We live in a cynical world. A cynical world. And we work in a business of tough competitors. – Jerry Maguire The world of the corporate enterprise can be a cynical place. Week after week, I preach leadership. I do it for all of you, but I also do it for myself. By writing, I remind myself of the truth. Why do you and I need these constant reminders? Our world is cynical, and frankly, sometimes so are we. Cynicism is…
This week, I’m reflecting on my career progression. I’ve been working in Information Technology for 22 years. I started off as a desktop support technician and now lead a large team as a technology executive. I’ve pondered the journey and the path I’ve taken. In those 22 years, I’ve held 13 distinct roles at 4 different companies. I’ve chronicled part of that journey in a previous blog series. In that same series, I identified 20 distinct “Rules for Advancement” that…
Congratulations. You clicked on the link. I asked the question, “do you feel like you are failing?” For a split second, you asked yourself that question. If you made it this far, you probably answered that question with “yes,” “maybe,” or “sometimes.” Being honest with yourself is an important first step. Leadership and failure Leaders like to succeed. We like to achieve. We like to win. That gives us energy. That gets us out of bed in the morning. Failure…
It’s Thanksgiving, a time to count our many blessings. Undoubtedly, we all have a lot to be thankful for. However, many of us struggle to muster that attitude in 2020 as we have faced a global pandemic, racial injustice, and a polarizing political season. In times like this, I often reflect upon this pertinent scripture: “Give thanks in all circumstances” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 That’s easy to say but hard to do. My company, CHS, just announced an annual earnings…
Every time I write a new Zach on Leadership article, I think about making my content approachable for new readers, in anticipation that they will enjoy the content and become faithful community members. This article is going to be a little different. This is for the insiders. This is for the tribe. Whether you’ve been faithfully reading for years, or only a few weeks, this message is for you. I’m going to ask for your help, but before that, I’ll…
I started a new segment of my career this week. In addition to leading Development & Operations, I now have responsibility for leading our Digital Customer Platform. I am very excited about this opportunity for several reasons. Before I get into that, I’d like to explain at a high level the major items in this portfolio. Digital Customer Platform includes our customer-facing technologies such as our websites, web applications, and eCommerce capabilities. CHS isn’t solely online. We also have a…
It’s often said that great leaders credit their teams for success while taking personal responsibility for failure. This is good advice, and fortunately, I see this demonstrated more and more. Most would assume that the first part of that formula is the result of humility which could be either authentic or feigned. Sometimes leaders can appear like an actor giving an Oscar acceptance speech. There are lights, cameras, and celebrities giving you their undivided attention and admiration. Then out of…
As a technology leader, I often get asked, “Zach, what keeps you up at night?” People ask me this to derive my priorities, but it’s an odd way to do that. It’s an extreme question if taken literally. As an executive, should I lie awake at night, staring at the ceiling, riddled with anxiety and inner conflict? I hope not. Also, the question is somewhat rhetorical. I think people expect me to answer with a major high-stress project, digital disruption,…
Four years ago, I published one of the most popular articles I’ve ever written: So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance: The Joy of Buying Technology. I repost it from time to time and continue to draw reactions. Since four years have passed, I thought I might be due for a follow-up article on the subject of the buy-sell dynamic in enterprise technology. In this article, I’m not going to discuss annoying sales tactics and gimmicks. I’ve covered that before….
Last week, I wrote about the importance of financial competency for every leader. I covered the subject broadly and taught several principles that are applicable to everyone. If you missed that article, go back and read it, then continue on. Today’s article is about financial efficiency. I like being efficient in everything I do. I work very hard to be efficient with my time. I’ve learned how to systematically create process efficiency through Lean. Finally, I naturally enjoy being efficient…