By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. One of my heroes is Martin Luther King, Jr. I remember sitting in the living room and watching him on our little black and white television. His fiery rhetoric, his compassion and his choice of words were like getting an extra piece of candy for my ears. I loved his message and his delivery. I was … Read More
Envy & Leadership
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. When I was in grade school, I tried out for every sports team and was cut from every sports team (see Getting Picked Last Sucks!). I loved sports and loved playing sports, but I did not have the eye-hand coordination or strength needed to compete. In high school, all that changed. I made the football and … Read More
Good Anger
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. Everybody wants to be happy! When I’m smiling, I’m happy. When I’m laughing, I’m happy. When someone laughs at my joke that makes me happy. I like to be happy and I’m guessing that you do to. In our quest for happiness, there is a trend to avoid negative emotions. Negative emotions include but are not … Read More
Great Leaders Give
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. General Norman Schwarzkopf once said, “You can’t help someone get up a hill without getting closer to the top yourself.” General Schwarzkopf knew what many great leaders know, that effective leadership is about giving to others, of serving others, of putting others first. This is a leadership concept that has been around from quite some time, … Read More
The Race to the End of the Year is On! How Will Your Year End?
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. One company I worked for made it very clear that hitting or exceeding quarterly and annual revenue targets was not only expected, anything less was unacceptable! Persistent failure provided any employee the opportunity to explore new employment options. I was a regional sales director in the middle of it all, working with my team to help … Read More
Oh Captain! My Captain!
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. Two recent coincidences inspired the words you are reading right now. In a trip to Springfield, IL for my nieces wedding, I visited the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. I found the museum to be informative, moving, illuminating and emotional. While it has been 150 years since his death, Abraham Lincoln and his legacy will … Read More
Go Blue!
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. My wife majored in Philosophy at the University of Michigan. Not only is she extremely intelligent, a deep thinker and beautiful, she is also an avid Michigan football fan! In fact, we’ve had season tickets for Michigan football for over twenty years! While our entire family has become “Go Blue” fans, it’s been rather difficult the … Read More
Baggage in My Head
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. My niece had a beautiful wedding ceremony recently; exchanging vows before family and friends with the love of her life. Our daughter was a bridesmaid and my wife and I were there in our aunt and uncle roles; our family was honored to both witness and participate. Before we arrived I started thinking about how I … Read More
Curios?
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. As Christmas approaches, I am reminded of the intrigue and wonder I experienced as a child as to what Santa was going to leave me under the Christmas tree. I was curious as to what my presents (if any) would be. As I grew older, I became more and more curious as to Santa’s existence. One … Read More
What If….
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. One of the subjects I touch on briefly in my new book, To Lead, Follow, is where leaders spend their time thinking. Leaders need to learn from the past, live in the present and plan for the future, so it is vitally important for a leader to be aware of the time perspective where they are … Read More
Howdy Stranger!
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. Do you talk to strangers or do you follow your mother’s advice and never talk to strangers? When you’re waiting to see your doctor or in line for your skinny latte at Starbucks, do you get annoyed if a stranger tries to strike up a conversation? Worse yet, when you’re packed in like sardines on your … Read More
Why I’m Not Eye Candy
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. There have been times when I’ve joked that the only reason I was being included in a meeting was to provide the “eye candy.” For those of you who know what I look like, you understand the joke. Now don’t get the wrong idea. I certainly don’t think I’m ugly or unattractive, I happen to be … Read More