I wanted to take a few minutes to let you know about a big change, as if 2020 was not interesting enough. As most of you probably know, I’m not a big wordsmithed-announcement kind of guy, so this is my informal write up.
I started a new company, Helping Improve LLC, with longtime collaborator Paul Tevis. Paul and I have hit the ground running and are already working with clients while we continue to incrementally set up the company. We are still doing the same work as always–adding some new offerings to the mix (new leadership and organizational change services among other things), and providing new ideas and solutions on a number of fronts. At the end of the day, expect the same direct, no-nonsense approach I’ve always provided.
For those that don’t know Paul, he has the same passion I do for improving, learning, and helping others grow. He challenges ideas and assumptions in ways that help people (anyone he works with, including me!) to reach new limits. His passion for helping others unlock their potential is at the core of who he is. I look forward to you having a chance to get to know him if you have not already!
This obviously means I am moving on from Agile For All (the company I’ve been working with for the last 5 years). We all have had a chance to reflect on our lives this year and consider what’s next. This happened for us at Agile For All as well. For me, I wanted to expand on many of the things I’ve been doing in different ways and also do something new. Given that others also wanted to make various changes, it has worked out well for everyone.
One of the things I’m most appreciative of at this moment is that I’m able to make the change in a way that is transparent and supported. I have not experienced any of the common issues people have when moving on from an organization. I too often hear about people having to deal with a big mess (or worse) when leaving.
Over the past 5 years, I’ve had a ton of fun, grown a lot, challenged myself, challenged others (mostly usefully), and got to work with some people I might not have otherwise had a chance to work with. While there have been challenges along the way, the opportunity I had to join Agile for All helped me tremendously. I wanted to take a brief moment to thank Bob Hartman for that opportunity as well as to thank everyone I’ve worked with over the years: thanks to Bob Hartman, Richard Lawrence, Angie Ham, Laura, Peter Green, Henry Dittmer, Peter Saddington, John Miller, Rob Myers, Steve Spearman, Carol, Brian, and Tricia Broderick. I’ll still collaborate with many of these folks in the future, so I see it less as “goodbye” and more “I wonder what’s next.” In fact, Tricia and I have classes already scheduled in 2021 and will continue to train Leading Amazing Teams together.
Website and Upcoming Classes
I’ve included a number of links with updated information below, including one for upcoming courses. If you know someone who might be interested, please pass along the links. I appreciate it!
Connect
If you’d like to connect with us, feel free to use any of the links below, if you are not already connected.
Connect with Jake: 
LinkedIn 
Twitter 
Blog
Connect with Paul: LinkedIn Twitter
Take care and have a safe and fun holiday!
–Jake