Published by Andy Kaufman
Andy Kaufman, PMP is an international speaker, author, and executive coach, and President of the Institute for Leadership Excellence & Development Inc. Andy works with organizations around the world, helping them improve their ability to deliver projects and lead teams.
Andy’s keynotes, workshops, and executive coaching services have reached tens of thousands of people from hundreds of companies over the years, helping them deliver their projects, become more confident leaders, take focused action, and deliver results. He brings a rich background of over 25 years of experience in executive management, technology, team leadership, project management, consulting, and coaching.
Andy is a certified trainer and author of Navigating the Winds of Change: Staying on Course in Business & in Life, Shining the Light on The Secret, and an e-book entitled How to Organize Your Inbox & Get Rid of E-Mail Clutter, all published by Zurich Press. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) and a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI®).
Andy is the publisher of the Horizon Time newsletter which is read by professionals around the world. He is also the host of The People and Projects Podcast which provides interviews and insights to help listeners lead people and deliver projects. The podcast focuses on the intersection of People and Projects--where work gets done in the real world.
Andy is a recognized expert on topics related to leadership, project management, managing conflict, networking, relationships, time management, teambuilding, and delivering results.
Learn more at the Institute’s website at http://www.i-leadonline.com.
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Throughout my life I tried to be very sociable with whoever I met or worked with.
When I was quite young I played softball on a Washington team. We played teams from various towns, especially Morton.
I got pretty well acquainted with a player from Morton named Bruce.
My working career at Caterpillar Inc was interrupted by my serving in the 9th Army Headquarters in Europe in WWII.
After I returned from the war, I went back to Caterpillar Inc on my old job of pulling a handtruck in the Parts Department. I finally got to be a timekeeper on a machine line, which was not too bad, but I thought I could still better myself with more education, as I did not go to college.
Even though we had three children at the time, I enrolled in a 100 lesson correspondence course in accounting.
After getting my accounting degree, I told my foreman about it and he told the people up the ladder of authority.
One day I was told to go into the Accounting Office and see a certain Department Head about a job that had opened up.
As I talked to the Department Head, he said just a minute and I will call in the supervisor who needs the person and you two can then discuss the job.
To my amazement, in walked Bruce and he asked me to come out to his desk. We talked a few minutes and he told me I had the job.
To this day, I say Bruce gave me the chance to get me as far as I did in my career.
I still think getting to know him from playing softball gave me the opportunity.