Innovate, don't imitate. Set out to create a culture that is right for your organization, then work at making it happen.

Organizational culture begins in HR. This means to hire for attitude and train for skill.

This is great if you know all those "not to do" strategies. Sometimes you learn the "not to do's" by doing. The key is to fail forward fast. Try, fail, learn, and quickly try again.

The best ideas can come from anyone within an organization. Leaders must remember that if they want employees to embrace a new organizational "Dream" or strategy, they need to include them and seek their ideas. Creativity is NOT just for the R&D department.

The two greatest role models in my professional career were Walt Disney and Dr. Deming. Dr. Deming was the Father of Total Quality Management and the person who redefined quality for the entire world.

Innovate, don't imitate. Set out to create a culture that is right for your organization, then work at making it happen.

Social media can work to a CEO's advantage. Someone with a great product in a small town in the middle of nowhere can compete in the world marketplace. In 1962, Sam Walton changed the face of retailing with Wal-Mart. As we speak, Amazon is again changing the face of retail with on-line buying.