Leadership - A discussion of traits, characteristics, and current news of leaders.

In reality, this is the first playoff series win for the Clippers forever although some people will remind you that the club advanced as the Buffalo Braves in 1976, a few seasons before the team moved to San Diego, but I digress.

The Clippers handled the Nuggets without much trouble with the Nuggets only able to get one win in the series in game three. What I remember about that game was when the buzzer sounded, Cassell gathered the team around him and delivered a passionate speech. He didn’t wait to get to the locker room. He had something to say right then. Despite all the mayhem in the Nugget arena, all of the player’s eyes and ears were focused on Sam. Such leadership has made the difference in this series.

The Clippers are no fluke and had a solid season (47-35) given their history. The success is a combination of coaching, young talent and solid leadership. The Clippers’ turnaround can be traced simply to the resolve and vision of Coach Mike Dunleavy, the leadership and experience of Sam Cassell and the consistency and patience of Elton Brand.

Coach Dunleavy came to the Clippers with little more than a dream and a plan. But those are the tools a leader can use to produce eye-popping results. 

"It's a great accomplishment, a great feeling, to be able to accomplish everything you set out to do," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said Tuesday. "Everything we've done has basically followed the script. I'm very pleased." Dunleavy’s vision and commitment to a team and organization that had never produced is remarkable.

Add to Dunleavy the bookends of playoff experience - Sam Cassell and Elton Brand. Cassell has logged more playoff experience than his Clipper teammates combined. During his career, he played in 108 postseason contests including a critical role with the Houston Rockets when they won NBA championships 1994 and 1995. Juxtapose Elton Brand. Until a few weeks ago, he had never been to the playoffs in his seven-year NBA career.

It is Patriots Day in Boston today and that means a day off from work for citizens of Massachusetts and it also means the Boston Marathon.

I was in Boston today – not in time to see the Boston Marathon and not in shape to run it. I tip my hat and congratulate all participants. I have run six marathons and I understand and fully appreciate what it takes to go 26.2 miles. Interestingly, it was “patience” that may have been the trait that claimed the victors wreath in the 2006 race.

From the Washington Post


Cheruiyot broke the course record by one second, covering the 26.2 miles in an average of less than 5 minutes per mile. That is amazing to me. For him it was a race of strategy, of understanding himself, running his own race and in the end being patient. More from the Post


Cheruiyot watched as the leaders ran away from him. He was comfortable letting them go. As a former winner, perhaps his experience enabled him to be patient. On this day, it was the right strategy.

Like most great sporting events, there are several important lessons of inspiration in 2006 Boston Marathon. Patience, preparation, commitment, strategy. Thanks and congratulations Robert.

Photo Credit to AP - Elise Amendola

I was fortunate to be invited to a breakfast yesterday that included an economic forecast by Chapman University President James L. Doti, PhD. Doti is an engaging speaker and a knowledgeable economist (fellow University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Alum).

With humor and insight he laid out an economic picture for the U.S. economy as well as the greater Los Angeles area. He also poked fun at the two big Los Angeles schools, UCLA and USC. Doti has created a unilateral rivalry with the economics forecasts of these universities.

He effectively explained why higher oil prices, Hurricane Katrina, and an increase in the Fed Fund rate from 1% to 4.25% hasn’t hobbled the economy despite the media’s inclination to claim “the sky is falling.”

The Chapman University forecast seemed to be in line with the report released on Monday by the White House economists as noted in the Washington Post.

MidMarketMaven, while a fan of former Fed Chairman Greenspan didn't appreciate his 11th hour increase of interest rates:


I agree with MMM, he is not an economist (neither am I).   I also agreed with him on his point about Greenspan's last rate change.  I cannot make a persuasive economic argument like MMM but I considered the Greenspan's move from a leadership and transition stand point.

Making significant decisions on the eve of a leadership change isn't good form.  In this case it probably forces Bernanke to sit on his hands and wait for a crisis as Greenspan tightened one last time - "Uncle."   Bernanke may not have a chance to make some small moves before he faces more significant challenges. His ability to lead out of the gate was weakened by Greenspan's final call.