Terry Starbucker

MARCH 22, 2015

'Kjell van Zoen and his wife, Kim. Kjell van Zoen isn’t looking for unicorns. The founder and CEO of Portland company Plywerk , Kjell has been fighting the good startup fight for nearly 8 years, handcrafting beautiful wood photo displays with his crew in a warehouse on the east side of the city. It is a classic startup story. When Kjell’s wife Kim, a photographer, needed to mount a photo, she simply took some wood glue to the photo and pasted it on a piece of wood.

Lean Manufacturing 306

Lean Manufacturing Entrepreneur Workshop Learning-by-Doing 306

Terry Starbucker

JUNE 7, 2015

Look at business like a labyrinth, not a maze (thanks Ken Tomita of Grovemade). OK, I’m going to come clean here. I’m pretty set in my ways. As befitting my nearly 56 years on this planet, I’ve gotten to the point where my likelihood to alter behaviors, look at things differently, or, more pertinent to this website, change the way I define and practice great leadership, is pretty low.

Leadership 302

Leadership Apparel Incubator Open-book 302

Terry Starbucker

MARCH 1, 2015

'There are days when I can get in serious “auto-pilot” mode – the state of being where things are happening so fast and furiously that all I do is react, instead of think. It’s during those times that my leadership suffers. Because I’m “ not all there “. I become a mile wide and an inch deep. My teammates don’t get the benefit of any fully developed and reasoned thought and analysis.

Leadership 302

Leadership Self-aware Analysis Learning-by-Doing 302

Terry Starbucker

AUGUST 23, 2015

On December 25, 2005, it started this way : Hello blogland, starbucker here – I figured that Christmas Day was the best time as ever to start doing this. Yes, I always tend to look at the glass as “half full” – call me an eternal optimist, call me a fool, but I find it’s the best way to live one’s life with the least amount of angst. I hate angst. Now I wish I could always see the bright side of everything, but hey, that’s why I need to blog – to share perspectives and learn from other experienc

Leadership 298

Leadership Storytelling Learning-by-Doing Blog 298

Terry Starbucker

MAY 31, 2015

Note: Today I’m pleased to present a preview excerpt from my book manuscript of “More Human: A Journey To The Heart Of Great Leadership” It’s a personal story illustrating the importance of knowing the time for leaders to “let go” of control, and to pass the torch to new and deserving leaders, a process I call “leading your way out of a job” Names have been changed for the privacy of those involved in the story.

Collins 293

Collins Leadership Operations Travel 293

Terry Starbucker

AUGUST 9, 2015

“I never want to grow up.” – Terry “Starbucker” St. Marie, August 3, 2008. This is the second in a series of my 3 favorite posts over the past 9+ years, in anticipation of my 1,000th (!) post coming up on August 23rd. As always, I’m eternally grateful that you’re here today to read this post and join my More Human Leadership journey.

Open-book 288

Open-book Learning-by-Doing Taylorism Taylor 288

Terry Starbucker

MARCH 15, 2015

'One of the keys to being a good leader is the ability to leverage a basic human trait that exists in every workplace. That is, unless you destroy it by how you lead. Among those who serve the customers, or make the widgets, or support those who do either of these things, is a strong desire to do their jobs to the best of their abilities. It’s called pride.

Motivation 288

Motivation Environment Leadership Examples 288

Terry Starbucker

MAY 17, 2015

Now that you’ve absorbed the 8 basic principles of More Human Leadership , learned the 10 immutable laws that go with them, and truly know the difference between a boss and a leader , it’s now time to dig a little deeper. Let’s get beyond those basics and into a little leadership fine-tuning – those refinements and adjustments that keep that wheel of success turning without too much friction.

Decentralization 279

Decentralization Leadership Core Competence Long-term 279

Terry Starbucker

JUNE 21, 2015

I remember the day I knew I really wanted to be a leader. Funny thing was, it was 5 years after I “accidentally” became one. I started my career as an accountant, right out of college. I obtained my CPA certificate, rose quickly through the ranks and within 5 years I was a Manager on the fast track to partner. Then, I got a phone call that would change my life.

