Neil’s Blog

Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune, September 21, 2020 I spend a lot of time negotiating. In my world, it ranks right up there with eating breakfast. Recently, over a virtual beer, I was asked “do I have a strategy?” At first blush that seemed like a dumb question, but upon closer consideration, I realized […]

Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune, September 14, 2020 This is potpourri week. A few thoughts thrown in the crockpot (not crackpot), and maybe something edible comes out. I am currently coaching a young man who grew up in a foster family, one of 12 children, eight biological and four foster sisters. He has clearly […]

Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune, September 7, 2020 August — what a month. DNC, RNC, BLM, COVID along with the constant of job and family. No shortage of challenges. For guidance on how to cope, I turned to the work of Harvard Business School Professor Boris Groysberg and researcher Robin Abrahams on the famous […]

Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune, August 31, 2020 Why is it so hard to get anything done? Over the past year or so, I have been keeping a mini tally of frustrations — some experienced by me personally and many experienced by my friends, peers and associates. The lens I am looking through is […]

Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune, August 24, 2020 A few days ago, one of my clients complained to me about “decision fatigue.” He is the CEO of a solid $100 million company, he is charming and successful, and his lament is — “gimme a break, I am just tired of being the one who […]

Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune, August 17, 2020 I wonder why it is so hard to give “a straight answer.” I often see this behavior when I am pitched on a deal or an investment by entrepreneurs. Obfuscation along with fuzzy thinking seems to be agnostic to age. And like COVID, there does not […]