Courage
Leading Through Frightening Times
I’ve often said there are no two consecutive good days in the life of a leader. It’s a statement designed to get people’s attention, and it usually does—I often have a lot of people wanting to follow up with me after I’ve shared it during a teaching. What it boils down to is this: the…
Read MoreMark Cole: From Seeing to Seizing
What are you doing with the opportunities in front of you? This might be the most important question for you to ask as a leader. I know that’s a bold statement, but here’s why I believe it’s true: no one can guarantee tomorrow and yesterday is too late. You don’t know when you will run…
Read MoreMark Cole: Take Initiative!
Let me ask you a question: When was the last time something significant happened in your life that you initiated? One of the key distinguishing marks I see in successful leaders all around the world is a willingness to take initiative. Lester Wunderman was a legendary New York Ad man in the 40’s and 50’s.…
Read MoreLift Your Lid
Somewhere today a young person is working hard at their desk, hoping to be considered for a promotion. Somewhere today an older person thinks about their looming retirement and hopes to find something productive to do with their next phase of life. Somewhere today, hundreds of thousands of people, young and old, dream of a…
Read MoreAn Open Letter to Veterans on Veterans Day
I want to take a moment and write to the women and men who make up the 18.2 million veterans in the United States of America. Today is Veterans Day, set aside to honor those who have worn the uniforms of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps while serving our country…
Read MoreMark Cole: Deciding Isn’t Enough
Success is not sometimes in the actualization phase; it’s always in the actualization phase. The longer I lead, the more I understand this to be true. John Maxwell shares a story about a lesson he learned from his dad as a kid. Melvin said to John, “Five frogs were sitting on a log and four…
Read MoreMark Cole: Change Is Necessary
Remember the Peanuts cartoon with Snoopy, Charlie Brown and all his friends? American cartoonist Charles M. Schulz wrote and illustrated the famous series which featured a group of young children and one memorable dog. In the strips, there were rarely any adults seen or heard, but the life lessons were no less power-packed! In one…
Read MoreAre You a “Go First” Leader?
Over the past few weeks, I’ve blogged about material from my new book, Leadershift: 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace. We’re nearing the end of that process, so I want to talk about one of the more challenging shifts some leaders face. It’s the Cost Shift—moving from the perks of leadership to the price…
Read MoreBecome a Leader Others Want to Follow
Today, my newest book, Leadershift: 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace, finally hits shelves in stores. Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered a copy of the book or helped get the word out through social media. We’re expecting a great launch, and it’s made possible by your help and excitement. I’m also excited for…
Read More