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Junkyard Management

Wit and Wine

I’ve lost track of the number of boards I’ve served on. From organizations I’ve started myself to boards that have been around for nearly a century. They’ve included churches, foundations, mission groups, retreat centers, colleges, conferences, and companies.

The common denominator in them all? Building a good board is hard work. You need quality people who share your vision and have the capacity to help. Finding the right people is not easy.

Decades ago I discovered the late Max De Pree’s books about leadership. One of the most helpful insights was the four W’s for board members: work, wealth, wisdom, …

Junkyard Management, Leadership, Salvaged,

Impure and Unclean

Growing up in the junkyard meant working in the impure and unclean. Actually, not just working in it, but embracing it.

It was routine to come home covered in grease, dust, oil, and sweat. After a long day of work with my dad, my mom would insist I go through the garage, take off my shoes, and wash my hands. Then — and only then — I could enter the house to take a shower.

Everything touchable in the junkyard was dirty, and a lot of that dirt and grime came home on me. Many of the metals, oils, and …

Junkyard Management, Leadership,

On mentoring

Every now and then somebody asks me to mentor them. I suppose this is God’s way of reminding me I’m getting older. But it is also God’s way of reminding me to give back.

For much of my young adult life I wanted a good mentor but never could find one. It wasn’t until my late 40’s that I found a few. So I’m sympathetic to those who approach me.

But just because I sympathize doesn’t mean I agree to do it. Many of the people who ask get a “no, sorry” response. In my head a few get a …

Junkyard Management, Leadership, Random Thoughts,

Yeah, but …

Have we forgotten how to listen? Have we forgotten how to communicate? Is it all just slogans, memes, and bumperstickers these days? Are those mostly written to be abrasive and provoke others, as they reaffirm our own bias?

I’m not quite ready to say, “Yes, yes, yes, and yes.” But we’re getting close. The tone is sometimes too toxic for listening. Which is sad.

Freedom of speech is at the bedrock of our nation and our culture. It is our strength. But as with all strengths, it can be leveraged against us. It’s easy to divide people simply by saying …

Junkyard Management, Leadership, Salvaged,

The Importance of Ownership

Ownership matters to the success of an endeavor. A business, nonprofit, team, family, or just about any effort needs people who act like owners. My book Salvaged touched on this in the chapter about scaling (hint: don’t be suckered into scaling). There is a unique power of an owner compared to, say, an investor.

Hopefully, we can all agree that ownership matters.

And perhaps never more so than now, after we shut down the economy and are now starting the effort to reopen.

Right now, ownership really matters.

You have probably heard the maxim, “Leadership casts a long shadow.” Indeed …

Junkyard Management, Leadership,

Give Them the Opportunity to be Wrong

A simple way to broaden your leadership impact is to give your team the opportunity to be wrong.

That doesn’t mean you actively encourage being wrong of course. You must still do all you can as a leader to ensure their success.

But many of us can, at times, become too risk-adverse when it comes to letting your team make mistakes.

A lot of leadership gurus will tell you a good leader puts their team in a position to succeed. Well, duh. Even so, having the best team, perfectly prepared, with all the right resources, will not always result in …

Junkyard Management, Leadership,

Seriously, Nobody Cares if You Are The Smartest Person in the Room

Last week was my final meeting on a board I joined almost 18-years ago. Eventually I might rejoin the board, but it feels strange to step aside from something that has been a big part of my life.

It reminded me of this story, which I shared a few years ago. I’ve refreshed it and am posting again because the advice from this mentor was so powerful. Here goes:

Many years ago I joined a board of directors for a reasonably large organization. It was an honor to be invited, and I wanted to help the organization in the best …

Family, Junkyard Management,

Liars and Thieves

A few years ago I wrote this story, but it feels even more relevant today. Maybe because it’s an election year, or maybe because we have our own “alternative facts” to believe. Whatever the reason, it feels like we are hearing more lies than ever before.

One reality of this, as this story points out, is that someone who lies to you is just as likely to steal from you.

This story happened on a hot summer afternoon in the mid-1970’s. I was with my dad as he was negotiating a deal with a contractor. Let’s call the contractor John. …