Where would you like to be? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer As we approach the last quarter of 2024, it's time to ask where we would like to be in...
READ MOREWhere would you like to be? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer As we approach the last quarter of 2024, it's time to ask where we would like to be in...
READ MORETake the High Road David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This past June, John Maxwell released his latest book, High Road Leadership. As I listened to people discussing our upcoming election,...
READ MOREAre You in the 10 Percent? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last month I heard a teaching from John Maxwell that really got me thinking. John stated that only 10...
READ MOREThree Keys to Growth David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week, I attended the International Maxwell Certification conference. Unfortunately, I needed to attend virtually, but it was still an amazing...
READ MOREHow Are You Feeling? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer How are you feeling as the summer rolls along? I hope you have made time to enjoy some time off with...
READ MOREWhy Is It So Important? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Whenever I have a class, I ask questions like, “What is your company’s vision?” or, “What’s your mission?” Frequently, people...
READ MOREReflections From My Pause David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer A couple weeks ago, I shared my thoughts on the power of a pause. In music, a pause draws attention to...
READ MOREThe Power of the Pause David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever thought about the power of the pause? In music, a pause draws attention to what preceded the...
READ MORERevelations of Our Choices David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This past weekend I heard a statement that really spoke to me, “The choices we make reveal intent.” This statement hit...
READ MORESuch Polarization David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It feels like we live in such a polarized world. In many cases, I believe this is caused by generational differences. Generations who...
READ MOREA New Podcast David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Just about two years ago, Marisa Norcross and I recorded our last episode of The Next Page podcast. We had consistently released...
READ MOREIs It Missing? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer As I write this, I am flying to the West Coast to attend meetings for the Faith Community that I am a...
READ MOREWhy All the Effort? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I recently received an email from someone asking me to stop sending emails regarding some of my leadership offerings. The person...
READ MOREIn An Instant David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer In an instant, everything can change. Born on February 12,1986 in Atlanta Georgia, he grew up in a two-bedroom house with 13...
READ MOREMaking or Breaking David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I had the amazing opportunity to spend three days with my colleagues at Maxwell Leadership. I went home with pages...
READ MOREThermometers and Thermostats Revisited David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Several years ago, I heard a quote that said, “Leaders need to be thermostats, not thermometers.” The premise behind this quote...
READ MOREMy Reflections Part 2 - A Reminder of What Matters David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer As promised, I am returning to my 2023 reflections. As I look back on 2023,...
READ MOREStop Thoughting So Much David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This past week I heard a new word that, well, isn’t actually a word, but maybe should be. That word is...
READ MOREHighlights From My Reflections - Part 1 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I just finished my year-end reflections so over the next few emails, I will share some highlights. Last...
READ MOREWe are collecting nominations for MACNY's 2024 Manufacturers Wall of Fame and Innovator of the Year Award! Award recipients will be honored at MACNY's 111th Annual Celebration of Manufacturing on...
READ MOREIn Every Block of Stone David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This past week I was watching a Christmas movie with my wife and heard this amazing comment, “within every block...
READ MOREThe End of Another Year David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Where did 2023 go? It seems like I was just struggling to remember to write 2023, and now I will...
READ MOREPlease Stop! David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This is one of the busiest times of the year. With Thanksgiving falling so early this year, we actually had an extra week...
READ MOREA Most Exciting Time David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Can it really be almost 50 years since our bicentennial? It was such an exciting time for me. I was in...
READ MOREThe How David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I shared with you that my values have shifted and why. I also shared that my annual growth plan is built...
READ MOREI’ve Changed My Values David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This is the time of year that I start adjusting my growth plan for the upcoming year. As I enter 2024,...
READ MOREWhat’s Your Diet Like? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I am sure you have heard the expression, “You are what you eat.” Lately, I have been starting to pay much...
READ MOREHow Grateful Are You? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We’re inching closer and closer to Thanksgiving, which is one of my favorite holidays. I love that as a nation, we...
READ MOREWe are so excited to announce MACNY’s 6th Transformational Leadership Award recipient. John Maxwell often says, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” Leadership is the catalyst that takes average organizations...
READ MOREWow, Your Email! David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I was meeting with one of my coaching clients and he shared something that I don’t think he understood the...
READ MOREWho Should I Mentor? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer For the last eight years, I have been writing my weekly posts regarding leadership and growth, so I am sure you...
READ MOREPerceptions and Perspective David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We are bombarded with messages, questions, and information all day long. Determining how to respond or even what to think is becoming...
READ MOREAm I a Writer? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week, I wrote about the space needed in our daily agendas to allow time for processing information and switching gears....
READ MOREDon’t Let the Colors Touch David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It’s Friday evening, and I am sitting at my desk writing my weekly post that should have gone to Marisa...
READ MOREA Leader David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer One of my favorite parts of my job is conducting 360-degree assessments. The information I get about a leader is priceless, and while...
READ MOREJust Keep Moving David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever found yourself stuck? You don’t know where to go or what to do? A couple of weeks ago, that...
READ MOREAre you a good PARTNER? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer While I was at the most recent Maxwell Leadership conference, I heard John challenge each of us to be a...
READ MOREA Head Start – Part 2 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week, I shared some thoughts on how you can get a head start over your peers and the...
READ MOREA Head Start David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Would you like to have a head start over your peers? How about a head start over your competitors? While I was...
READ MOREBeware of the Dip David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever noticed how you have this dip in emotions after you return from a vacation or an inspiring event?...
READ MORENine Years Ago David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Nine years ago this month, I walked into the biggest hotel I had ever seen, The Orlando World Center Marriott. This would...
READ MOREA Very Personal Insult David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote my post titled “Hard is Good.” This week I want to take a look at another aspect...
READ MOREHard is Good David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer A few months ago, I was in a coaching session with a Director of Special Education. When she mentioned a conversation she...
READ MOREIt's An Inside Job David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer The difference between a winner and a whiner is that whiners wait to do something until they feel like it, and...
READ MOREEvangelist or Theologian David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week, I was in a coaching session with a young, recently promoted manager. As we discussed the challenge of getting people...
READ MORELive with Anticipation David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer As a kid, I lived for the weekends and special events. As I got older, I seemed to keep the same mindset....
READ MORELife, Liberty, and the Pursuit David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer As a kid, I just loved the 4th of July holiday. Except for a handful of years, my family and...
READ MOREDo They Smile? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week, I heard a question that really caused me to think. The question simply stated, "Do they smile when they see...
READ MOREHopeless? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last Wednesday, I listened to one of my favorite podcasts and I heard this statement, “There are no hopeless situations, only people who think...
READ MORE“Die Young, as Late as Possible” David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I saw the quote above in my chiropractor's office. The full quote reads, “The idea is to die young,...
READ MOREA Big Little Thing David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I was listening to a podcast this past week and they discussed 'Big Little Things'. The ideas that were shared in...
