Seven Collaboration Lessons from Shipping Containers
Shipping containers fascinate me. It’s an invention that human civilization agrees on more than anything else. Around the world, people who disagree on politics, Internet access, fashion, art, and what side of the road to drive on. No matter how much money finding...
Four Lessons I Learned When I Cycled from Seattle to Portland
Earlier this month my friend Godfrey and I set out by bike from Seattle, Washington and slowly made our way towards the Oregon Coast and then back inland to Portland. Over the course of five days of riding, we covered close to 500 km, conquered a range of mountains...
Four Ways to be Resilient When You Feel Like Crap
This past weekend was brutal for my physical health. Food poisoning and a nasty flu bug took away my bodily fluids and ability to sleep. In the grand scheme of things this was a minor setback and I was able to recover and perform at an acceptable level as a dad by the...
Five Tips for Being the Life of the Party!
About two years ago I received a really great compliment from my friend Alison: “John, I just thought of a perfect job for you – Party Initiator.” From a very young age I’ve always had a knack for exuding contagious enthusiasm, “holding court” with my stories, and...
Three Tips for Surviving Slow Summer Work Days
Summer is a popular time to go on vacation (though it isn’t always the best time to disappear). For those of us stuck in the office, it can seem like you’re working in a ghost town, particularly when you’re trying to get things done. This article will provide you with...
Three Strategies for Relaxing on Vacation
This article will explore three strategies for relaxing on vacation. Professional abilities like leadership, grit, collaboration, and communication are absolutely invaluable when it comes to building a successful career. But they’ll only get you so far if you aren’t...
How to be a Trustworthy, Messy and Diplomatic Collaborator
This is an article about how to be a trustworthy, messy and diplomatic collaborator. The Potentiality's Cartoonist in Residence, Phil Skipper, has an interesting take on collaboration. Here is how Phil captured our team's personal and collective definitions of...
10 Professional Lessons from the World Cup
After nearly a month of epic play, the 2014 World Cup is over. Germany is basking in the glow of victory. Brazil’s football soul has been crushed. And the United States’ love of the beautiful game is ascending. Countless stories have emerged from Earth’s most popular...
How to Write a Great Thank-You Note
Gratitude is an important thing to express and we say “thank you” in many different ways – we speak the words, we give gifts, we write emails and send cards. This article explains how to write a great thank you note. Written thank-yous are typically delivered with an...
Five Ways to Thrive in the Networked Age
This article is part 3 in a four part series on collaboration. Part 1 focused on how to build a powerful professional network with entry-level talent. Part 2 focused on building a collaborative advantage. Here we present five ways to thrive in the Networked Age....
Building Collaborative Advantage
This article is part 2 in a four part series on collaboration. Part 1 focused on how to build a powerful professional network with entry-level talent. Here we present strategies and tactics for building the capacity and capabilities for authentic collaboration....
How to Build a Professional Network with Entry Level Connections
We’ve all seen it. In a crowded event jammed with people a group of junior professionals – or MBA students who have splurged for a ticket – glom onto a senior practitioner, manager or executive. Like moths to the light, many of these networkers are attracted to the...
Six Strategies for Coping with Work/Life Stress
Stress at Work and in Life Being stressed out affects everything from mental health to productivity. This article will focus on six tips for coping with stress at work and in life. Stress can lead to a wide range of negative repercussions throughout our communities,...