There’s a famous saying in business: “Hope is not a business strategy,” to which I would like to say, as politely as possible, bullshit. Wishful thinking is not a business strategy, but show me a business that doesn’t have hope, and I’ll show you a depressing place to work and, most likely, mediocre performance as … Read more
Mom was taking my seven-year-old sister, Kelly, to the dentist. I was almost three years old, and I had a cold, so she dropped me off with her mother, telling her, “I’m leaving my boy with you.” Prophetic words. Mom and Kelly never came home. While driving home in a Northern Michigan April snow shower, … Read more
For the first 20 years of my adult working life, I was driven by what I wanted to have. An impressive job in an impressive company An impressive car An impressive house in an impressive neighborhood Impressive clothes That’s what it was all about for me—trying to impress upon the world that I was successful. … Read more
When Ross Perot hired me to be his personal assistant in 1984, he didn’t know I was a magician, but he found out at the office Christmas party when I did a little show for everyone. Afterward, he came up to me and said, “Andy, that’s pretty good how you do those magic tricks. From … Read more
In the summer of 1982, between my junior and senior year of college, I worked on the assembly line at GM’s Lansing Car Assembly, putting parts on Oldsmobiles. A few days into the job, one of my co-workers, the shop steward for the union, approached me. “Hey, Andy, you need to slow down. Some of … Read more
My first job out of college was managing a Joann Fabrics store in a suburb of Detroit. It was a humbling experience because it turns out that most people who sew are women and they don’t want to take advice from a dude – even though I know how to sew. I even made myself … Read more
Everywhere I go around the world, the word Abracadabra is recognized as the universal magical incantation (except in Asia, and I don’t know why), but most people have no idea what Abracadabra means, including probably 99% of magicians. Abracadabra’s history is ancient. It is believed to be an Aramaic word – an ancient sacred language … Read more
Take a good look at this poster of legendary British magician David Devant. Compare this to Devant’s colleagues… Most magicians shined the spotlight on themselves. Thurston called himself, “World’s Famous Magician,” Blackstone, “World’s Master Magician,” and Kellar “The Great Magician.” They were focused on invoking power and posturing to elevate their own stature. David Devant’s … Read more
Driving along the beautiful waterfront in Tacoma, Washington I noticed a guy up a ladder watering flower baskets. His truck had a Metropolitan Park District emblem on its door so I decided to pull over because Metro Parks had just posted a request for proposals to find a consultant to help them develop a strategic … Read more
The Creative Giant Show focuses on how to bring your unique skills, talents, experiences and passions together to make the world a better place. I was honored to be a guest recently and in this interview I talk about my life and the work I’m doing to create workplaces where human spirits can thrive. LINK: The … Read more