READ MOREJust So Busy David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I recently listened to a podcast where an executive coach was following up with his clients on leadership activities they had committed...
READ MOREIt's Time for a Change David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week, I wrote about the actions a person should take to get ahead in their job. This week, I...
READ MOREI Want A Promotion David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This post will be from a bit of a different perspective. It is meant for all those who want to progress...
READ MOREThe Environment for Team Renewal & Growth David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week, I shared tips for ensuring we are in the best environment for personal growth. This week,...
READ MOREThe Environment for Personal Renewal David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week, I shared my wonder and excitement about the renewal I see all around me in nature. I spoke...
READ MOREThe Season of Renewal David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I love spring. Well, to be completely honest, I find a reason to love every season. What I love about spring...
READ MOREIt's A Paradox #3: Vision & Blind Spots David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer You can tell that I am really digging into Tim Elmor's book The Eight Pardoxes of Leadership....
READ MOREIt's A Paradox #2 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We don't often use the word paradox, so I started with this definition last week. Paradox is a noun defined as...
READ MOREIt's A Paradox #1 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We don't often use the word paradox, so I thought I would start with a definition. Paradox is a noun defined...
READ MORETemptations of Successful Organizations - Part 2 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week we looked at three of the five temptations of Successful Organizations. Before diving into the last...
READ MORETemptations of Successful Organizations - Part 1 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever wondered why some organizations seem to be around forever and others seem to be doing...
READ MOREEveryone is Looking for This David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer There has been a common theme surfacing in most of my coaching and training sessions. I am having many conversations...
READ MOREDid You Lose Something? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I recently listened to the Maxwell Leadership podcast and heard Mark Cole talk about discouragement. He mentioned that the word discourage...
READ MOREHow Did You Get Here? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about Marshall Goldsmith and his amazing book, What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There, where...
READ MORESupercharge Your Growth David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer For about 12 years, I have been trying to become more intentional about my growth and professional development. This comes as no...
READ MOREThree Words of Growth David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer When I was in my teens, if you had asked me why I went to school, my answer would have been...
READ MOREAnother Triple Play David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer In 2015 Patrick Lencioni wrote his book Three Signs of a Miserable Job. He quickly learned the title they had chosen for...
READ MOREThe Secret Sauce David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about my dear friend Mike Palanacki who passed away suddenly a month ago. Mike was a master of...
READ MOREHis Name Was Mike David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer A few weeks ago, I heard about the sudden death of my good friend and mentor, Mike Palanacki. Mike was 12...
READ MOREBecoming a Possibilist David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer My thoughts and writings have been focused on change over the last few weeks, and I thought today might be a good...
READ MOREThe Beautiful Daughters of Hope David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I recently listened to a podcast and heard this statement, "The beautiful daughters of hope are anger and courage." I...
READ MOREYour Daily Agenda David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer One of the great things about starting a new year is that we often take the opportunity to adjust our habits and...
READ MOREStart Well David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer The new year is almost upon us--next week is 2023! Will next year be a great year for you? Regardless of what may...
READ MORETime for a Pause David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever thought about the value of a pause? A fermata, or pause in music, adds so much to a...
READ MOREThree Words to Keep Us Learning David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I talked about the need to keep learning. This past week I heard three words that will...
READ MOREThe Enemy of Learning David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Recently I was listening to a podcast and heard this quote, "The enemy of learning is knowing." I was driving to...
READ MOREThe Next Four Weeks David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about our new superpower: Gratitude. Today I would like to go to the next level a bit....
READ MOREAnother Superpower? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Back in March, I wrote a couple of posts referring to influence as a superpower. My posts were based on a great book...
READ MOREThe Value of Trust David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week our nation held its midterm election, and many were surprised by the outcomes. At the time I am writing...
READ MORELearning From a Different Place – Part 21 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We have come to my final entry in the Learning From a Different Place series. Law number...
READ MOREWe are so excited to announce MACNY’s 5th Transformational Leadership Award recipient. John Maxwell often says, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." Leadership is the catalyst that takes average organizations...
READ MORELearning From a Different Place – Part 20 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer John Maxwell’s Law of Explosive Growth was a hard law for me to embrace. As a young...
READ MORELearning From a Different Place – Part 19 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I am sure you have heard the phrase, “timing is everything,” and it truly is. The Law...
READ MORELearning From a Different Place – Part 18 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer As we go through life, we often are required to make sacrifices. Most of the time, they...
READ MORELearning From a Different Place – Part 17 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever wondered why some people accomplish more than others? I always thought that some people...
READ MORELearning From a Different Place – Part 16 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Does “Big Mo” really work? According to John Maxwell, momentum is the driving force behind law number...
READ MORELearning From a Different Place – Part 15 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer In The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Law #15 is The Law of Victory. When I first...
READ MOREA Graceful Servant Leader David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This week, people across the globe laid to rest an amazing leader. Queen Elizabeth II ended her 70-year reign as the...
READ MORELearning From a Different Place – Part 14 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer When I first read The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, I thought The Law of Buy-In was...
READ MORELearning From a Different Place – Part 13 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I am sure you have heard the phrase, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” This is...
READ MOREBy Laura Thorne, MACNY Consulting Partner Whether you have a leadership title, consider yourself a leader, or call yourself a leader, nothing qualifies you more than caring and taking action....
READ MOREBy Laura Thorne, MACNY Consulting Partner Struggling to fill vacant positions? Try hiring for future potential rather than previous experience. Since early 2021, over 43 million Americans (Long, 2022) have...
READ MOREBy Laura Thorne, MACNY Consulting Partner When I meet people, they are often astonished by the amount of work that I do. They assume I must work from sun up...
READ MOREBy Laura Thorne, MACNY Consulting Partner Don’t be afraid to write down your goals. This is how Davanna Marks, Director of Manufacturing, has succeeded thus far in her young career....
READ MOREBy Laura Thorne, MACNY Consulting Partner When I started as an official consulting partner with MACNY, I wanted to create a unique training offering that was effective, affordable, and simple...
READ MOREBy Laura Thorne, MACNY Consulting Partner Today, as I enjoy the view from a park bench at Webster Pond surrounded by geese and ducks, I’m reflecting on the many times I’ve...
READ MOREBy Laura Thorne, MACNY Consulting Partner There are a ton of quotes out there about consistency being the key to success. But is it? I’ve consistently posted on Instagram once...
READ MOREYour Superpower - Part 3 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever sat through an event when time just flew by while a presenter gave a talk? As she...
READ MOREYour Superpower - Part 2 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week we started our conversation with these words from President Eisenhower, "Leadership is the art of getting other people...
READ MOREBy MACNY Consultant, Laura Thorne Did you know that when (properly) implemented, empowering the people in your life can reap rewards for both you and them? Just as empowering someone...
