My post on Medium yesterday, "Did Donald Trump Destroy Godwin’s Law?," began Did Donald Trump Destroy Godwin’s Law? As a nerd who values old school internet memes, I value Godwin’s Law — an internet staple since 1990, that as online discussions grow, people become more likely to compare the other side to Hitler. Its meaning and poignancy rests on the accusation having no basis. What if the accusation had basis? Godwin’s Law is poignant and meaningful because it reveals how people lose perspective amid the anonymity the internet gives them and their counter party. No matter how much you dislike someone who disagrees…

The word leadership is a fine word that describes a practice of influence, persuasion, strategy, vision, and all of what you think it means. It doesn't describe what I teach. It's the closest I've come across, but it's off. The biggest problem is that leadership, in today's world, implies business more than what I teach. Business is just one application. I teach the social and emotional skills underlying the ability to lead oneself and others---skills like empathy, compassion, listening, creating meaning, value, importance, purpose, and passion for themselves and others, responsibility, influence, persuasion, and such. Business isn't essential, nor non-profits,…

My post on LinkedIn yesterday, "What to Learn from Google's Missing Leadership on the Diversity Memo," has 683 upvotes so far. It begins What to Learn from Google's Missing Leadership on the Diversity Memo When I was in graduate school, my university, Columbia, was considering changing its policy on allowing ROTC on campus. The university president, Lee Bollinger, scheduled a town hall to hear views from the community. Young, self-righteous, and angry, I went, intending to let Bollinger have a piece of my mind: how could he consider changing a policy students fought so hard to establish, that has stood so long?!? At…