Think of the most influential leader you’ve encountered in your professional journey. What made them stand out? Was it their hard technical skills? Their strategic mindset? While these qualities are significant, something often underpins true leadership effectiveness — emotional intelligence. Let’s take the case of Satya Nadella, the CEO of…

As an executive coach, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the transformative power of persistence. I’ve seen leaders rise from the ashes of failure, not through a sudden stroke of genius or a lucky break, but through sheer, relentless effort, and the power of winning through attrition. Attrition, in…

Michele Fait, an accomplished Italian mountaineer, along with his climbing partner, Swedish high-altitude skier Fredrik Ericsson, set out on an expedition to summit and ski down K2, the world’s second-highest peak, in the summer of 2009. On June 24, 2009, the two were acclimatizing at around 6,300 meters, making a…

As a native Philadelphian, let’s start with the words of Rocky Balboa. “You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep…

Have you ever wondered if there’s a better way to tap into the unique capabilities each member of your team brings to the table? I certainly have. That’s why at Scaling Up, we’ve been championing an approach that simplifies and streamlines talent management. …

It’s not unusual to encounter individuals who shine brighter than others, effortlessly navigating the turbulent seas of work life with a spark that is both inspiring and bewildering. They are the “A-Players.” They stand on an invisible podium, heads held high, and are often the champions of productivity, innovation, and…

In the words of ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” Go, go, go. It’s been the ethos of how Americans approach work and life. I understand; my highest “Driving Force” on the TTI Assessment is “Urgency.” In fact, I statistically place that value…

Stress is good for you. The right kind of stress. Until the industrial age, there was practically zero conversation about work-related stress. Work was work. It was hard and necessary. Around the boom of the welfare state, our downtime increased. People started to have extra time and money to allocate…

Let’s call them Ron and Steve, two highly successful individuals measured by our societal standards of net worth and attainment of goals. They are both billionaires. Aside from their net worth, one powerful commonality is their focus on their goals. Each carries a physical journal with them throughout the day…