READ MOREYour Superpower – Part 1 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer You have heard me say on many occasions that leadership is influence—nothing more, nothing less. But how do we influence...
READ MOREHow Are You Doing? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer As a leader, it’s important to assess how you’re doing. Are you really leading? The lowest level of leadership is positional...
READ MOREBy Official MACNY Consultant, Laura Thorne Turn the Ship Around by David L. Marquet. The title of this book couldn’t be more perfect. Here is what you can expect to...
READ MOREWhen it Needs to be Said David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer During the Apollo program, figuring out how to land on the moon and take off again was a major...
READ MOREI’ve been hearing the word “legacy” from business leaders a lot lately. While some believe legacy has to do with the projects and products left behind after they die, others...
READ MORETindallgrams: The frank memos of Apollo's unsung genius David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about leaders being a catalyst within their organizations. As a refresher, I have...
READ MORE5 Key Lessons that I Learned about Managing People After a Year of Caregiving for Two Toddlers In 2013, I became an insta-mom. I had never wanted kids, but found...
READ MOREYou Are a Catalyst David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer When I was thinking about a title for this post, I started with "Are You a Catalyst?," and then I realized...
READ MOREIs it Time to Get Personal? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Throughout the entire interviewing and hiring process, employers must follow laws and best practices to ensure they are focusing...
READ MOREHow Setting Intentions Can Help You Avoid Conflict while Achieving Goals Would you have the guts to start a business with your best friend? I was traveling in Hawaii with...
READ MOREIs it Time to Re-Board? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer When companies hire people, they go through a process of onboarding. In most organizations, there is a series of activities...
READ MOREStarting Relationships with Strangers is Easier Than You Think: Here are some tips to start the conversation I wrote this week’s Bench Marks blog in an Airbnb condo around the...
READ MOREThe Latest in Business and Personal Development: The Growth Mindset Essential skills for today’s business leaders If you’re a company leader looking to develop your talent, or an aspiring leader...
READ MOREIn Search of Excellence David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about what I learned in 2021. On our podcast, Marisa and I discussed several topics in detail....
READ MOREStrategic Intuition vs. Strategic Planning: Chapter Summary I co-host a leadership book club called the High Impact Reading Challenge with Positive Psychology Coach, Lisa Sears. The last book we read...
READ MOREWhat I Learned in 2021 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer If you have been following my emails for any length of time, you know that the week between Christmas and...
READ MOREBreaking Up is Hard to Do: 5 Steps to Ending a Project without Ruining Your Reputation A few weeks ago one of my mentees-turned-friends asked to have a call with...
READ MOREQuotable Quotes David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever wondered why we seem to love quotes so much? Why is it that if a certain person said something, we...
READ MORERecognizing Blame: How to Break the Habit of Making Excuses We all do it. Something goes wrong, a customer complains, a colleague asks a question and what do we do?...
READ MOREReady, Get Set… David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We are just about ready to start 2022. Time waits for no one, so we better be ready and get set to...
READ MORELook Back to Leap Forward: One Simple Way to Achieve more in the Coming Year Laura Thorne, Official MACNY Consulting Partner As 2021 comes to an end, be sure to...
READ MORETraditions David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer As I sit down to write this post, I am listening to a Boston Pops Orchestra Christmas album. This season of the year is...
READ MORESix Steps to Successful Empowerment David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week we talked about deciding who we should empower. We covered the three things you need to look for:...
READ MOREExtreme Email Accountability: How to Create Better Relationships Via Email Laura Thorne, Official MACNY Consulting Partner Effective communication is a skill required for success in just about any endeavor. One...
READ MOREWho Should You Empower? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Empowerment is a great tool to develop people. It fuels employee engagement and helps your team members feel that they are...
READ MOREShaping Up: Four Benefits of a Strong Core in Both Body and Business Laura Thorne, Official MACNY Consulting Partner How strong is your core? Does that question make you immediately...
READ MOREThe Most "Wonderful" Time of the Year? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer If you have been reading my emails or following The Next Page podcast for any length of time,...
READ MOREDawn of a New Blog: Thoughts after my first Live2Lead and the birth of the Bench Marks blog series Laura Thorne, Official MACNY Consulting Partner I’ve just left John Maxwell's...
READ MOREThanksgiving David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I must confess that Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love to slow down and take time to reflect on the blessings...
READ MOREWe are so excited to announce MACNY's 4th Transformational Leadership Award recipient. John Maxwell often says, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." Leadership is the catalyst that takes average organizations...
READ MOREThe Lid David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about the seven things great communicators do when they speak to people. While communicating is a skill every leader...
READ MOREGreat Communicators David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer As a student of leadership, I am always looking for tips on communicating because it is a crucial tool for a successful leader....
READ MOREWe are excited to announce a new partnership with Laura Thorne of Laura Thorne Consulting. Laura has joined the organization as an official partner consultant. In her role, Laura will...
READ MORERedemption David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Hiram was surprised to receive his appointment to the Military Academy at West Point. Upon arrival, he was amazed at the sight. This military...
READ MOREOnce Again – Now He Belongs to the Ages David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer The statement, “Now he belongs to the ages,” was made following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln,...
READ MORECourage Today David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about the courage that I found in our 40th President, Ronald Reagan. Today I would like to shift from...
READ MOREA Lesson in Courage David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I am currently working through a book by Bret Baier titled Three Days in Moscow. The book is part of Baier's...
READ MORELike a Candle Deprived of Oxygen David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We all know what it feels like to enter a room that has been drained of its energy. Like...
READ MOREBuild to Brand David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer A couple of weeks ago, I shared a little bit about the concept of Building, not Branding. This morning I was thinking...
READ MOREDon't Miss the Miss David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I have been watching some baseball lately and have been reminded that the best of the best only gets a hit...
READ MOREThe Power of the Room David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I shared that I was recently in Orlando for the International Maxwell Certification (IMC). This semi-annual event allows...
READ MOREThe Tortoise on the Fence Post David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer As I write this post, I am in Orlando at the International Maxwell Certification. When I return to Central...
READ MOREFour Outs David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I love the great American pastime—baseball. I love the chess match that is played by each manager as they calculate their next move....
READ MOREHow’s Your Vision? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I am sure you have heard me say, “people buy into the leader before they buy into the vision,” and I stand...
READ MOREDo You Care Enough? – Part 2 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I started my post by asking if you are a person who cares for others and...
READ MOREDo You Care Enough? – Part 1 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Would you say that you are a person who cares for others? Do you care for the people...
READ MORETime to Grab the Baton – Part 2 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Attending a live symphony concert is one of the greatest pleasures in life. For me, the thrill...
READ MORETime to Grab the Baton – Part 1 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Several years ago while attending a training at a Maxwell recertification event in Orlando, we were sent...
