by suggesting improvements in grammar, tone, and style, making communication more effective. For more advanced content creation, these tools can help generate ideas, draft content, and even optimize it for SEO, which is particularly useful for marketing professionals and content creators.

4. Automated Scheduling and Email Management

AI tools such as x.ai and Boomerang can automate meeting scheduling, follow-ups, and email management. These tools analyze your schedule and preferences to arrange meetings without the back-and-forth, suggest optimal times for email sending, and remind you when it’s time to follow up, ensuring you never miss a beat.

5. Personalized Learning and Development

Platforms like Coursera and LinkedIn Learning use AI to suggest courses and learning paths tailored to your career goals and skill gaps. This personalized approach ensures that you’re always developing relevant skills that enhance your capabilities and impact at work.

6. Voice-Activated Assistants for Improved Productivity

Voice-activated AI assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa can be used to set reminders, manage tasks, take notes, and retrieve information quickly and hands-free, allowing you to stay focused and organized without having to stop what you’re doing.

7. Real-Time Collaboration Tools

AI-enhanced collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams integrate with other AI tools to provide real-time assistance during meetings, offer summarized notes, and suggest action items, improving team collaboration and meeting productivity.

By integrating these AI tools into your work routine, you can automate mundane tasks, gain valuable insights, and spend more time on strategic activities that enhance your performance and career progression.