How can we effectively lead if we haven't taken the time to really know who we have working for us?

Personal Leadershippb+jDecember 2, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

Radically Grateful Everyday

My mother turned 96 on Nov. 23. She wouldn’t use this term, but she is a person who is truly “radically grateful” everyday for her life.

She’s taught me a lot. Perhaps her most generous and meaningful gift is observing the relationship she has with life. She is simply and wonderfully grateful without a sense of entitlement that somehow she deserves it.

Personal Leadershippb+jNovember 25, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

People First and Agentic AI: Moving Beyond Chatbots

Leaders can rapidly evolve from the beneficial but narrow use of prompt-based AI to autonomous AI with real agency.

And if we've learned anything about change management, this is a culture initiative first, followed by technology.

Personal Leadershippb+jNovember 18, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

Gen Z at Work: Hyper-Scrutinized and Undersupported

The combination of having a hard time getting a job and then feeling like you need to hug the job you have can be deeply demoralizing.

Personal Leadershippb+jNovember 11, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

The Trending 996 Model. 67. Skibidi. All Senseless?

One trending topic zig-zagging through the AI boom is the idea that workers should adopt what has been the norm in some Asian countries: The 996 model.

Personal Leadershippb+jNovember 4, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

Lazy Leaders Choose Sides. Loving Leaders Do the Hard Work

A harsh but necessary truth: leaders who think they must choose between accountability and engagement are simply being lazy.

Personal Leadershippb+jOctober 28, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

From Tin Man to Octopus: Rewriting Your Organization's DNA

In my 10-element culture framework, which many of you are familiar with, “octopus behavior” has been the foundation of “peer-to-peer power” along with the other nine elements.

Personal Leadershippb+jOctober 21, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

When the Last Door Closes

This season, I wonder if you might consider what you’ve given in addition to what you've received.

Personal Leadershippb+jOctober 14, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

Age 70 to 79: The New Age of Entrepreneurship

We believe deeply in our purpose and the products we've built. For me, this journey is a "fun road to 80," and I'm incredibly thankful for my team nudging me along the way.

Personal Leadershippb+jOctober 7, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

The $100 Million Frappuccino: Is Starbucks Creating Negative Friction?

Starbucks used to be a daily purchase for me. It was a highlight in my day. Not anymore. The value and experience is no longer there.

Find out your connect score.

Personal Leadershippb+jSeptember 30, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

The Reality Check – How Well Do You Really Know Your Team?

When I bring a group of leaders together, I start with a simple question: "Do you feel you know your teammates and direct reports?"

Find out your connect score.

Personal Leadershippb+jSeptember 23, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

Unlock Your Team's Secret Sauce: The One Thing That Changes Everything

If I could do just one thing for every team on the planet, it would be this: I would take them through Belongify Connect.

And today, we’re giving you the key.

Personal Leadershippb+jSeptember 15, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

Your Integrity Will Be Tested. Be Ready.

Integrity isn't about being preachy; it's about being practical. It’s the operating system for a functional career, team, and society.

Personal Leadershippb+jSeptember 2, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

Don't Flatten Your Managers—Fix Your Leadership

The path forward requires intentional leadership. Here’s how executives can proactively engage and empower their middle management layer to drive results.

Personal Leadershippb+jAugust 26, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

The Joy of a Blue Jay Jacket (And Why Team Rituals Matter)

Great teams don’t just win—they celebrate in ways that bond them. Here’s how rituals fuel success in sports and business:

Personal Leadershippb+jAugust 19, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

Winning the Right Way: Leadership That Lasts

Here’s how to build lasting success without sacrificing decency or long-term value—and why it’ll succeed.

Personal Leadershippb+jAugust 12, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

Pivot Instead of Pout: Turning Feedback into Action

Getting critical feedback on a passion project is tough—especially when you’re eager to launch. Here are some key learnings we’re experiencing, and how to channel that energy productively:

Personal Leadershippb+jAugust 5, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

Needy Versus Needed

If leaders want employees to be less needy, then demonstrate how much they are needed

Personal Leadershippb+jJuly 29, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

No ‘Joyspan’ Equals No Job

grow, adapt, give and Connect will serve us well in advancing our Joyspan at work and in all aspects of daily living.

Personal Leadershippb+jJuly 22, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance

The Magic of the Connect Circle (And Why Your Team Needs One)

We’ve created a simple DIY guide to help leaders facilitate their own Connect Circle. And because we believe in this so deeply, we’re offering a special Friends & Family package on August 15 for $249.

Personal Leadershippb+jJuly 15, 2025Culture, Focus, Goals, Leadership, Learning, Lessons, Success, The Character Triangle, 1000 Blogs, belonging, belongify, growth, performance