READ MORELeading Like the Shepherd David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Perhaps one of the most familiar Psalms is Psalm 23. It is often found in cards or read at funerals. The...
READ MOREUnleash the Power David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I believe that you have an untapped resource within your organization. A resource that, when fully utilized, has the potential to transform...
READ MORECommunity David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I am amazed by the ways many businesses were able to navigate their operations during the pandemic. For us at MACNY, within five days...
READ MOREBuilding Influence David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer You have heard me say many times leadership is influence. If you want to be a better leader, increase your influence. It sounds...
READ MOREThe 10-Minute Timeout David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Do you ever feel like you are running from meeting to meeting and activity to activity? At the end of the day,...
READ MOREThe Greatest Edge David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We live in a world filled with competition. We compete for everything—the best and brightest employees, loyal customers, market share, and more....
READ MOREAm I Teachable? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This week I have been reflecting on being teachable. More specifically, asking myself am I teachable? The quick answer that I came...
READ MOREWelcome the Ball David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I recently watched an online training based on The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth when I heard John Maxwell share some advice...
READ MOREAre You an Over-Committer? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Recently I found myself very stressed out. My blood pressure was up and I was irritable and anxious about a myriad...
READ MOREThe Next Step David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Graduation time is upon us, and countless long-robed orators will be giving advice to newly minted graduates. Advice about reaching for the...
READ MOREContentment Can Kill David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I know what you are thinking, “What has happened to Dave? Last week he was writing about needing to be liked, and...
READ MOREBut I Just Want to be Liked David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I am a person who wants to be liked by other people. Probably a more accurate statement would...
READ MOREWhere Are You? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Do you know where you want to be? Do you know who you want to become? These questions are critical. I can...
READ MOREThe Law of the Lid, Another View David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Many of you are familiar with the Law of the Lid, which says your organization can’t rise above...
READ MOREThe Value of Consistency David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We often look for clever tricks to help us accomplish something and overlook the most effective tool—consistency. It's not a fun...
READ MOREGreat Leaders Are Great Followers David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This may sound like a contradiction, but in my opinion, the best leaders are also the best followers. Let me...
READ MOREA Ticking Time Bomb David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I recently read a short article that stated, “You can only lead people whose leadership abilities are less than yours.” This...
READ MOREWas it a Vacation? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Each year I attend the International Maxwell Certification event so that my John Maxwell Team certifications stay current. The three-day event...
READ MORELast week we looked at how ladders help us grow and ascend to heights that would have otherwise been unattainable. We covered the first of four phases, Ladder Climbing (How...
READ MOREThe Ladder - Part 1 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Ladders are wonderful things. They allow us to attain heights that would otherwise be out of our reach. They come...
READ MOREWhere Would We Be Without Them? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer On the corner of 3rd and Highland Streets on the North Side of Syracuse, you will find a large...
READ MOREOld Rags, or Much More David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It is August 3, 1777 and hopes that the 700 patriots could hold the fort were growing dim. General Barry...
READ MOREThe Heroes Among Us David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It was a normal February night in 1939, and the city of Syracuse was mostly quiet. The patrons who had visited...
READ MOREA Most Unusual Monument David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It’s July 4, 1817, and James Madison, our fifth president, is sitting in the White House as fireworks explode in the...
READ MOREA Time for Mercy David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer The year is 1793. A village called Salina sits atop a swamp near the shores of Onondaga Lake. The population of...
READ MOREHis Name Was William David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It was an early Fall day. The leaves were revealing their brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges. The chlorophyll had finally surrendered...
READ MOREIt Was Bitter Cold David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It was a bitterly cold early March evening that felt more like early February. The air was still, and the...
READ MOREFour Steps to Meaningful Change: Step Four David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We have made it to the last installment of my series on Meaningful Change. This week we will...
READ MOREFour Steps to Meaningful Change: Step Three David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Happy New Year! We made it through 2020 and 2021 is upon us. This new and exciting year...
READ MOREFour Steps to Meaningful Change: Step Two David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I started this four-part series on Meaningful Change. With a new year just ahead of us,...
READ MOREFour Steps to Meaningful Change: Step One David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I have been thinking a lot about how 2021 will be different from 2020. Maybe it's more accurate...
READ MOREThe Eyes of a Child David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Do the holidays have you stressed out yet? Are you running ragged trying to get everything wrapped up before year...
READ MOREWonderful Uneasiness David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I just started a new book titled 52 Little Lessons from A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens wrote the timeless classic, A Christmas Carol,...
READ MOREMore Than a Season David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer If you have been reading my posts for more than a year, you know that I refer to the season between...
READ MORE"I Think" David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer "Two percent of people think; three percent think they think, and ninety-five percent of people would rather die than think." George Bernard Shaw...
READ MOREWinners and Losers David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever thought about the differences between winners and losers? Not the obvious difference that one person won, and one person...
READ MORETime to Over-Prepare David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We are living in a very unusual time. Elections, working from home, schooling from home, social distancing; the distractions are everywhere. As...
READ MOREWho is Traveling with You? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Legendary basketball coach John Wooden had a quote that I just love, “There is a choice you have to make...
READ MOREThe Journey – Part 2 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I introduced you to the idea of our lives being journeys. We looked into finding joy in the...
READ MOREThe Journey – Part 1 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer When you hear the word journey, what thoughts come to mind? For some reason, the word journey sounds much more...
READ MOREFour Dimensions of Leadership – Part 4 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Wow, we are already at the end of our series on the Four Dimensions of Leadership. In case...
READ MOREFour Dimensions of Leadership – Part 3 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It’s hard to believe that another week has passed, and I am already at part three of the...
READ MOREFour Dimensions of Leadership – Part 2 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I started this four-part series by writing about the first dimension of leadership, which is Inside...
READ MOREFour Dimensions of Leadership – Part 1 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer If you have ever read my emails or blog posts, you know that I am passionate about leadership,...
READ MOREAre you an Opportunity Optimizer? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of spending a few days with some of my mentors in...
READ MORESummertime Lessons - Part 3: It’s Always an Inside Job David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Two weeks ago, I shared a leadership lesson that I gleaned from the book The...
READ MORESummertime Lessons – Part 2: Warm Summer Breezes David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I was out for my early morning walk. It was one of the first crisp...
READ MORESummertime Lessons - Part 1 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Summertime is such a special time in Central New York. The temperatures are mostly ideal, the grass is beautifully green,...
READ MOREDo You Know Where You Are Going? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week’s post was titled, Don’t Leave Home Without It, and at the beginning of that post I...
READ MOREDon’t Leave Home Without It David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer For several weeks, I have been thinking about the challenges we are facing in America. Our nation has been through...
READ MOREThis is Your Sign David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Since March 17th, I have been working from my office at home. My home office is very nice, and it is...
