Looking at Dennis Perkins’ 10 strategies from Leading At The Edge, I can relate a personal experience with strategy eight - Lighten Up!. For those of you who are not aware, Thirst Thursday relates to the idea that Thursday night is a time to drink and party. Who really needs Friday class after all…if you even have it to begin with. Thus, I was somewhat surprised to find out about regular Thirst Thursday events scheduled throughout the summer during my internship at the Nike World Headquarters. Read more… »

For one of my college courses this term I have been reading the book Leading At The Edge by Dennis Perkins. The background is that he uses the inspirational Antarctic journey of Robert Shackleton and his crew, as they survive against all odds and the blistering elements, as a case for which he proposes his 10 strategies for leading at the edge. While I find some of the content in this book to be interesting and useful, it is somewhat too simplistic and doesn’t provide anything very actionable or groundbreaking. Here are the 10 strategies:

1. Vision and Quick Victories: Never lose sight of the ultimate goal, and focus energy on short-term objectives.
2. Symbolism and Personal Example: Set a personal example with visible, memorable symbols and behaviors.
3. Optimism and Reality: Instill optimism and self-confidence, but stay grounded in reality. Read more… »