I was recently invited to participate in an AI Roundtable with my peers from Cornerstone International Group. We had participation from four continents to discuss the question, “How are organizations using AI beyond the headlines?” To be clear, I live somewhere between experimental and operational AI user today. On one hand, I die a little […]
Search Stories: Who Will You Impact This Year?
Just before Christmas, our team gathered for our 2026 annual meeting. Our owners finalized the 10-year vision for the firm and there was a lot of excitement in the room, especially coming off consecutive record growth years. Before sharing our collective goals, growth plans and team presentations for year one of this vision, our owners […]
A New Year’s Resolution That Will Last All Year
“I wish I had this for my team at my last organization. It would have explained so much and helped me be a better leader!” These were my thoughts after taking the Six Types of Working Genius assessment. At different points throughout my career, I could never fully wrap my arms around why some days I […]
Choose Courage Over Comfort
Recently I was watching a high school football game with one of my good friends. We were talking about the commitment, sacrifices and growth of our 16-year-old sons on and off the field. My friend said to me, “I tell my son the voice in your head wants you to be comfortable. You cannot grow […]
7 Keys to Hiring the Right Leader the First Time
You never want to hear the words, “The candidate did not work out, but we sure made the hire fast!” We often tell business owners and hiring managers, you hire an executive search firm when you have to get it right the first time. But just how often do we get it right the first […]
Do you struggle with patience in your work?
A CEO recently asked me, “How are you navigating today’s market challenges in your business?” My response, “We often do not know when our client companies need help recruiting a key leadership position. So, we focus on the activity we can control. We plant and water our relationships, and trust that God will cause the […]
This Christmas, Show Me the Way
This Christmas, Show Me the Way One of my favorite Christmas movies is “It’s a Wonderful Life.” But it wasn’t until recent years when it took on a deeper appreciation and meaning in my life. As a husband, father and businessman striving to provide for my family and serve others every day, I am always […]
Cornerstone Hits the Road to Visit Customers!
Atchison, Kansas. Columbia, Missouri. Greeley, Colorado. Joplin, Missouri. Manhattan, Kansas. Pacific Junction, Iowa. Wichita, Kansas. These are just a few of our summer road trips outside the Kansas City metro as we hit the pavement to visit our customers! Stewardship is one of our core values at Cornerstone. We are big believers in giving gratitude […]
Playing to Win in Times of Uncertainty
I just finished another fun and memorable season of coaching youth basketball. As a volunteer basketball coach for many years, we talk a lot about attitude and effort, and how these two behaviors positively or negatively influence our team and how we play the game. We also talk about the difference between playing to win, […]
Does the “Perfect Match” Exist?
“This search is really important. We cannot afford to make the wrong hire.” When we hear these words, we know exactly what this means. The stakes are high, the pressure is intense, and in our business, the message is clear: We absolutely have to get it done right. In the most simplistic way, I often […]
Go The Distance To Attract The Right People
A few weeks ago, I took my family to visit one of my favorite places. A place that reminds me of “all that once was good and could be again!” Of course, I am talking about Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa. As my family was driving home at dusk through beautiful Iowa countryside, I […]
So What’s Your Story?
Recently, I was helping a candidate prepare for a final job interview with one of our client companies. The process was very thorough and competitive over three months. I had spent a considerable amount of time with this particular candidate. We were down to two finalists.
