Diverse group of four business partners or entrepreneurs holding their thumbs up in approval or to like something in their office ” data-medium-file=”https://dougthorpe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/65604777_m-650×434.webp” data-large-file=”https://dougthorpe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/65604777_m-1024×683.webp” /> We’ve all heard various ideas about managing our lives. When you break it all down, things can get lumped into these three categories. And we’ve all heard the saying: “Live […]

  In learning how to fly an airplane, one of the first lessons has to do with understanding winds. Winds come in basically three types; Head winds – those hit you right in the face Tail winds – those from behind Cross winds – those at angles from the side I believe the challenges we […]

What Exactly Is Presence? Presence is letting the most powerful version of yourself shine through. I like to cite the renowned leadership expert Sylvia Ann Hewlett, who defines “presence” as a combination of gravitas, communication, and appearance. Together, these elements form an impression of trustworthiness, competence, and authenticity. Gravitas is signaling that you have the […]

Many years ago, a business coach and mentor I knew named Gerry Fusco introduced me to a phrase he invented. Return on invested time (ROIT). As business owners and leaders, we know about ROI, ROE, EBITDA, SDE, etc. But have you ever spent any waking hours measuring ROIT? We make plans, build budgets, measure KPIs, […]

The Wizard of Oz may have been pulling levers and projecting smoke and mirrors, but that wouldn’t make him a very effective leader. In today’s dynamic world, the “man behind the curtain” approach simply doesn’t work. True leaders understand that inspiration stems from visibility, trust from approachability, and connection from relatability. Just like Dorothy needed […]

In the grand theatre of leadership, there’s a delicate dance playing out on the main stage: the display of expertise. On one hand, we have the confident captains, radiating knowledge like beacons, guiding their teams through uncharted waters. On the other, lurk the know-it-alls, tripping over their own pronouncements, leaving trails of deflated egos and […]

In today’s competitive landscape, effective leadership isn’t just about driving results; it’s about building trust, inspiring vision, and establishing yourself as a recognized authority. This is where the concept of personal branding for leaders comes into play. It’s about crafting a unique and authentic image that resonates with your audience, both within and outside your […]

The new year stretches before us, a blank canvas full of possibilities. As a business owner, you’re likely brimming with plans and goals, but are you tapping into the full potential of your team? Setting objectives is crucial, but it’s only the first brushstroke. To unleash the masterpiece, we need to delve deeper, fostering personal […]

We, the captains of our professional and community ships, spend our days steering, navigating, and occasionally throwing out life preservers. We’re problem solvers, decision-makers, and cheerleaders, fueled by the noble ambition to make things better. But in the pursuit of progress, one crucial truth can get swallowed by the waves: you can’t fix what you […]

Let’s face it, folks. Leading a team isn’t about holding all the answers; it’s about knowing who does. And that, my friends, takes an intricate dance between two key players: trust and belief. They might sound like two sides of the same coin, but their roles in your leadership tango are distinctly different. Trust is […]