Leadership 276

Leadership CPA How To eBook 276

Terry Starbucker

FEBRUARY 22, 2015

'“Let me embrace thee , sour adversity , for wise men say it is the wisest course” – William Shakespeare, from Henry VI, Part III. Leadership is hard. It took me a long time to come to grips with that notion, but it really helped me when I did. There’s no “easy” way to float to the top of the mountain with a great team at your side.

Tips 276

Tips Self-aware Crisis Follow-up 276

Terry Starbucker

APRIL 19, 2015

'There’s a big return on investment for leaders who are willing to do the right thing, even when it’s very hard to do. A great example is letting someone go who you just know isn’t going to go gracefully or easily. Or, to change a policy or program midstream, knowing that it’s going to inconvenience a lot of people, people who have families and personal lives that will also be affected.

Policies 274

Policies Energy Execution Planning 274

Terry Starbucker

AUGUST 16, 2015

This is the last in a series of my 3 favorite posts over the past 9+ years, in anticipation of my 1,000th (!) post coming up next Sunday, on August 23rd. I’m so grateful you’re here reading this today, and I hope you’ll join me again next week to help me celebrate this milestone (to make it easier for you please be my guest to sign up for email delivery of my posts in the box on the right side bar).

CPA 269

CPA Budgeting Open-book Long-term 269

Terry Starbucker

JUNE 14, 2015

Note: Here’s another preview excerpt from my book manuscript of “More Human: A Journey To The Heart Of Great Leadership” It’s a true story of a road trip that proved to me that making personal connections to build trust and respect is a necessary part of being a More Human leader. . “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller.

Follow-up 269

Follow-up Hotels Company Retail 269

Terry Starbucker

NOVEMBER 1, 2015

An open letter to all who are thinking about being a leader, are about to be a leader, or are already been given the responsibility of a leader and are trying to figure out how the heck it all works: . Dear Prospective, Pending, or Current Leader: I understand you are trying to be a leader. First off, that’s fantastic – leadership is a great calling that can bring you great success and satisfaction on so many levels, both personally and professionally.

Letter 266

Letter Metrics Tactics Construction 266

Terry Starbucker

AUGUST 2, 2015

In anticipation of my 1,000th post coming up on August 23rd, I wanted to share a few of my favorites over the past 10 years. These posts go to the core of my principles of More Human leadership, as well as take a peek into my heart and soul. That’s been the nature of this blog – documenting a personal journey that has revealed itself little by little, and week after week.

Leadership 260

Leadership Mentor Bond Loyalty 260

Terry Starbucker

JANUARY 25, 2015

'It happens to every leader at one time or another – a time when our mettle is tested in a high stress and high stakes environment, when something goes very very badly. Are you ready for your leadership moment of truth? Because HOW you handle that moment will leave a lasting and definitive mark on those you lead. My Story. It happened to me 6 years ago at the cable TV company I worked for, when our entire network suddenly went down.

Leadership 256

Leadership Crisis Stress Definition 256

Terry Starbucker

JULY 26, 2015

I always thought it was strange how great leadership was always thought to be vitally important to a businesses success, but yet it was quite often the least discussed thing in the meeting rooms, and the budget money allocated to “leadership training” was always limited (or the first thing to get cut back). Why is this the case? It’s a question that has banged around in my head for a long time.

Leadership 248

Leadership Micromanagement Policies Learning-by-Doing 248

Terry Starbucker

JULY 5, 2015

Note: This is the 3rd installment of excerpts from my book manuscript of “More Human: A Journey To The Heart Of Great Leadership” The first installment is here , and the second here. . It’s a story about how a fun employee recognition program pulled a team closer together in their quest to go from good to great, building and cementing a solid foundation of pride, respect, trust and goodwill.

