Aviv’s Blog
To Lead is to Transform
Are You In Limbo?
Limbo: (Clause 4) an intermediate place or state; a state of uncertainty Let’s see, what is in limbo right now…? For a start, the global financial system is in limbo. The economy and many corporations feel they are in limbo. If you lost your job and are looking for new one, you are in limbo. The stock market is in limbo – in between two...
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Found In The Crowd
Here is my reply to David Brooks “Lost In The Crowd” commentary on Gladwell’s “Outliers.” Your results and success is an output of unique multiplication combination of the following elements: Elements largely “not in your control”: 1. Your gene pool 2. Your family and upbringing 3. Your social environment 4. Important figures / influencers in early life (teacher, neighbors, relatives) 5. Pivotal events that left...
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What Chris Can Teach Us About The Anatomy Of Compassion
Chris was a good engineer. He was one of a dozen engineers on his team to answer service calls. Methodical and thorough, Chris was well respected by his team members. Still, he was not the star type. Quiet, a little shy, never seeking center stage, Chris’s focus was on the task at hand. One day his team took ownership of a new service contract. JD...
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Responding To Crises – The Three Phases
A response to a crisis follows three phases: Phase 1: Looking backward – this begins with denial and continues into argument, anger and bargaining. Phase 2: Looking lost – when anger and bargaining with what was and is no more has been used up, it gives way to confusion. The reference that was used as an anchor is no longer there, and there isn’t a...
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The Future Of Medicine
Watch this Charlie Rose discussion with Dean Ornish, George Church and David Agus. My response: The bigger news in recent genetic breakthroughs is not that you will be able to know your medical future, but the knowledge that you have the power to determine which part of your genetics get expressed. This is the important stuff! 60 years ago with the development of antibiotics, medicine...
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Berlin Visit – First Impressions
1. My first visit to Berlin. We arrived in Berlin on Monday morning. Nine minutes after the pilot parked at the gate I was sitting in a taxi heading to the hotel. This is by far the fastest I have ever been facilitated in arrival to my destination. Customs, immigration and luggage pick-up are all dedicated to the gate. Never before have I seen such...
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How Computers Changed Our Minds – Another Aspect Of Gates’ Legacy
This week, with Bill Gates’ last day at work, every respectable magazine made an attempt to summarize his legacy. Here is something that was not covered in any of those articles. That morning John (63), the manager at the auto shop had a large elastic bandage on his hand. “What’s that for?” Sara asked. John: “Yesterday I fell and hurt myself badly, and a major...
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Prague Visit
Prague, the Golden City, is filled with colors—pink, yellow, turquoise, green, amber and gold. I am here to facilitate a strategy summit. It’s a good idea to assimilate the character and nature of the place prior to engaging. Understanding the history and character of a place helps me to be more effective in my communication. One of the best ways to learn about the character...
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“Opportunity Is Always Knocking” – A Conversation with Alan Weiss
I have recently interviewed Alan Weiss for his Thought Leader series. Here are a few golden nuggets Alan framed in this robust conversation: Strategy and serendipity: I asked Alan, how do you come up with your best ideas? “Strategy is about being agile and nimble and light enough on your feet to take advantage of serendipity. If you look at the tried and true inventors...
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The Culture Factor of Trust
Learning something unique from the participants who attend my seminars is the best part of the work I do. I get to see and experience the world through their eyes. In my recent seminar in Chapala, Mexico we explored the Three Pillars of Trust. This is a powerful module in which we unlock the anatomy of Trust and translate it into practical and pragmatic behavior....
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