Often we will learn more from our failures than we do from our successes.

When you are young, if you can define your long-term dream, - something that you can get passionate about - solidify your values, dare to take a risk and then put a plan together to accomplish that dream... that could be the difference between success and failure in life.

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 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.

I would advise any startup to take the time to define their unique culture and work at making it a reality.

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.

Storyboarding is what I call an "idea landscape" - one that can help unleash creativity, improve communication, and identify practical solutions to complex problems. The beauty of storyboarding is that ideas from an entire team are harnessed, not just those from the extroverts or vocal members.