READ MOREYour Vantage Point is Critical David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Recently, my wife and I took a quiet two-day getaway and traveled up to Lake Placid. Its been 40 years...
READ MOREThe Power of Connection David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Are you someone who loves to talk to people you don’t know? Do you enjoy meeting people and learning about them...
READ MORECould This Be You? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Are you drawn to negative thoughts? Are you frequently returning to a critical mindset? Do you find yourself focusing on what...
READ MOREWhat I Learned While on Vacation David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer At the end of June, I had the privilege of taking a week off and spent the time with...
READ MOREWe The People David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This coming Saturday is July 4—Independence Day. A special day in our country and one of my favorites. I had the privilege...
READ MORESomething to Think About David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This is my last post for the first half of the year, and a crazy first half it has been. In...
READ MOREIs it Gone? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Each morning, a mentor of mine live streams the sunrise from his balcony, which overlooks the ocean. He started doing this to...
READ MOREIt’s a Celebration! David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Today Marisa and I celebrate the third anniversary of The Next Page podcast. Now I know that to some of you, that’s...
READ MORENot Another Detour! David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We all know that feeling when you are driving down the highway and the dreaded orange sign appears on the horizon, “Detour...
READ MOREGuilty as Charged David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer People have asked me how I decide what to write about. The answer is always, “what I am learning at the time.”...
READ MOREChoices David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This past weekend I was driving somewhere and listening to an audiobook that I had listened to at least once before, and a phrase...
READ MOREBetter or Bitter David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about what I had been learning as I traveled through these challenging times. The post that I sent...
READ MOREWhat Have I Learned? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer The last several weeks have certainly been unusual. Things in our world went from somewhat predictable and routine to completely unpredictable,...
READ MOREWho is David K. Carter? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer May 16, 1860, Chicago, Illinois - Upwards of 40,000 visitors have descended on this upstart of a city. Trains continue...
READ MOREFor Such a Time as This – Part 4 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Today I will wrap up my For Such a Time as This series. It seems like...
READ MOREFor Such a Time as This: Part 3 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This is now my third installment in the For Such a Time as This series. In Part...
READ MOREFor Such a Time as This: Part 2 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I shared where the For Such a Time as This phrase originated. I also shared...
READ MOREFor Such a Time as This – Part 1 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer For Such a Time as This - In recent days, I have heard this phrase many...
READ MORELeading in Uncertain Times David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer As leaders, we are facing very uncertain times. Just yesterday, I received an email from a friend and colleague who simply...
READ MOREGive Me a Break! David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer During last week’s podcast, Marisa and I started talking about the need for leaders to rest. I shared with Marisa and...
READ MOREDon’t Forget About 3G David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Do you remember when 3G was the latest and greatest? Then there was 4G, 4G LTE, and now 5G. I’m not...
READ MOREDon’t Go It Alone David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever heard someone say that they are a self-made person? Perhaps you have heard someone refer to another person...
READ MOREHave You Sent the Invitation? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about the lack of leadership. This week I would like to talk about attracting leaders. Let’s...
READ MOREWhere Are The Leaders? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer If you were to ask me what the greatest challenge facing our country and the world at large is, I would...
READ MOREWhat’s Your Lid? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Would you believe me if I told you that you determine your lid? That’s right; you determine how much you grow. As...
READ MOREI Don’t Feel Like It David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Do you ever have days when you just don’t feel like it? It could be anything; don’t feel like going...
READ MOREA Handshake David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Years ago, a handshake was all that was needed to confirm an agreement or deal. Your word was your bond and you would...
READ MOREDon’t Just Be Frustrated; Do Something. David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We live in a time when tearing other people down gets attention. The more outlandish the claim, the more...
READ MORECrock-Pots and Microwaves David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I remember when my parents got their first microwave. It was a Tappan, and my aunt and uncle bought it from the...
READ MOREWhat I Learned in 2019 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer If you have been following my posts and The Next Page podcast, you have heard me talk about my year-end...
READ MORETake a Timeout David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer The most important task you can do to promote success in the coming year just might be the time you spend reflecting...
READ MOREA Rising Star! David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I know what you’re thinking; it’s Christmastime, and Dave is writing about the star of Bethlehem. While that would be quite appropriate...
READ MOREWhat Else is Holding You Back? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about tips that can help you achieve your goals. As I reflected on that a...
READ MORETwo Quick Ways to Gain Traction on Your Goals Today David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever struggled with achieving your goals? If your answer is no, we need...
READ MOREI Know I Am, But What Are You? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I asked if you suffer from the Sunday Evening Flu. I asked if when you...
READ MOREThe Sunday Evening Flu David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Do you suffer from the Sunday evening flu? When you start thinking about Monday morning, do you get stressed out? Does...
READ MORETwo Tons of Fertilizer – Part 2 Last week I shared about an ad I remember from my years as a teen with the tagline, “That’s like trying to haul...
READ MORETwo Tons of Fertilizer David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer When I was in my teens, there was an ad on television with the tag line, “That’s like trying to haul...
READ MOREThe Forgotten David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer On December 4, 1950, Fighter Squadron 32 took off from the USS Leyte on an armed reconnaissance mission in support of the UN...
READ MOREIt’s Time to Think David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer How often do you think about thinking? We live in such a fast-paced world with information bombarding us from all sides....
READ MOREPaper, Digital, or Both? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We live in a digitally connected world. I have an iPhone, iPad, iMac, and a laptop running Windows. My calendars, emails,...
READ MORETeaching Moments and Touch Points David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last Friday, I was driving to a Manufacturing Day event and happened to listen in on a conversation John Maxwell...
READ MOREIt Looked Completely Different David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It’s been a long day. My eyes feel tired and my head hurts a bit. I am just exhausted from a...
READ MOREWhen Stress Takes Over David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I have recently found myself battling stress regularly. I know that a little stress is a good thing—some researchers even believe...
READ MORELiving with Intention in Every Season Marisa Norcross A quick note...David and I have spent a lot of time over the last couple of years talking about leadership and growth...
READ MORELet’s Pull it all Together David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Over the last four weeks, I have been writing about how to build a personalized growth plan. This week I...
READ MOREBuilding Your Growth Plan: Step 4 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Over the past three weeks, we’ve worked through building your growth plan with Step 1 (defining what you want...
READ MOREBuilding Your Growth Plan: Step 3 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Over the past two weeks we’ve worked through building your growth plan with Step 1 (defining what you want...
READ MOREBuilding Your Growth Plan: Step 2 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer The first week of school in Central New York is one week closer. Are you ready? While it may...
READ MOREBuilding Your Growth Plan: Step 1 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It’s back to school time! This is the time of year when most kids are dreading the start of...
READ MOREJohn Maxwell often says "everything rises and falls on leadership." Leadership is the catalyst that takes average organizations and makes them great. Leaders add value to their team, their organizations,...
