Posts by Joe Schum

“She had the answer the whole time, and if I told her she would’ve never believed me”.  And so said Glinda,the Good Witch of the North, in a recent viewing of the iconic film The Wizard of Oz as post-Thanksgiving entertainment.  Glinda was one powerful and wise coach. Who knew? And what is her coaching…

“I don’t want to come off as ‘sales-y.’” How many of you sales pros out there have either thought this, even said it out loud?  How many who are not a sales professional have thought of sales(wo)men as shifty? Untrustworthy? Dare I say it: sleazy? Oh, and all of you small business owners and entrepreneurs,…

Pope Francis said recently that gossiping is a “plague worse than COVID.”  It divides us, he said.  “Please brothers and sisters, let’s try to not gossip,” said the Pope. “Gossip is a plague worse than COVID. Worse. Let’s make a big effort: No gossiping!”  For clarity purposes, this blog accepts the definition of gossip as…

As the first presidential debate of 2020 disappears into our rear view mirror, I can’t resist an opportunity to newsjack, bringing you perspective regarding communication exchanges that happen between human beings. The question is: Debate or Conversation? Debate is about stating and defending ideas, positions, and opinions while conversation is about an exploration of these…

Yes! Another blog yet about change! I just typed in “articles about change” and came back with 3,540,000,000 in .45 seconds.  Add in my measly 9 (now 10) blogs on this subject in some form or another and you’ve got tons of opportunities to explore the ideas, and take actions that create change. Especially when…

“I would LOVE to connect with you and discuss possibly having you appear on my new prime time TV show that features faith-based entrepreneurs on the [Redacted] Network. Please connect with me and send me a message if you want me to send you more details.” I received that flattering message last Monday.  Now, in…

The show was cancelled. Or was it? Well, the show that we were used to seeing was, and magically it was substituted with 1000 shows that were so inspiring, so creative, so organic, amazing, wondrous and…fun, that it taught a lesson: We human beings are the most creative creatures on the planet. I sat in…

Three blogs in draft mode have been circling the planet for the last two+ months.  Have you seen them in the night sky?  Those are my contributions to the clutter of the iCloud.  Which one gets the nod?  Which of them will have the greatest impact?  Which one exhibits the most passion for the present…

Questions are a prerequisite to learning. Questions are a window into creativity and insight.  Questions motivate fresh thinking. Questions challenge outdated assumptions.  Questions lead us to the future. So says Eric E. Vogt, Juanita Brown and David Isaacs in their paper on The Art of Powerful Questions.  So my next question is: “Why are we…

It was an Australian surfing blog that brought us here. And, while I’m trying desperately to figure out just how this unbelievable video happened, I’m just going to resign myself that it did. If you haven’t seen this story, it’s one for nature’s ages; a seal is hoisted up out of the water by a…

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it…

This month’s blog was inspired by my recent reconnection with the holy season of Lent.  WAIT! Don’t run away yet! While I promise to keep my Catholic roots to a limit, there is a connection here so if you’re brave enough, stick around. For many of you – Christians obviously, and others who leverage Fat…