Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
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.
by Dan Oswald The Japanese surprise attack at Pearl Harbor caught the U.S. military completely off guard. Months after the bombing in Hawaii, the U.S. military was still reeling and on its heels. American citizens were shocked by their country’s vulnerability as the Japanese brought the fight to them. Confidence in the U.S. military’s ability […]
by Dan Oswald Viktor Frankl was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist as well as a Holocaust survivor. His experiences in the German concentration camps gave him a unique perspective on the importance of purpose in a person’s life. While in the concentration camps, Frankl lost nearly everything. His father and mother died in the camps, […]
by Dan Oswald At our company, one of our core values is innovation. We believe creativity and progressive thinking are critical to our success. I happen to share the opinion of former Ford CEO Mark Fields, who said, “Without innovation, I strongly believe companies die over time.” In 2017, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) conducted its 20th CEO […]
by Dan Oswald If you’re going to hire someone, why not hire someone made in your image? Let’s face it—you’ve been successful. You’ve climbed the management ranks. You must be doing something right. So, who better to add to your team than someone just like you? Someone who acts like you. Someone who thinks like […]
Note from Dan Oswald: The following, shared by Elizabeth Petersen, who is president of Simplify Compliance’s healthcare division, is a highly personal story about a struggle she faced. I believe her willingness to share it shows courage on her part. It contains a great lesson for all of us. There are certain subjects that I, […]
by Dan Oswald Benjamin Franklin once said, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” It’s good advice for all of us. Last month, I lost my brother-in-law in a tragic accident. He was just 47. Last week, I lost a friend, also in a tragic accident. He was only 55. Ironically, both […]
by Dan Oswald “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” It’s a statement attributed to Peter Drucker, the famed management guru, and a concept that many business leaders ascribe to. I like to quote it, and I want to believe it, but is it true? There are great companies that have a great culture. I like to […]
by Dan Oswald I enjoy reading biographies. People’s lives fascinate me and most of the time are much more interesting than any piece of fiction. Over the years, I’ve read dozens, if not hundreds, of biographies of politicians, business leaders, and athletes. I’m not sure what my fascination is with other people’s lives, but I […]
by Dan Oswald Life is full of decisions. Think for a moment about all the decisions you face at work in just a single day. You make many choices every day that affect your business. Depending on your exact role, you make decisions about people, projects, strategy, and more. A lot of choices. And make […]
by Dan Oswald Have you ever noticed that as you get older, time seems to speed up? When I was a kid, a year seemed like forever. Now, not so much. We’re more than halfway through 2017. I know, it seems like we just celebrated New Year’s, and now we’re looking at the 4th of […]