READ MOREWhy Do They Come? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I recently saw a post from Simon Sinek that read, “Give people a reason to come to work, not just a...
READ MOREYour Next Small Step David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about the challenge that President John F. Kennedy gave during a speech at Rice University on September...
READ MORESlide Rules, Genius, and Guts David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy,...
READ MOREThe Other Side of Me David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This morning as I was driving to work I heard this question: “What’s it like to be on the other...
READ MOREWhy Didn’t You Say Something? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever been in a meeting and thought things went so well? You were so proud of how your...
READ MOREHow are the conversations going? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer In his book The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, John Maxwell notes, “Interaction fuels action.” That is an incredibly true...
READ MOREJuly 8, 1776 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer On Monday, July 8, 1776, Colonel John Nixon gave the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence to an assemblage of...
READ MOREHappy Leon Day! David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Happy Leon Day! Can you believe that we are just about half finished with 2019? How is everything going? Are you making...
READ MOREYour Employees Are Not Your Greatest Assets David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Wow, I bet that title shocked you. Especially coming from me. This title is a quote that I...
READ MOREAre you a lifter, a leaner, or just watching? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer When I was growing up, my Dad told me there were three kinds of people in...
READ MOREPathways and the Twists and Turns David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer When you hear the word pathways, what thoughts come to mind? Perhaps a well-worn trail through the woods that...
READ MOREApples of Gold in Pictures of Silver David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Consider for a moment this proverb: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of...
READ MORECan Introverts Be Great Leaders? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer When we think of leaders, we often have visions of outgoing people who are larger than life. Perhaps we see...
READ MOREThe Next Page: Past, Present, and Future David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Today the 100th episode of The Next Page podcast was released. For those of you that don’t know,...
READ MOREWhat Does it Take to be a Great Leader? (Part 4) David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about two important qualities of a great leader: teachability and...
READ MOREWhat Does it Take to be a Great Leader? (Part 3) David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week we looked into two more qualities of a great leader, courage and...
READ MOREWhat Does it Take to be a Great Leader? (Part 2) David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I answered the question, “Are leaders born or developed?” As a reminder,...
READ MOREWhat Does it Take to be a Great Leader? (Part 1) David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I have often heard the question, “Are leaders born or developed?” The answer to...
READ MOREAre You Intentional? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer One of my first emails was titled, “Are You Living with Intentionality?” If my numbers are correct, this was about 130 emails...
READ MOREThe Power of a Question David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever thought about the power of a question? Questions are priceless and allow us to open a dialog...
READ MOREDon’t Leave, Go David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I know this sounds a bit convoluted, but we need to stop leaving and start going. I once heard of a baseball...
READ MORETo Write, or Not to Write - Part 2 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about the power of journaling. I shared many of the benefits of...
READ MORETo Write, or Not to Write David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer When you think of journaling, what comes to mind? A young teen dreaming about the future or decrying the...
READ MOREOpportunities in Work Clothes David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer When I was a kid and would tell my Dad I had a problem, he would always say, “Son, you don’t...
READ MOREWho is Controlling Whom? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We are now almost two months into 2019. How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions and goals for the...
READ MOREThey Made Such a Difference David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This morning while I was shaving, a cold chill came over me. I had a flashback to a time when...
READ MOREThe Law of the Lid states that our teams and our organizations cannot grow beyond our level of knowledge and expertise. Having partners as we learn makes it more fun...
READ MOREAre You Arguing with Yourself? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Are you arguing with yourself? I’m really asking you to think about this question. Are you arguing with yourself? Are...
READ MOREHow Are You Doing With Stress? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Let me start off by saying that I’m not asking how you are doing with your stress. I want...
READ MOREWe often hear about the need for transformation. When a market is disrupted (implying something unexpected), current company leaders need to be prepared to respond effectively and efficiently. It is...
READ MOREAre You Making The Investment? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It is often said that, “The dream is free, but the journey isn’t.” What a profound statement. We can and...
READ MOREAre You Committed to Being a Person of Character? David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Lately, I have been reflecting on two words, both of which start with the letter “C,”...
READ MOREReady, Set, Grow! - Part 4 David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It’s hard to believe we are at the last installment of our Ready, Set, Grow! Series. Four weeks flew...
READ MOREReady, Set, Grow! - Part 3 By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This week we will look at laws that might be a bit tougher to understand at first glance,...
READ MOREReady, Set, Grow! - Part 2 By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer As we start the second week of our growth series, I wanted to share three more Laws of...
READ MOREReady, Set, Grow! – Part 1 By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer With Christmas behind us and the New Year before us, I thought that I would start a series...
READ MOREDo You Have a Decision Bias? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Aren’t you happy when people make decisions? There’s nothing worse than a group of people sitting around and...
READ MOREOnce Is Never Enough By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer In the 1880s, psychologist Herman Ebbinghaus created his concept of the Forgetting Curve. His curve revealed that within three to...
READ MOREAre You Ready for The Holidays? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that in my opinion, this time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is...
READ MOREIt’s Yours for the Choosing By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer How was your Thanksgiving? Did it meet your expectations? How about your holiday shopping, is it going well? Those...
READ MOREDemocracy at Its Finest By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Election day 2018 is now past. I would like to touch on democracy at its finest. In 1784, Governor George...
READ MORESecond Annual MACNY Transformational Leadership Award! On October 26th, leaders from across Central New York gathered at The Lodge at Welch Allyn for Live2Lead 2018--a broadcast event from Duluth, Georgia....
READ MOREIt Was Fun! By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last Sunday evening, I dropped my parents off at the airport for their annual migration to warmer weather. At 86 and...
READ MORERivers Not Reservoirs By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Someone once told me that God created us to be rivers, not reservoirs. He will only give to us what he...
READ MOREThis is the last chance to register for Live2Lead on October 26! Registration will be closing on October 12. Please register by clicking HERE! What is LIVE2LEAD? LIVE2LEAD is...
READ MOREIs Your Capacity Increasing? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last May, I wrote about capacity and Marisa and I discussed it on episode 47 of The Next Page Podcast....
READ MOREA Veteran’s Perspective By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I recently had the opportunity to sit down and interview my Dad for The Next Page podcast. What struck me about...
READ MOREAre You the Smartest Person in the Room? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Are you the smartest person in the room? If so, you are in the wrong room....
READ MOREAre You Afraid of the Right Things? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Back in July, I asked you What Your Fear Factor is. My email asked these two questions:...
READ MOREHave You Charted the Course? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I love boats, and I love being out on the water. There is something about traveling on the water...
READ MOREThis year we will again recognize someone as MACNY’s Transformational Leader Award winner for 2018. The winner will be someone who embodies character, commitment, courage, competence, initiative, passion, servanthood, and generosity. ...
