As we mark the anniversary of October 7, my heart is heavy with reflection, pain, and hope. This date, etched into the collective memory of Jews around the world, calls for remembrance of an unspeakable tragedy—the kidnapping and captivity of many innocent lives, families torn apart, and the unimaginable suffering of the Israeli people. The plight of these captives remains an open wound for all of us, as the uncertainty surrounding their safety is a burden we carry every day. The anguish of the families of the missing is a shared pain, one that transcends distance and borders, cutting to the core of what it means to be part of the Jewish people.

Israel, antisemitismNaphtali HoffOctober 7, 2024Impactful Coaching & Consultingjews, judaism, Israel, terrorism, hamas, safety, security, antisemitism, hostilityComment

The Risk of Staying in the Safe Lane

For our recent family road trip, my wife and I went with our children for two days of sightseeing in nearby cities. In total, we spent around ten hours in the car, mostly on 3 lane highways and predominantly at night, with little roadside scenery to take in. This gave me, the sole driver, plenty of time to observe my road-mates.

For the most part, the other drivers on the road followed the standard script. Those in the right lane were the slowest, with lots of folks occupying that lane temporarily to enter or exit the road. Drivers in the center lane were the majority. They maintained a healthy, predictable speed and were largely content to keep their place in line. Then there were the left-laners. These folks were the most aggressive, clocking in at the highest speeds. They would also weave in and out of lanes in order to improve their position and arrival times.

coaching, change, workplaceNaphtali HoffFebruary 11, 2019Impactful Coaching & Consultingtravel, risk taking, safety, risk aversion, highway, careerComment

Winter Driving Lessons for Business Leaders

Driving conditions for much of the Northeast this past Thursday afternoon and evening were downright abysmal. Weather forecasts had grossly underestimated the amount of snow and sleet that would blanket the region, often at blinding speeds. Road crews were slow to respond and were understaffed.

Traffic, naturally, moved at a grinding pace. My commute home, for example, was more than doubled.

Despite my less-than-ideal commute, there were some lessons from the experience that can inform decision making in more normative business conditions. (I guess having multiple hours of solitude can produce some useful insights.😀)

Listen carefully to the forecast – While in this case, the forecast was somewhat misleading, in most instances knowing what is being predicted can vastly improve decision making. The same is true for the workplace. Before taking action that involves outside conditions, such as market and industry trends, seek to get as much information as possible. Then, use that information to guide your decisions. Sounds simple, right? Well, it isn’t, in part because business data is not presented as neatly as a weather forecast. Successful leaders know how much information they need (HINT: it’s not 100%) and then what to do with it and which traps to avoid when seeking to move forward.

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