Archives

At the October Leaders Connect meeting, I had the unique opportunity to do a Q&A session with Astrophysicist, Thomas Zurbuchen.  Thomas is the Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA. Prior to this, he was Professor of Space Science and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan, where he helped found the Center for Entrepreneurship. Thomas is currently overseeing the leading Earth Science program in the world, where he is involved with 105 missions currently.  Since Thomas joined NASA the missions funding increased …

The scientist, John Brockman, a few years ago asked prominent scientists a crucial question: “What scientific concept would improve everybody’s cognitive toolkit?” He compiled the scientist’s answers into a book titled ” This Will Make You Smarter” Today, I have tried to condense a few of their answers into life lessons which I believe may be applicable to my readership. As I found the book extremely thought-provoking, I would invite you to provide your responses to these ideas and to others found in …

Defeating the Demon of Self Doubt Self-doubt undoubtedly plagues us all.  While we all experience it much of the time, most of us are afraid to admit it. Yet, self doubt is not always a bad thing.  Actually, when used in the right way, it can help us to evaluate life’s risks and lead us to make good decisions. However, when it becomes excessive, it can immobilize us in a way that freezes us in indecision. Self-doubt is that voice in …

On September 14, 2018, we kicked off our fall Leaders Connect Breakfast series with “everything you wanted to know about emergency medicine, but were too afraid to ask”.  We were fortunate to have a panel of veteran emergency physicians give us insight into their fast paced, rapidly evolving field, and answer our questions about, among other things: Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its impact on emergency medicine Physician burnout and disillusionment Opaque billing process Aging population …

Launching a Successful Second Career In 2013, the beloved Detroit TV reporter, Cheryl Chodun, announced her retirement from WXYZ Channel 7 Detroit. After 35 years on the air and in front of the camera, Cheryl was always admired as the first person on the scene of a crime or of a visit of a dignitary to Detroit. Among others, she has interviewed President Clinton, and covered visits to Detroit by the Pope and Nelson Mandela. Most of her fans, upon …

Leaders Connect: How it Started By chance, twenty-five years ago I launched my Leaders Connect Breakfast series in Ann Arbor, MI.  At that time, I had been facilitating a small group of community leaders in a peer forum.  I assigned the group a new book by my friend, Professor Robert Quinn from the University of Michigan Business School.  The group members were so moved by the book, Deep Change: Discovering the Leader Within, that they asked if I would invite Bob …