Hey there, I’m Chris.
Servant leader, coach, entrepreneur, mountain man, and owner of Placers, one of Delaware’s 50 fastest growing businesses with a mission of igniting the spark between businesses and next-level talent.
I’m a firm believer that everyone we come into contact with has lessons to share – from strategies for successful entrepreneurship, to how to live a balanced life – mind, body, and soul.
As a business owner, I encourage my team to operate under one simple yet extremely powerful idea: that the best results come when you push the limits. Last year, I trekked up the glacial landscape of Mt. Rainier – a bucket-list climb. It wasn’t easy. When a blizzard hit at 11,500 feet, we spent a tough night in frigid temperatures with tents blowing and a mix of freezing rain and snow billowing into my tent. While nature ultimately decided it was time for us to descend, we were left with a life-changing experience reserved only for those who dare to step outside of their comfort zones.
Epic journeys wait on the other side of comfort zones. Outside Insights will give you the inspiration, tools, and aha moments you need to get there.
Yes, there is a “right way” to think…that “right way” just depends on the individual. In Outside Insights, we often talk about defining your guiding values and understanding what your personal culture is. Society has guidelines for how we should act, the workplace has rules that we abide by to get paid, etc. But your […]
There is a balance shift between employers who are used to being in control of the workplace dynamic and employees who gained control of it during the pandemic. It’s headlining news and it’s the through-line of this week’s episode of Outside Insights between Placers’ President Chris Burkhard and Placers’ Founder and serial entrepreneur Alan Burkhard. […]
Recently, I read one of my Outside Insights articles from two years ago where I wrote about the importance of appreciating the small stuff around you. Reflexively I thought, who was that guy? And how did he get to a place where he had time to actually appreciate the small things in life? Two years […]
The election feels like the exclamation point on the end of a long run-on sentence (otherwise known as the year 2020). We have been through a range of emotions and sticky situations this year. Many of us have gone from fear to frustration, to now what feels like a general sense of anxiety. With so much […]
I am not sure how you’re choosing to distract yourself these days – lately the world seems to be oh so serious all of the time. If you listen to or read Outside Insights content, you’re familiar with my journey and my recipe for living your best life. I read, meditate, do yoga, work out […]
How you conduct yourself along your life journey, determines how your story will unfold. This is a basic law of the universe—we get what we give and, ultimately, we are what we believe. It’s a self fulfilling prophecy. If we think negatively, we open ourselves up to negative experiences. If we lead from a place […]
To be clear, most people have heard of the 80/20 Rule, yet most are not sure what it is or how to use it in their life. The 80/20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, is the way to save time and to improve personally and professionally. In the late 19th century, Italian economist, […]
This visualization represents my work/life story over the past 30 years. I imagine many of you can relate. To me work equaled independence. I started work early. From the age of nine, I had a paper route which I had until I was sixteen. It was hard work; I got up before school to deliver […]
I am frequently asked about what gives me sustainable motivation and energy. How do I continuously keep my long-term goals top of mind and how do I recover from life’s setbacks and get back on track? When it comes to reaching our goals, all of us have setbacks – we get sick, we lose steam, […]
In 2009, many businesses ground to a halt – almost a complete stop. Corporate customers stopped buying. Consumer sentiment was down, and people stopped spending. In the U.S., this was our entire economy. Most leaders found themselves navigating uncharted business waters, and leadership became narrowly focused on one thing: survival. I am proud to […]
Are you where you want to be in your life? Did you cross all the items off your bucket list? Have all of your dreams been chased? If the answer is yes, yes and yes – congratulations! You can proceed with the rest of your day. But, if you’re like me, you probably answered no […]
If you’ve been part of the Outside Insights community for a while, you know how important I view goal setting and developing actionable steps to make them a reality. We set our sights on outcomes that we want to reach and then act with intention, every day, to achieve them – knocking tasks out one […]
