Catalyst Consulting Group, Inc.

07/11/2026

Quote of the day: (And I'm stealing that word...)

We have got to stop confusing assholery for courage or for conviction. I see this on both sides of the spectrum, especially among the angriest part of the base. They’re looking at somebody who’s basically extending the middle finger to the world and demonstrating this sort of like raw fury and anger, often in a way that’s deeply cruel and dishonest, and casting that as, well, they are a fighter, OK? They’re a fighter.

Well, that is not the only model for fighting, guys. Look throughout history, if you’re going to look at the people who led in difficult times, who demonstrated and history has vindicated for their courage and their resolve and their conviction. Often they were people who went out of their way to try to extend olive branches to win people over who were wavering, who had to demonstrate a tremendous amount of moral character.

And this is something that is a huge problem that I’ve seen on the right for the last decade, that they view you as weak unless you’re cruel. And all of your scandals, (…) they’re a bonus. They’re a bonus because what they mean is that you don’t care about norms. You’re willing to go as far as you need to go. And down that path lies madness and there is no path in which that is going to unify this country, or achieve justice and prosperity and equality, and all of the things that you’re looking for.

That is not the path for it. And I’m longing for a moment where especially the bases of the parties wake up and they say, “You know what? Sometimes the most courage you can demonstrate is to demonstrate humility or kindness in the face of an arrogant and cruel age.”

--David French, speaking in “‘Platner Is Vile.’ McConnell Is Missing. Welcome to American Politics.” The New York Times, 11 July 2026

04/04/2025

"There is no such thing as a perfect leader either in the past or present, in China or elsewhere. If there is one, he is only pretending, like a pig inserting scallions into its nose in an effort to look like an elephant."

Shao-Chi Liu

04/01/2025

"The minute a person whose word means a great deal to others dares to take the open-hearted and courageous way, many others follow."

Marian Anderson

03/28/2025

"A boss creates fear, a leader confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader asks questions. A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting. A boss is interested in himself or herself, a leader is interested in the group."

Russell H. Ewing

02/13/2025

If you're a human, you have History and you have Habits. Neither are who you are.

08/23/2024

A new favorite quote:
"Never do anything half- assed."

05/01/2024

A tiny tidbit of my training, received decades ago, was this coaching:

Consider: MAYBE there’s something I’m not seeing.

I always find this useful. Deliberately creating for myself, that there’s more possible beyond what I already know.

A very wise person once offered this analogy:
“It’s like opening your refrigerator and instead of seeing what you expect...
(like eggs, milk, kale, marmalade,)
...you see the Grand Canyon.”

It’s usually valuable for me to discover things I haven’t been seeing. (Even if it’s bad news.)

02/05/2024

The irony.

I was invited, via LinkedIN, by a local, reputable university, to have a conversation with them about being a possible resource for them regarding their “Customer Experience” program.

I accepted their invitation, directly, via email (rather than via the meeting link they had sent to me.) I was given access to an online calendar, to select a time open on their side. I did so.

I received two follow-up reminders from them as well, prior to the scheduled time.

Instead of requesting that I call them directly or them calling me directly, they provided a Zoom call-in number and meeting ID number. (Not a video meeting.)

I arrived early and dialed in. I sat listening to……nothing.

I hung around for minutes, waiting. Past the agreed-upon start time. I heard another call coming in on my other line, so I hung up and took the other call.

My Customer Experience: POOR. Laughing loudly.

05/02/2023

Pandora's Box

Social media illustrated some of the perils of unchecked technology.

10/26/2022

Best feedback EVER from a Client (2 business partners):
Me: Are we going to continue working together in 2023?
Them: Of course! When you're 114 years old and you have been in your grave for a long time, we're gonna dig you up every Tuesday, so you can come to our call!
😂🤣😂