I love this idea of the Serendipity of Success, that the universe transpires to help you just at the exact moment you need it, bringing you a person or a resource you weren't expecting that moves you closer to a goal or toward something you were trying to accomplish.

Believing in Karma is like learning the Golden Rule. It's just what we learn as kids, it's considered truth and we're not to question it, we're just to abide by it. Period, end of story.

Yes, this is all well and good. I leave a good portion of my life up to Karma. (I know for a 100% fact that a couple of very bad things have happened to me as a result of bad Karma juju I emitted to the world). Mostly, though, I believe in the Karma of kindness.

Over 20 years and a fair share of resignations given to me, I've learned the immediate reaction I have to that unfortunate (sometimes not entirely unfortunate) news becomes part of my legacy I've left with that employee. Am I giving this person the memory of working for a jerk boss who made them feel horrible in moving on or the memory of a boss that was supportive right up to the last minute?

Outstanding leaders know the outcome of the whole depends on the engagement of the individuals. Get out there and show you care. Leave your office and make the rounds.

Kicking off the New Year with some thoughts on becoming a better leader.

Culture is the collective sum of attitudes, skills sets, passions, motivations all combined inside one company. As a leader, your role in driving that culture is critical.

For some strange reason, as people rise up the ladder they seem to exclude themselves from having to participate in company events. It's a contagious disease that slowly rots the core a culture at work.

There cannot be a time in your career when one day you have (and somewhat need) a boss then the very next you don't. Is it that you are somehow led as much as you are going to be led then from there on out it is up to you?

Leader as verb equates to a daily action any one of us can take. Begin it now.