Review: 2026 Land Rover Defender
By Eric Peters There are several things that are unusual about the 2026 Land Rover Defender. One is that it’s available in multiple wheelbase lengths, two- and four-door body styles, and with seating for as few as five or as many as seven. Another is that it’s offered with four different engines, including two V8s […]
Why authentic storytelling is replacing polished marketing
By Kim Brown If you want to win in business in 2026, you need to get comfortable with being real. For years, brands have relied on polished marketing campaigns to paint the perfect picture they want customers to see. It worked for a long time, but that approach is losing its effectiveness. Trust is now […]
The courtesy of a reply in shaping executive presencev
By TD Smyers I recently sent a thoughtful message to a peer CEO, someone I respect and had collaborated with in the past. It wasn’t a cold pitch or a trivial ask; it was a substantive outreach about a potential partnership that could benefit both our organizations. No response. I followed up politely a week […]
Listen! You talk too much
By Neil Barrow Every professional has been in this meeting. You sit down with a prospective client. You’ve heard it all before. You know roughly what they need. And within the first 10 minutes, you’re talking about your firm’s history, walking them through your firm’s capabilities, your team’s experience, your process and why you’re different […]
Texas handed you a legal shield against data breaches, but you have to earn it first
By Don Oxman Picture the worst Tuesday of your business life. An employee clicks a link that looked like an invoice. By the time anyone notices, an attacker has been inside your network for a week, and the customer records you were trusted to protect are for sale online. The cleanup is brutal. But the […]
Tips to get out of your own way
By Deb Degner In a world increasingly focused on artificial intelligence, there never has been a better time to invest in human development. Technology can help us work faster, but it cannot replace self-awareness, emotional intelligence, resilience or leadership. As a leadership coach, my role is to help clients increase awareness so they can identify […]
Mental health is the founder’s most important strategy
May might be designated Mental Health Awareness Month, but don’t fool yourself: it is a year-long concern for every business owner. Building or running a company is one of the most psychologically demanding things a human being can do. The uncertainty is relentless. The roles are endless. And the pressure to appear confident and composed (even when you’re white-knuckling it) is quietly one of the most exhausting parts of the job.
Building STEAM
By Rick Mauch Nicholas Ditto has a dream and it’s building STEAM. As in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. The acronym is part of a new middle school he started, Fort Worth STEAM Academy. “I believe every student and family deserve access to a high-quality public education that opens doors to future opportunity,” Ditto […]
The rocky road of vouchers yet traveled
Starting with the 2026-27 school year, all districts will become part of a statewide voucher system, also known as Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA). TEFA, or the voucher system as it is more commonly known, provides roughly $10,474 annually for students to attend accredited private schools, and up to $30,000 for students with disabilities. Additionally, […]
The road back for Fort Worth and Lake Worth ISDs
By Rick Mauch One of the worst things that can happen to a school district has happened to two local districts. Fort Worth and Lake Worth have been taken over by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in an effort to bring each district up to state standards. Fort Worth has been working under new leadership […]