Leadership is about the influence you have over other people. After all, you can’t lead if nobody is following. A lot of law firm founders are leaders by luck; their firms were successful, they hired people, and suddenly they found themselves in charge of a

If you look online for information on leadership development, you’ll soon discover that much of it is classroom centered. Formal leadership development education generally requires readings, classroom lectures, and exercises. They are then expected to take that information back with them to the workplace and

It bears repeating: Your people are your biggest asset. That’s true in any enterprise, but it’s especially important for an enterprise that’s planning quick and large-scale growth. As you grow, your needs will change—which means the kind of work you need out of your people

In our society, leadership is often perceived as a personality trait: Either you have it or you don’t. People are “born leaders” or they’re not. That’s only partly right. Leadership development professionals say personality does play a role—but that’s one factor, along with opportunities to

We’d all like to imagine ourselves as the perfect blend of super-attorney and star entrepreneur. But of course, none of us are, really. We’re all imperfect, and we all have certain innate strengths and weaknesses that differ from those of other people. (This, by the

We all want to know how, exactly, winners win. What do athletes eat, drink, or do to win gold? How many hours a week do top students study to get into Harvard? What strategies do the top performers use to separate themselves from the pack?

“Life balance” may seem like a luxury most entrepreneurs can’t afford. After all, shouldn’t people launching their businesses be working all night and eating at their desks? A recent article in Entrepreneur made a list of ways to avoid burnout and find balance. Start Smart:

You’ve probably known someone who just seems…lucky. They happen upon a great deal, getting the timing right, sit on the plane next to the right person. It just seems that opportunity is always opening doors for them. America loves an overnight success story, so we

There are some forces of nature you just can’t predict. Tornados, flooding, earthquakes—they’re not personal, they just happen. And no matter what you do, there’s nothing you can do to actually prevent the ground from rumbling. The only thing you can do is prepare and

If you want to be a great marketer, you should probably have an MBA in marketing, some creative writing chops (as proven by a degree or published work), great people skills, expert insights into markets, design ability and a gift with language. After all, that’s

The outdoor clothing brand Patagonia has received praise for its business philosophy and mission. Its mission statement, “we’re in business to save the home planet” clearly expresses the need (“save”!), the means (“business”) and why it matters—and why you should help by fulfilling your role