July 2026 – leadership dots

July 2 seems like an odd day to reflect or make resolutions, but it’s actually the perfect time. Today, there are 182 days both past and forward on this year’s calendar, making it an appropriate day to take a moment to assess where we are.

Think about the days in 2026 that have gone by. If you left things undone or unsaid, consider whether it was by design or default. Did you accomplish those goals you set at the beginning of the year, and are you where you had hoped to be by this point?

Then look ahead and think about how you want to use those upcoming 182 days. How would you have it be on December 31, and what can you do now to get there, both personally and professionally?

Think of July 2 as a rest stop on the highway of life. Pull over for a few moments, bask in the summer sun, and assess your life’s plan. If you need to make a detour, you can do so now and use the second half of the year to reach your destination. Happy pondering!

Thanks, Brian!

I was at a baseball game, and when I finished with my snack, I threw the paper basket on the floor under my seat. There, it joined the wrappers, cups, and uneaten food from everyone in the row.

I would never even think of leaving trash on the ground at a park, concert, or really, anywhere else. I even carry out my refuse at a movie theater, but the norms at a baseball stadium say it is acceptable (even expected) to leave the garbage behind.

It was a reminder of the power of organizational behavior. You can create norms that have people pick up after themselves and leave no trace behind, or ones that let people throw everything on the floor. If you don’t set clear expectations for the behavior you want, people will default to the most convenient, less demanding outcome.

Be explicit about the type of culture you want to create. One piece of (metaphorical) garbage easily leads to more of it, whereas a lack of it also models the expected behavior. Don’t trash your culture by letting undesirable behavior go unchecked.

Month: July 2026

leadership dot #4997: halfway

leadership dot #4996: trashed