Blog
When You See Something Say Nothing
by Tom Esch | Jun 22, 2023 | Blog
One of the common communication problems in construction involves the problem of workers getting quiet at the wrong time. Those with lower rank are often reluctant to speak up, especially when it comes to safety. Most have heard the safety leader or the boss say...
How are you using your status?
by Tom Esch | Jun 11, 2023 | Blog
Have you ever had a work situation where someone’s rank changed substantially, or someone messed up? How did those involved handle that situation? Did everyone impacted use their status in a way that contributed to the good of the company? Or did some people act...
Joy in the Midst of Hardship
by Tom Esch | Dec 30, 2022 | Blog
The Grinch had taken everything, all their floofloovers all their tartookas. He snatched every whohooper and gardooka. He stole the roast beast. He left nothing, not even a crumb for that mouse. Then he horsewhipped poor Max his dog, and that giant sled of toys, up...
Is Blame an Issue for you? Part II by Tom Esch
by Tom Esch | Sep 23, 2022 | Blog
My wife Kristen had a car accident recently. In our driveway. It was not the first time. She expected me to blow up and shower her with blame. I did neither. Why not? Because I “accused myself” first, as recommended by the Persian poet Rumi: When something goes...
Is Blame an Issue? Part I
by Tom Esch | Aug 11, 2022 | Blog
Do you ever find yourself wanting to blame others for a painful situation? Are others habitually blaming you? When something goes bad at work or at home do you want to point the finger at another person? “Not my fault!” “I had nothing to do with it.” “I think it...
Meditation? “No, I want real solutions to stress”
by Tom Esch | Aug 11, 2022 | Blog
Most of my coaching these days is with men in construction. These guys are hard-working, tough, no-nonsense individuals. They are used to navigating high stress situations. And these days many of them are showing signs of significant stress: drinking too much, not...
The Slap Heard Round the World
by Tom Esch | Apr 1, 2022 | Blog
Was it real? Did Will Smith really slap Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars? And why? Just in case you are the only one who missed it. Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith’s hair. She was present in the audience, looking beautiful and with almost no...
What are you sourcing?
by Tom Esch | Feb 8, 2022 | Blog
There I was in Chicago on a windy evening, in mid-December, and I just wanted to get home. I had been travelling a lot and my wife called to tell me that there were tornado level winds coming up from the south and hitting Minneapolis about an hour before my plane...
The Potentially Devastating Power of Rank
by Tom Esch | Dec 14, 2021 | Blog
Three years ago, I saw Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in the successful remake of the movie “A Star is Born” and there was a scene toward the end which captured my attention. Spoiler alert: If you have not seen the movie, you may want to skip this. But I am guessing you...
I know why the driver in Waukesha did it
by Tom Esch | Nov 30, 2021 | Using Your Power Effectively, Blog
Another unbelievable tragedy, just days before Thanksgiving. A driver in Waukesha smashed his vehicle into a crowd this past weekend at a holiday parade, killing six people and injuring well over 40. Why? We all want to know why. Did the gas pedal get stuck? I do...