Leadership
Johnny Appleseed: An Original American Entrepreneur
Name 3 of America’s earliest entrepreneurs- and… go. Who did you come up with? Here’s what I’ve got: Benjamin Franklin (disagree? Go fly a kite), Andrew Carnegie (aka the Man of Steel), and Thomas Edison (does that one make a light bulb go off?). There’s one name that I bet you left off the list,…
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Don’t Lead Like Roger Goodell
With the NFL’s spiraling domestic abuse and discipline crisis, everyone in the football-loving world has been wondering where is Roger Goodell? And last Friday, he had the press conference from Hell. To be fair, the much-anticipated moment of truth drew criticism before it even began. He showed up 15 minutes late (leading some on Twitter…
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Break Free from Complacency
What’s the first institution that comes to mind when I list the following characteristics? Lack of transparency Lack of communication Lack of cooperation Lack of respect You might respond, “Big Government,” and that answer would fit. But all the stereotypes we associate with Big Government can just as easily be applied to Big Business. Increasingly…
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Fran Tarkenton Nominated for 2014 Small Business Influencer Awards
Atlanta, GA, September 5, 2014 – Fran Tarkenton has been nominated for the 2014 Small Business Influencer Awards in the Leaders category. With more than 50 years of business experience, Tarkenton, an NFL Hall of Fame quarterback, is an advocate for entrepreneurship, providing affordable resources for small business owners. His companies, such as GoSmallBiz.com, are…
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The Secret to Productivity, In One Sentence
All behavior is a function of consequences. That’s not my brilliant, original thought, although I wish it were. That idea belongs to B.F. Skinner, who some call the father of behavioral psychology. Eighty-some-odd years ago, Skinner was a professor at Harvard, trying to crack open the mysteries of human behavior. Much later, when I was…
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Business Mentoring Series – Learning to Listen
Last week, Fran and Santo talked about the importance of a championship mentality. After all, at a certain point, everyone is good at what they do. The only thing that separates good from great is mentality. This week, Fran and Santo discuss the importance of listening. In 55 AD the Greek philosopher Epictetus said, “We…
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Business Mentoring Series – The Mentality of a Championship Organization
Last week, Fran talked with Santo about the importance of building the right team. This week, they talk about keeping a championship mentality. The mentality for success is the same in both sports and business. A championship team and a successful company require the same ingredients. Transitioning from the NFL to the business world, Santo…
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From the Locker Room to the Board Room: Building a Culture of Trust
As the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, it wasn’t just me out there. I had to trust my teammates. When we drew up plays, especially in critical situations, I knew they saw things I didn’t, and I needed their input to make the right decisions. Every down depended on that trust and respect. As a…
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Robin Williams: Tear Out The Page – What Will Your Verse Be?
Question: Oh me! Oh life! Of the questions of these recurring, Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities filled with the foolish, Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?) Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d,…
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Business Mentoring Series – Building The Right Team
Last week, Fran talked with Santo Stephens about building a team focused on winning together. This week, they look at building the right type of business relationships. If you want to be successful, being around the right people makes a dramatic difference. As an entrepreneur, it is important to be around people who have been…
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