READ MOREAre You Majoring on the Minors? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer When you think about your relationships with others, are you majoring on the minors? As you think about...
READ MOREWhen Leadership Fails By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Lately, I have been thinking about leadership failures. I have failed so many times in my more than 30 years as...
READ MOREWhat is LIVE2LEAD? LIVE2LEAD is a leader development experience designed to equip you with new perspectives, practical tools and key takeaways. You’ll breathe new life into your leadership during this...
READ MOREHow to Influence Success By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever thought about what it takes to be successful? Have you ever wondered why some people achieve...
READ MOREReverse Inspiration By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Years ago, when our children were still very young, several families from our church would take one Tuesday evening per month and...
READ MOREInspiration Point By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer While listening to a podcast on my way to the office I was reminded of my favorite magazine that comes every other...
READ MOREWhat’s Your Fear Factor? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever been so scared that you felt almost paralyzed? How about one of those nightmares where you tried...
READ MOREA Life of Fulfillment By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever thought about what it means to have fulfillment in life? Not success or happiness, but fulfillment. My...
READ MOREI Found My WHY! By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about one of the greatest WHY statements ever penned, “We hold these truths to be self-evident,...
READ MOREWe Hold These Truths By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Today is July 4th, Independence Day. Have you thought about the impact of that day 242 years ago, when 56...
READ MOREDavid Freund presents a new offering for MACNY – Everyone Communicates, Few Connect - Presenter’s Edition. This session will focus on presentation skills needed in your professional and personal life. ...
READ MOREIs Overcommitment Stealing Your Productivity? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I shared what can be accomplished if we are committed to something. It sounds so good,...
READ MOREThe Power of Commitment By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last year I was encouraged to start a podcast. I found the idea interesting, but then the doubts came. Who...
READ MOREIn Your (Day) Dreams By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Many (many) years ago, when I was in school, I was frequently getting in trouble for daydreaming. Perhaps it was...
READ MOREBut it was just a thought…or so I thought. By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer The last several weeks have been challenging for me. I am usually a very positive...
READ MOREWhy Didn’t I Do It? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Are there things that you know you should do, but just don’t? Are there changes you would like to...
READ MOREAre You Learning Alone? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer John Maxwell’s Law of the Lid states that our teams and our organizations cannot grow beyond our level of knowledge...
READ MOREHave You Found a Partner? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Life isn’t always easy. In fact, sometimes it’s downright tough. Things often go much better when you have a...
READ MOREWhat’s Your Capacity? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer A few years ago I purchased a new car and I am annoyed by its limited fuel capacity. I want a...
READ MOREHave You Outlived Your Usefulness? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I was recently teaching a class on the “15 Invaluable Laws of Growth” by John Maxwell for a...
READ MORELessons From Max By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Do you know people who have spoken into your life so profoundly that they seem to have been bigger than life?...
READ MOREIs Your Passion Gone? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer When was the last time you woke up in the morning and couldn’t wait to get out of bed? When...
READ MOREGo ahead, eat it. I dare you! By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is eat a live...
READ MOREA Bridge to Nowhere By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer “I’ve crossed so many bridges only to find that there wasn’t a stream.” This quote came from my dad in...
READ MOREThe Ballerina By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever wondered about the specific role men play in the ballet? Why are they there? What is their purpose? In...
READ MOREExcuse Me, But It’s Not About You! By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Recently I was reflecting on an experience I once had with one of my bosses. It...
READ MOREPlease Just Stop! By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Sometimes we simply need to stop. Working harder and longer isn’t always the answer. Sometimes you must stop, disconnect, and rest....
READ MOREWATCH OUT!!!! By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It was a mid-December evening, about ten minutes after 5 PM, and I had a tough day. Lots of meetings, and a...
READ MORELevel Five – From Success to Significance By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week we looked into Level 4 of John Maxwell’s Five Levels of Leadership, People Development. I...
READ MORELevel Four - Breaking Free to Greater Success By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week we continued with our look into John Maxwell’s Five Levels of Leadership, and we...
READ MORELevel 3 - Hitting Your Stride By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week we continued with our look into John Maxwell’s Five Levels of Leadership, and we discussed Level...
READ MOREWe in Central New York are blessed to have tremendous resources in our manufacturing community. Among those resources is a real treasure, Jim Beckman. Jim has agreed to partner with MACNY...
READ MORELevel 2 – Listen, Observe, and Prepare for What’s Next By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I introduced John Maxwell’s Five Levels of Leadership, and we discussed level...
READ MORETake Your Leadership to the Next Level By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer In 2011, John Maxwell released one of his bestselling books The Five Levels of Leadership. If you...
READ MOREThe Half-Truth of Employee Engagement By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Recently I have been thinking about how growth and professional development influence employee engagement. Clearly, employee engagement is a...
READ MOREWhen Things Go Wrong By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer As much as we would like to plan and lay out our lives, things at times just go wrong. I...
READ MORELet’s Start Smarter By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer We are now well into the new year, and it’s high time I get back to those goals we were...
READ MOREOne More Thing Before We Start By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week we spoke about your life being a great story waiting to be written. I referenced a...
READ MOREAre You Ready? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer There are only 363 shopping days until Christmas! Sorry I couldn’t resist. However, we are only a few days away from...
READ MOREChristmas Memories By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer In just a few short days it will be Christmas. The purpose of my email this week is to encourage you to...
READ MOREStart Smart by Looking Backwards By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I love this time of year for many reasons. I just love the Holidays! I begin listening to Christmas...
READ MOREPick Your Pain…Now or Later By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever noticed that there are things that we know we should do, but we just don’t seem...
READ MOREYou Didn’t Ask. By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer When I was young and in school, I rarely asked questions. Consequently, unless someone else asked the questions I had, I...
READ MOREStop the merry-go-round, it’s time to get off. By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer You arrive home expecting to see your loved one’s car in the garage, and it’s not...
READ MOREDo you know what’s in front of you? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever walked over a bridge and looked down at the water flowing beneath you?...
READ MOREIt’s So Noisy By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever noticed how noisy it gets? It seems as though there is noise all the time. There was an...
READ MOREAre You a Filler or a Dipper? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Recently I heard that my grandson came home from school and told his mom that “we all...
READ MOREKeys to Success By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever wondered if there is a secret to being successful? So many people say they want to be successful...
READ MOREAre You Likable? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Seriously, are you a likable person? I know that sounds like a strange question, but have you ever thought about it?...
READ MOREWhy Is He So Annoying?! By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever noticed that some people are just plain annoying? You know that person, they just come into...
READ MOREDo you know what you want? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It’s easier to find something when you know what you are looking for. Have you ever noticed that...
READ MOREMy Resources By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer People have asked if I would share the resources I have found that have helped me on my path of growth, so...
READ MOREI Forgot the Anchor! By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It was a mid-June day and it was quite windy. We had just installed all the floorboards in our old...
