Category Archives: coaching

01/1/20

Lessons v Tests For CEOs Only

Back from a tour de force of the American South, I am struck by the issue of learning from lessons and tests. The matrix goes something like this:

 1. When in school or other entities intended to “teach” us things (such as military training for young officers), we are presented lessons and then tested on the lesson.

Have we absorbed and retained the learning?

 2. Often in life — business, families, military — we are tested first and from that testing we must learn a lesson.

Do we absorb and retain the learning?

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06/23/18

Missionary Work- a Dangerous Undertaking

Big Red Car here, the A/C crisis dealt with. Which brings me to the dangers of missionary work in the startup world.

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Historically, there have been drawbacks to being a missionary. If you fail to convert the audience, they may turn on you.

In the startup world, there are two areas, in particular, in which a founder/CEO/entrepreneur should resist the temptation to do missionary work – meaning attempting to fully convert the audience.

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07/21/17

Risk — A Four Letter Word, CEO Shoptalk

Today, we talk RISK, y’all. It is a four letter word and it can be profane, if you let it.

Big Red Car here on a sunny, Texas day which will give rise to a 103F temperature during which the BRC will be hanging in the pool, floating.

OK, so today we talk about risk. Risk is what drives startups. When you overcome a risk, you wander into the Winner’s Circle and collect your winnings at the mythical PAYWINDOW.

But, what is risk? Risk is different to different people. If you are a green, first time founder/CEO, then everything is risky after you have tied your shoes (the reason why new CEOs should wear slip-ons).

If you are a fifth time, serial entrepreneur, then your view of risk is different.

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03/28/16

Taking Care of Business — The Tarheels Teaching

Big Red Car here on a bright, sunny day which celebrates the Carolina Tarheels path to the championship in the NCAA Basketball Tournament — known as March Madness to y’all. [Is this a great time to be alive, or what?]

If God is not a Tarheel, why is the sky Carolina Blue?

Hook ’em, Heels!

So, there is much to be learned about the world of business by watching the NCAA Tournament.

The Heels, with an unbelievable tradition of success, are a team which is stuffed with talent, well coached, exquisitely game planned, and capable of almost flawless execution. There are other teams just like them but there are not that many.

So, Big Red Car, what can we learn from the Tarheels that is applicable to business?

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09/1/15

“I Am a First Time CEO”

Big Red Car here enjoying the lovely, sunny, warm ATX yet once again.

So, I’m talking to four different founder/CEOs and one of the says, “I’m a first time CEO.”

To which the Big Red Car responds, “And so?”

“So, I really don’t know what I am doing,” sayeth the first time CEO.

To which replies the Big Red Car, “So what?” Continue reading →

08/3/15

CEO Coaching — Firing a Client

Big Red Car here. The summer has settled in and it is a nice hot one, y’all. I took a nice ride yesterday and it was steamy. I just got a new set of tires and I was cruising.

So The Boss was talking to me about the CEO coaching business. He gets a lot of calls and he has had some clients for almost three years now.

Not long ago, he fired a client. What? Firing a client? Continue reading →

01/2/14

Discipline — Blind Spots

Big Red Car here.  Going to be a great day in the ATX.  Nice cold, crisp, sunny day.

So you probably watched a bit of college football yesterday, no?  The Boss loves college football and is often mumbling that college football is very much like the startup business.  [I think he’s just trying to justify how damn much college football he’s been watching lately.  Bowl games, yeah!]

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