Leadership 248

Leadership Letter Conference Definition 248

Terry Starbucker

SEPTEMBER 20, 2015

Since I moved to Portland in 2010 I’ve become fascinated with a particular kind of business person – Oregon entrepreneurs. So much so, that last year I started to write nearly as much about them as I did about my first love, leadership. Those stories have appeared here, and in the online magazine we launched in late 2014, Built Oregon. What was it about these people that could have possibly pulled me away from my true north, my quest to find the best of More Human leadership?

Entrepreneur 244

Entrepreneur Leadership Hotels Bottom-up 244

Terry Starbucker

JANUARY 11, 2015

'Jim Collins, going Jim Collins (photo by dov.com). OK, it’s time to “ go Jim Collins ” on us. We can’t let any more days go by in the new year before we do it. Because it’s so important for great more human leadership. And it’s NEVER a bad idea to repeat it so it burns into our brains (and heart). What’s the “it”?

Collins 241

Collins Leadership Books Influence 241

Terry Starbucker

MAY 3, 2015

A Par 3 Over Water In Palm Springs Brings Back a Powerful Lesson. I’m in Palm Springs California this weekend at the beautiful La Quinta resort, on an annual golf vacation with friends I have known for as many as 40 years. It’s been a relaxing and fun experience, but walking up to a par 3 hole that features a water hazard always brings back memories, not of a hole-in-one or a long holed putt, but a huge leadership (and life) lesson.

Leadership 240

Leadership Sports Learning-by-Doing Career 240

Terry Starbucker

JANUARY 18, 2015

'Starbucker’s Note : I’m pleased today to present a guest post by Larry Fox. Larry is a fellow partner with Social Venture Partners Portland , an organization committed to ensuring all children in the community have thriving and productive lives. A former finance controller at Intel, his passion was and continues to be helping people realize their potential. “ They just shut me out of the discussion. “ The words were said with a mixture of frustration, anger, and embarra

Finance 240

Finance Committee Bottom-up Advice 240

Terry Starbucker

APRIL 26, 2015

Five years ago this week I released my free e-book, “Leadership From A Glass Half-Full: The 5 Lessons You Need To Learn Before You Jump Into the Pool” It sprung from a wish to pay forward what I had learned the hard way: “I wish I had some kind of guidebook that at the very least warned me about the things I just absolutely had to know before I got started (as a leader)” It’s been downloaded nearly 14,000 times, and I am truly grateful that it has been read, and hop

Download 238

Download Books Advice Blog 238

Terry Starbucker

FEBRUARY 15, 2015

'The song that started it all… I remember the first time I felt it. It was in 8th grade, when a friend of mine put a certain 45 on his turntable ( remember 45s and turntables? ). I felt a jolt of energy and exhilaration unlike anything I had experienced before. It was a rock and roll anthem – in this case, it was Elton John’s “ Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting “.

Leadership 238

Leadership Motivation Energy System 238

Terry Starbucker

FEBRUARY 8, 2015

'Can you become a better leader in 20 minutes? I believe you can. That’s the time it takes to read 6,000 words, on average. Can you spare 20 minutes to absorb the lessons around the principles of More Human leadership that I outline in these 12 posts? I bet you can! Will you emerge from this crash course in leadership with a better perspective on what it takes to hit the “ success trifecta ” – a profitable business, a happy team, and a fulfilled leader – and the too

Course 238

Course Leadership Download Energy 238

Terry Starbucker

NOVEMBER 29, 2015

“Terry my boy, what do you think?”. There it was, finally, the question I was waiting for from my brilliant but mercurial multi-multi-millionaire boss. I had been pondering the answer for several weeks. We were working on an important project in the fall of 1990, and there was a problem, one demanding some out-of-the-box thinking. As the Project Manager, I had many hours of meetings with all the key players involved, and diligently forged a consensus on a proposed course of action – so we could

Open-book 236

Open-book Webinar Consensus Proposal 236

Terry Starbucker

JULY 19, 2015

Note: This is the 4rd installment of excerpts from my book manuscript of “More Human: A Journey To The Heart Of Great Leadership”. . Today’s story is about how I found my leadership secret weapon – an operational metric that could play a key role in our march to greatness, and provide a critical link between great customer service and profit.