READ MOREMACNY Members: John Maxwell often says “everything rises and falls on leadership.” As a member of the John Maxwell Team, I whole heartedly agree with John. Leadership is the catalyst...
READ MOREHelp! I Am Trapped Under a Diminisher. By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer As much as we would love to think every boss is a Multiplier, it’s simply not true....
READ MOREAre you leading as a Multiplier? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I have read that after meeting with British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, you would leave feeling that...
READ MOREDid You Just Call Me the “D” Word? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I’m sorry, but there is no way I am or have ever been a diminisher! I...
READ MOREI Just Don’t Feel Like It By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Let’s face it. Some days it’s just tough to get going. Perhaps the weather is gray and overcast....
READ MOREJoin us for our third annual broadcasting of John Maxwell's annual Atlanta-based event: LIVE2LEAD October 20, 2017 9 AM - 4 PM The Lodge at Welch Allyn What is...
READ MOREFriends and Accomplices By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about the influence others have on our lives. Harvard social psychologist Dr. David McClelland states that our...
READ MOREI Thought the Association Would Do Him Good By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Not long ago I heard a story of a man who entered his mule in the...
READ MOREThe Trust Tax By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever stopped to think about the effect trust has on our lives? As leaders, we either pay a tax...
READ MOREOne of my Greatest Leadership Failures By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer In 2007, the company I was running started a season of significant growth. Realizing that I needed a...
READ MOREA Measured Response By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I wrote about President Lincoln's cabinet of rivals. In addition to his abilities to utilize differences and build coalitions...
READ MORENow He Belongs to the Ages By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer The date was April 15th, 1865. The time, 7:22 AM. President Abraham Lincoln’s 9-hour struggle for life was...
READ MORESearching for Buds By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer My wife is an amazing gardener. When you walk up to the front of our home, you would think you are...
READ MOREAre You the Governor? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Perhaps a better title would have been; You Are the Governor. Please allow me to explain. It started this past...
READ MOREMining for Gold By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer The date was January 24, 1848, when a carpenter from New Jersey named James Marshall found flakes of gold in California’s...
READ MOREWere You Listening? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer May 18th was a warm late spring day. As the day progressed, and the humidity started to build, it almost felt...
READ MOREHave We Forgotten How to be Kind? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Do you remember a time when people were just plain nice? When people actually were polite to...
READ MOREA Mentor By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever had a person come into your professional life who helped transform you into someone you never thought you could...
READ MOREAre You Willing to Pay the Price? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Eugene Habecker, the author of The Other Side of Leadership, wrote “The true leader serves. Serves people....
READ MOREWhere Did They Go? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officers Last week I wrote about finding emerging leaders, and I received some great feedback. During a conversation about the post,...
READ MOREWhere Are All The Leaders? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever noticed that it is tough to find leaders? They just never seem to be applying for...
READ MOREThermostats and Thermometers By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer It was 81 degrees on Sunday then dropped into the 40s Sunday night. Do you turn the heat on or the...
READ MOREThe Road to Greatness By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer This morning I came across a quote by Joe Duncan that read “You’re going to be on the road to...
READ MOREWe Cheered By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Recently I was reading an article about the days following September 11, 2001. In the article, writer Peggy Noonan recalls Friday, September...
READ MOREWe Buried Him Last Week By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer “It was a chilly late spring morning. The leaves were just starting to pop as I made my way...
READ MOREWorn Out! By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Do you struggle with being worn out? Are you “out of gas” so to speak? If the answer is yes, you are...
READ MOREA Tale of Two Lives By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week I asked if you were willing to strive for significance. Some may wonder what I mean by...
READ MOREE Pluribus Unum By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer I mentioned last week that I would be traveling to our nation’s capital to see the sights with my son. It...
READ MOREThe Hot Poker By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Recently I was preparing to teach on John Maxwell’s 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth. During my preparation, I was reminded of...
READ MORETruth or Consequences By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Recently I heard someone say that “there is no such thing as a thought that doesn’t have consequences.” This statement caused...
READ MOREGreat Expectations By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer At first glance, you may think that I am referring to the book Charles Dickens wrote in 1861. While I am a...
READ MOREReady, Aim, Fire! By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Are you a person who has a propensity for action or inaction? I know that may sound like a strange question,...
READ MOREThe Excellence Habit – Continued By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Last week we looked into habits and how they get started. I shared that Aristotle said, “To be excellent,...
READ MOREThe Excellence Habit By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer So many times in my life I have tried to break bad a habit. In fact, I think I am always...
READ MOREMACNY's Individual Membership offering is an exclusive opportunity for individuals within MACNY's member companies as a way to stay more involved with MACNY while also developing professionally. Think of Individual...
READ MOREPersonal Kaizen? By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Most of us in manufacturing have heard of Kaizen events. Kaizen is Chinese and Japanese for "continuous improvement." In manufacturing, Kaizen refers...
READ MOREIt's Hopeless By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Marshal Ferdinand Foch, a French General, Marshal of France and the Supreme Allied Commander during the First World War stated: “There are...
READ MOREDestiny By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer What will 2017 hold in store for you? According to the dictionary, the noun Destiny means, the events that will necessarily happen to...
READ MOREDisappointment By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Disappointment is defined as the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one's hopes or expectations. Disappointments are just a...
READ MOREAnything, Just Not Everything By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer The lessons we learn are often found in the strangest of places. The lesson I would like to share with...
READ MOREBeliefs By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Have you ever reflected on the power of your beliefs? Perhaps the first step is to define belief. A belief is the state...
READ MOREThe 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Mastermind Group - Individual Membership Exclusive Here at MACNY we are always searching for ways to provide more value to our Individual Members—especially in...
READ MORECircumstances By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer Writer James Allen wrote, “Circumstances do not make a man; they reveal him.” So often we hear people complaining about situations that they...
READ MOREGood Hypocrisy By: David Freund Could hypocrisy actually be a good thing? Could there be a benefit to a form of hypocrisy? For my entire life I have been told...
READ MOREIt's Thanksgiving--Well, Almost By: David Freund Thursday will be Thanksgiving. For many of us in the manufacturing world, we will actually get a four-day weekend. How will you spend your...
READ MOREGratitude By: David Freund Have we lost the ability to be grateful? Have we as a nation lost perspective? Have we forgotten how truly blessed we are? My mom and...
READ MORETime By: David Freund Recently I have been having difficulty with time. I just never have enough of it. It seems that there is always way too much to do...
READ MOREInspiration and insight designed to develop great leaders. Are You Living with Intentionality? Intentionality is one of my favorite words. In fact, my family and friends often tease me about...
READ MOREInspiration and insight designed to develop great leaders. Growth and Leadership Development This summer I turned 55. By most people's opinions if I have not learned it yet there's not...
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