Blog
The Click Moment
Posted by Moe Abdou on
December 05, 2012
In late 1999, I was having an exit interview with an individual whom I deeply respected, when he handed me a book he felt would be useful in my recruiting efforts. The book - The Five Patterns of an Extraordinary Career, was written by Rick Smith and helped me develop a more inspiring...
Inside CEO Succession
Posted by Moe Abdou on
December 02, 2012
Leadership transition is difficult at any level, but when it involves the CEO, it becomes especially tricky. Having worked with privately held businesses over the past 25 years, I've seen some brilliant moves, and ones that were a bit more questionable. I watched closely, a good friend step down from...
Resonate
Posted by Moe Abdou on
July 31, 2011
You can change the world. "You have the power to change the world." Those were the first words spoken when Nancy Duarte dazzled the audience at a recent TEDx event. She spoke with authority, passion, a smile and a laser focused eye contact. Whether you knew Nancy or...
Work doesn't have to suck
Posted by Moe Abdou on
November 29, 2012
Work doesn't have to suck When you work at a place like Pixar, you don't just animate or work on great movies; you get the 'opportunity to bring imagination to life'. Take a peak inside the Pixar Studios in Emeryville, CA and you'll see a portrait of the...
Action Trumps Everything
Posted by Moe Abdou on
October 30, 2012
Aristotle once said, "For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them." And for entrepreneurs, that's permission to tinker with ideas. It's a mindset that entrepreneurial success is an evolutionary process, and one that will never end. It starts with a...
The emotional connection
Posted by Moe Abdou on
February 21, 2012
The emotional connection. One of the most neglected skills in business and leadership in particular, is emotional intelligence - EQ. I was initially exposed to the concept of EQ by Dr. Daniel Goleman in 1996, but rarely had meaningful dialogue around the topic because it wasn't measurable. My...
Attaining Mastery
Posted by Moe Abdou on
November 13, 2012
Mastery is deliberate. It's the process of discovering your uniqueness and committing to becoming the best in the world at it. It's a journey that begins in early childhood and one that never stops. It shapes how you see the world, how you contribute to society and most importantly,...
Kill The Company
Posted by Moe Abdou on
July 26, 2012
In Japan, there's a phrase shoshin, which means "beginner's mind"; and ancient Japanese wisdom tells us that "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few". Each of us can tap our beginner's mind, but it has to happen consciously and with...
The Power of Unpopular
Posted by Moe Abdou on
October 19, 2012
Smart entrepreneurs know and understand that their uniqueness is the greatest competitive advantage they have and it's what sets them apart. And while most businesses are trying to gain popularity by getting as many 'likes' on Facebook as they can, Entrepreneur Magazine columnist, Erika Napoletano is reminding us that...
The Job to be Done
Posted by Moe Abdou on
November 19, 2012
The job to be done The Swedish furniture retailer, IKEA, has had an unspoken philosophy that insiders refer to as - "We show people the way". And since their inception in 1943, IKEA has symbolized originality, quality, a distinct design, and most importantly, convenience. Their dominance is no accident and...