Leadership 232

Leadership Metrics Price Mass Marketing 232

Terry Starbucker

APRIL 12, 2015

'How do leaders know if they’re building a sturdy and flourishing house, or a haunted and doomed one? All it takes is a good set of ears (ones that have been properly calibrated, of course), because there are 10 sentences that should cause nightmares for any leader, and push them towards the cold hard reality that their team is in trouble. Let’s step inside this haunted house, if you dare…. 1.

Execution 229

Execution Budgeting Review Course 229

Terry Starbucker

MAY 24, 2015

A current look at my (now closed) elementary school in Cudahy, Wisconsin – with my childhood playground in the foreground. This holiday weekend I’m visiting my hometown of Cudahy, Wisconsin to spend some time with my family. Cruising around the old neighborhoods, and past my old elementary school and playground, brought back some childhood memories that played a huge role in putting me on the path to business success.

Class 222

Class Motivation Follow-up Course 222

Terry Starbucker

FEBRUARY 1, 2015

'My “MTM moment” Before The Show. For the last 3 years I was the one getting pitched by startup founders – on this particular day, it was different. I was the one getting up on stage and pitching. This role-reversal happened a couple of weeks ago in Portland, when I made a big pitch on behalf of our new startup venture, Built Oregon.

Magazine 212

Magazine Audience Storytelling Learning-by-Doing 212

Terry Starbucker

DECEMBER 27, 2015

I have this natural tendency to want to trust everybody. I know that’s not good, so I have to fight that tendency, especially as a leader in the business world. Fortunately, (way, way back in 1982) I started my career as a CPA and auditor, and I learned about this thing called “ Professional Skepticism “. If you look that up in the accounting standards book , it will tell you that “(auditors) need to overcome some natural tendencies—such as overreliance on client representations—and biases and

CPA 171

CPA Webinar Real Estate Banking 171

Terry Starbucker

DECEMBER 13, 2015

You’ve worked really, really hard to build a great team. You’ve put in a ton of hours process-building, training, goal-setting, motivating, and inspiring. But the wheels still aren’t turning. Productivity is lagging. Something’s wrong. There’s an undercurrent of dissatisfaction that is palpable. So you try pushing harder –and it only gets worse. Key members of your team start leaving.

Webinar 171

Webinar Short-term Handbook Long-term 171

Terry Starbucker

SEPTEMBER 6, 2015

This post is another in my series of excerpts from my “More Human” book manuscript. I’ve often written that one of the most important leadership lessons is to know that “The Road to Greatness Is Paved With Mistakes Well Handled”, and this true story about a very big mistake gave our team the opportunity to put that lesson to the test, in the context of the wide-open Rocky Mountain west and the “cowboy way”…… A Good Day In The West Turns Bad.

How To 278

How To Leadership Engineering Bottom-up 278

Terry Starbucker

APRIL 5, 2015

'This morning I was reading the business section of the Oregonian and I saw these survey statistics – 86 percent of employees trust their leadership less today than they did 5 years ago, and 70 percent of people say they are “disengaged at work” What’s going on? As usual for me, a song played in my head as I digested that information.

Call Center 258

Call Center Survey Process Company 258

Terry Starbucker

JUNE 28, 2015

About a year ago, I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Kathy Kramer for my More Human Podcast. I was fascinated by the articulate and graceful way she had connected a person’s heart and soul to great leadership, and better still, she had the science to prove it. If you haven’t listened to this conversation yet, I’d encourage you to do it soon – it’s a great companion piece to this post.

ROI 256

ROI Resistance Leadership Mentor 256

Terry Starbucker

MAY 10, 2015

It was February 5th, 2006. I had just launched a blog called “Ramblings From a Glass Half-Full”, and had been posting some random musings drawn from an internal need to “ share perspectives and learn from other experiences “ I posted about the places I visited, my favorite football team, my taste in music… just your run-of-the-mill personal journal.

Welch 259

Welch Leadership Review Learning-by-Doing 259