I’d like to start this week’s email out with a question for you. If someone offered you a pill that could decrease your chances of cancer and heart disease by more than half, increase your memory and intelligence, decrease anxiety and stress and make you happier with no negative side effects – would you take […]
When asked about Apple’s “overnight success”, Steve Jobs explained that it was 18 years in the making. Sometimes we make success look too easy and the real gold is in the lessons learned and the many mistakes we make on our way to reaching success. A decade and a half ago Rob Gilfillan and I […]
The world of business is fast-changing. Fickle, almost. Climates evolve rapidly, markets come and go, consumer demand is continually in flux. Any company that navigates these inherent trials and tribulations with grace isn’t doing so because of sheer dumb luck. They have a secret sauce: Their employees. The lifeblood of any company is […]
The “power of knowledge,” the focus of chapter five in “Opposite the Crowd,” zeroes in on a see, think, act mindset and strategy that my father Alan and I advocate. Many years ago, he was introduced as a futurist at a staffing conference. “He always sees what’s coming,” they said during his intro. […]
Group brainstorming sessions are usually the birthplace of a spark of an idea that turns into something big. Whether you’re discussing the next roll out with colleagues or deciding what to name the new family puppy while trying not to shut down the name “cupcake”. While brainstorming, the first wave of responses are often narrow […]
In business, there are assets, things that add or increase in value, and there are liabilities, things that must be paid for or are a cost to the business. All employees have the opportunity to be real assets – but not all employees are working to their full potential. Be an asset. Grow yourself, be […]
Yesterday I read a meme that referenced the never-ending pandemic. “The new normal” had gone on so long that I had time to get in shape once…and then get out of shape again. I know this is how many of us feel right now. It’s like the pandemic 15 (which is a real thing), not […]
The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (For Me) My all-time favorite holiday is New Year’s Day – it offers the opportunity to reset. I set a new tone in the new year by journaling. It clarifies what I’ve done, what I didn’t do, what I want, and how to get there. I highly recommend […]
“Recently, I was meeting with our recruitment consultant, Freddy, over lunch and I shared this story. Back in the early days of Placers 1.0 and the CBI Group, we set out to propel one of the key tenants of our culture: employee empowerment. We asked ourselves how self-directed our teams could really be. Would they […]
In a world of self-service portals and customer service lines that proudly announce “that your call is important to us. There are just 48 callers in front of you, and your wait time 1 hour and 6 minutes” there has to be another way. You know real service when you see it. But how can […]
Hello, This next Outside Insights podcast is one that I am very excited for our community to listen and learn from. For this episode, I sat down with Todd Bavol, CEO of Integrity Staffing, a firm that has won Clearly Rated’s Best of Staffing Award for five consecutive years. I am proud to call Todd […]
Where does our confidence come from? How do I “fake it till I make it”? How do I know I am doing the right things with my life? I spend a lot of time with good people, customers, employees, friends, family and outside-inners that find value in our words and podcasts. The questions above are […]
The Greatest Holiday Gifts To Yourself: Time And Space Many of us spend all day on the go. If we’re not busy at work, we’re working for our families with domestic activities. The list is never-ending. Sometimes it feels challenging to fit “living” into the constant rush. It’s contrived of me to even mention that […]
Summer time is about fun, travel (finally) and spending time outside with friends and family. The season also presents an opportune time for self reflection, to learn and to grow. A favorite Outside Insights topic, I have often asked you all: How much time do you set aside to work on and get to know […]
Only in 2020 would we run out of Christmas trees! Yes, 12 foot pines are going for more than a grand if you can find one. We are all so desperate for some normalcy many started bringing in the holiday cheer a little early this year. We are all looking to lift our spirits, have […]
Ten Ways To Empower People In chapter four of the book my father and I co-authored, “Opposite the Crowd,” my dad, Alan, chronicles his early years — from his first memory to his first “grown-up job.” Alan was only 15 when he lost his dad, Carol, to cancer. The family-owned business, Burkhard Hardware, burned […]
