Category: Oswald Letter

Dan Oswald, CEO of Simplify Compliance, writes about management, leadership, and the workplace. Occasional guest articles are written by other leaders and C-Suite executives from BLR. 

Don’t get in a hurry and hire the wrong person

by Dan Oswald It’s undeniable that the caliber of the people in your organization—their integrity, intelligence, experience, and commitment—is critical to your success. Give great people the opportunity to do meaningful work, and there’s no telling what they can achieve. So if the people in your organization are the most critical factor in your success, […]

Recognize those who made your company what it is today

by Dan Oswald This past Memorial Day, a day reserved to remember and honor those who have died in service of the United States of America, my youngest child graduated from high school. So this Memorial Day also became a day to honor and celebrate his accomplishments. This all got me thinking a bit about […]

Talent, drive, and success cannot be dictated by age

by Dan Oswald I recently wrote that we shouldn’t overlook the contributions the younger generation can make. In business, we often assume that experience equates with success and therefore conclude it’s unlikely that a 20-something can make a significant contribution. I think that’s complete hogwash, but so is assuming people can’t have a major career […]

8 essential lessons I learned from my mom

by Dan Oswald A couple of days ago we celebrated Mother’s Day, and while one day each year clearly isn’t enough to honor our mothers, it does provide us with the opportunity to thank the women in our lives for everything they have done to love and support us. A number of years ago, I […]

Wooden’s Pyramid of Success makes perfect sense in the workplace

by Dan Oswald I’ve been accused of too often writing about sports in this blog. I guess that’s because sports have been such a big part of my life as a participant, coach, and spectator—but also because I subscribe to the idea that sports imitate life. In sports, as in life, there is success and […]

Fake job references—what’s the world coming to?!

by Dan Oswald The other day I heard about a company that provides fake references for job applicants, renters, and others. And from what I understand, the length it goes to in order to “lie” on behalf of its clients is unbelievable—even if the references it provides are believable. This company will provide you with […]

Spieth’s Masters win shows what young minds can bring to the workplace

by Dan Oswald I’m not a golfer, nor do I tend to watch golf on television, but I am aware that over the weekend, Jordan Spieth won the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia. And with his victory came news of many of his other notable accomplishments: Spieth is just the fifth man, since the […]

Let spring be the time to renew your optimism

by Dan Oswald Spring has sprung—at least here in Nashville where I live. It has been a brutal winter for most of the country, making spring even more attractive. My colleagues in the Northeast—especially in the Boston area—have endured the worst winter they’ve seen in decades. To them all I can say is that spring […]

Asking the right questions is key to finding the right answers

by Dan Oswald Many leaders believe they must have all the answers—that it’s their responsibility to have the answer to every question and the solution to every problem. In my estimation, it’s more important to ask the right questions than it is to always have the answer. You see, it’s the questions that allow people […]

Despite what I put on my bracket, I’m rooting for the underdog

by Dan Oswald The NCAA men’s basketball tournament kicked off last week. It’s known as March Madness. Even if you’re not a college basketball fan, you may have filled out a bracket at home or for your office pool. More than 10 million people filled one out this year. Every year, my wife, our kids, […]