Decision Making

The tough decision checklist: Finish it and sleep soundly tonight

August 16, 2017
Stop second-guessing yourself and get out a pen. After you go coolly through this checklist point by point, you’ll be ready to stand up and make that difficult call—no hesitation, and no regrets.

They just knew it was time

August 16, 2017
Most of us wait to end our time at a job, or our careers, until we absolutely must go. But once in a while, it’s worth imagining what it would be like to depart in midstride.

When to settle a case

August 3, 2017
In the event of a lawsuit, the legal process can lead your business rather than the other way around.

Everyone agrees? Uh-oh!

June 27, 2017
For three months, James Reinertsen grappled with a tough question: Should we restructure the company? Everyone enthusiastically agreed they should combine forces and form a tight system. Yet in the weeks that followed, problems erupted.

Sometimes, Don Quixote wins

April 7, 2017
Some people thought A. Philip Randolph was crazy in 1930 when he turned down a job offer from New York City’s mayor, Fiorello La Guardia.

Churchill’s probing questions

March 29, 2017
Without trust and mutual respect, less sharing of information and more obfuscation can lead to tragically wrongheaded decisions.

Apple manager: ‘We cannot launch’

March 12, 2017
During the final testing of Apple’s PowerBook, Anthony Soohoo discovered a small flaw that could harm its performance.

That feeling you’d die for

January 24, 2017
Jed Ortmeyer kept playing hockey while his family begged him to stop.

Michael Phelps’ stylish exit

September 26, 2016
Capping your career, or a segment of it, can be hard to pull off on your own terms.

Walt Disney’s keen eye for talent

September 14, 2016
Part of Walt Disney’s genius was recognizing talented people and giving them the freedom to innovate. The more passion they brought to the job, the more Disney admired them.