Ceo Playbook

“Coachability” — A Key Ingredient for Success

Anyone who has taken the time to coach a Little League sports team understands the definition of the word “coachability”. Trying to show a kid how to properly throw a pass or swing a bat never sticks the first time — or even the first 20 times in…

Ying and Yang of the Board Meeting

Yesterday I spent most of my day visiting a company and taking part in their quarterly board meeting. What I love about the board meeting in the context of a startup is the mix of vision, strategy and detailed tactics that a diverse group of people discuss for…

The Big 3 for Leaders

Leadership may indeed be one of those things that you just can’t describe. You know, one of those “I know it when I see it” types of things. A role that is part art, part science — but not necessarily something that can be defined by specific qualities or characteristics.

Startups Should Take After Weeds

Growing up in Oregon I remember how adamant my dad was when it came to landscaping around our house. His primary goal was to avoid having to mow a lawn at all costs. I guess the fact that when he grew up he had to shove a push lawn mower around a pretty big yard left a…

Scouting for Talent in Baseball and Business

Here we are in late May which means that the Major League Baseball player draft is just a couple weeks away. Many years ago I spent a couple springs running around the Bay Area scouting college and high school baseball players for the Chicago White…

Simplifying the Start Up Operating Plan

I had the opportunity to make a quick trip out to visit one of our portfolio companies at the end of this past week. The goal was to spend some time helping them distill their digital strategy down to a nice tight operating plan. As I have come to learn in the…

It’s the People, It’s the People!

Sorry to be repeating myself with the emphasis on “People”. But I feel compelled because over the weekend I ran across two pieces from a couple of my favorite old media friends — The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times — that highlight again the art versus…

MBA Programs to the Rescue!

The obvious topic to write about tonight is the fact Hulu has requested that Boxee.tv pull down Hulu content. I don’t think I have much to add at this point beyond the obvious, so let me offer up some lighter fare.

Fruit Salad Reminds Me — Keep It Simple

Today I relearned an important lesson — and I relearned it in a Kindergarten class.

You see, today was the day I had volunteered to do the “cooking lesson” in my younger daughter’s Kindergarten classroom. Me versus 22 five and six-year…

Coach Tomlin — A Focused Leader

A couple weeks ago I ran across a picture of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin from a press conference. His no-smile countenance, close cropped hair, piercing eyes…man he reminded me of someone. But I just couldn’t place him. Then it hit me!