Inspiration – Nathan Magnuson

The Size of Your Hope

April 6, 2020 Inspiration

I had a conversation with one of my entrepreneur friends this past week. Ryan had big plans for a new software release, but needed to put the project on pause to sort out some of the final details. To bridge the time gap, he took an interim CEO role to…

The Applause of a Single Human Being

This post is an excerpt from my new book Ignite Your Leadership Expertise, which is available on Amazon.com. Recently I had an idea for one of my corporate leadership programs that has over 6,000 leaders enrolled. In an attempt to make the program communications more personal, I included an insightful…

Dealing in Hope

January 9, 2017 Character Influence Inspiration Personal Effectiveness

Napoleon Bonaparte claimed, “A leader is a dealer in hope.” Hope is a strangely human enigma. It can’t be handled but it can be shared. It can’t create anything on its own but it can pave the way for new accomplishments. Whether you’re celebrating a new beginning (like the start…

Your Career is Your Responsibility

June 6, 2016 Inspiration Personal Effectiveness Young Professionals

I’ve been thinking about career selection and management a lot recently. When I’m asked how I landed where I am, I’m quick to reply that I wouldn’t wish my career path on anyone but I sure do love where I am now. In all honesty, there has been a lot…

Where Have All the Good Leaders Gone?

April 4, 2016 Inspiration

If you’ve worked for any length of time, you’ve probably wondered, “Why is it so hard to find good leaders?” You’re not alone. Not only are employers finding it tricky to find qualified help, management & executive roles have become increasingly difficult to fill. These employers can only expect retirement to continue…

9 Leadership Themes for the New Year

January 4, 2016 Inspiration Personal Effectiveness perspective

I don’t know what last year brought your way, but as the saying goes: all new beginnings are hopeful. I believe that’s true when it comes to leadership effectiveness as well. Wouldn’t this be a great year for some meaningful strides? If you haven’t thought much about it, I’d like…

Becoming Excellent

November 16, 2015 Inspiration Learning Personal Effectiveness Uncategorized

Excellence is a blessing and a curse. It’s always a noble pursuit. But it can be intimidating as well. With so much information and many high profile examples of what excellence looks like, how can we contribute in a significant way? Regardless of what you aspire to do, excellence is…

You CAN Make it on Your Own

June 1, 2015 Inspiration

I haven’t forgotten one of my first coaching interactions that took place years ago. My client was stuck. She talked about wanting go back to school and make some new contributions with her life. But she couldn’t do it, she explained. What was holding her back? Her husband didn’t fully…

Key Takeaways from Leadercast 2015

May 18, 2015 Courage Inspiration Leadership Personal Effectiveness

I was able to attend my fourth Leadercast seminar earlier this month. This year I attended a simulcast in Orlando, FL. As always, it inspired me with both new and familiar ideas. The theme this year was bravery. Here are some of my key takeaways – and you can also…

Coach K: Mike Krzyzewski on Teamwork

February 2, 2015 Coaching Core Values Inspiration Leadership Teamwork

As a University of Kansas basketball fan, I’ve never rooted for Duke. But there is a Duke moment that stands out in my memory. It occurred probably 10 or 15 years ago. Duke was in the process of getting upset in the NCAA Tournament. They were playing hard that day…

How to Tell Who the Real Leader Is

October 20, 2014 Character Courage decision-making Influence Inspiration Leadership Organizational Effectiveness Personal Effectiveness

I’ll admit I’ve made a lot of mistakes over the years when it comes to identifying leadership ability in others. Some I’ve thought would be great weren’t – and others I didn’t give much consideration turned out to be amazing. It’d be a lot easier if there was a scientific method…

The Reason We Take the Leap

October 6, 2014 Influence Inspiration Leadership Personal Effectiveness

Leadership comes with all sorts of headaches and complications. At some point, I’m sure every leader sits back and asks the question, “how did I acquire all this stress?” Sometimes the magnitude of responsibilities is so overwhelming that would-be leaders count the cost and pass up the opportunity altogether. There’s no…