Have fun listening to Dave Raymond, the original Phillie Phanatic mascot and author of “The Power of Fun,” and Placers President Chris Burkhard as they remove the stigma from fun in the workplace. Sharing positivity in life and in the workplace “turns off negative brain biases,” explained Dave during this hour-long podcast that takes a […]
I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of time thinking about how I can live my best life: Do I have good habits? In what areas can I improve? Is my morning routine optimized? Did I meditate three times this week? Did I go through my ten-point morning checklist? Is it […]
Let’s face it, the general concept of “selling” has developed a bad rap over the years. We all hate to be sold to. If I asked you to picture a salesperson right now, what image would come to mind? Most people likely have the same exaggerated caricature pop up. In recent years, the selling landscape […]
At many points in our lifetime, we’re put into positions where others depend on us to be a good teammate. You’re a teammate to your colleague at the office, your partner on a college partner, your roommate, and your significant other. These people depend on you. How do you know that you’re upholding your end […]
Leading Delaware staffing and recruiting agency launches Outside Insights podcast Newark, Delaware – For the past two years, Placers President and Founder Chris Burkhard has shared his thoughts from more than 20 years in the staffing industry to help people do the work necessary to achieve the life they’ve been dreaming of. Using his […]
When I was 19, I was the assistant manager of a late-night sub shop on the beach. I served customers, managed employees, and reconciled any issues. At 21 I was the manager at a sporting goods store. With this position, I was tasked with managing a team of ten people, running the budget for a […]
As a member of the Scaling Up community, a strategic coach, and a business owner of a growth-oriented mid-market company, I have had the pleasure of learning life lessons from some of the best leaders and entrepreneurs on the planet. I discuss one of my favorites below – and how I’ve used it to better my life […]
Recently, I connected with a dear friend and my first business mentor over breakfast – former radio executive, Cynthia Morgan. Cynthia was the first business leader I met that “took me seriously” and set a high standard for the type of leader that I wanted to be. We met in a Dale Carnegie class […]
Steve Jobs once said, “If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.” Man, am I familiar with this phrase. Many years ago, I decided to become an entrepreneur – my first company, the CBI Group, was born. At that time, I believed that every hour I worked would equate to future value. […]
Culture driven is the philosophy of a planned way of thinking that guides your professional and personal life, according to Alan and Chris Burkhard, authors of “Opposite The Crowd.” In their new book, the Burkhards deep dive into creating the culture-driven life you want, with no limitations, where risk is rewarded and where the results […]
For the last few weeks, I have been in Wyoming on my sabbatical (all Placers team members take one every 10 years). I’m accompanied by my wife, Kim, and two Aussie Shepherds, Ziggy and Gracie, in a small cabin-style rental. Nature has welcomed us into its embrace as short-term guests in a place where […]
Our Outside Insights community often discusses the importance of taking the time to reflect on where you’re at in life, the work that it took to get there, and how you feel about the journey. The next time you’re taking the time to reflect or journal, consider starting out with this prompt: “My life would […]
I had a recent flashback that I’d like to share with you all. Ten years ago I was finishing up my first year as the head coach for the local high school team. We were in the locker room debriefing on the season. We didn’t win many games that season, but we had made progress. […]
Live The Life You Want – Not The One You Have Many of us live our lives “two-faced.” There is the life we want to live, and there’s the life we have. A discrepancy exists between how we are in life and how we want to be. We can’t be our authentic selves all of […]
I was 32 and had just left my big corporate job to start my first business, the CBI Group. My kids were 3 and 5 years old and with a growing family, there were many more conventional options than risking it all on a dream. But Kim, my wife, knew I would never really be […]
We all have a gap in our life that we are working to close personally and perhaps professionally. In fact, Outside Insights is dedicated to helping people understand and do the work necessary to achieve the life that they’ve been yearning for. The biggest hesitation I hear from people who want more out of life […]
We’re eight days into January and it seems like all I read about is habit building, resolution setting, and how wellness is the key to my happiness. Now don’t get me wrong, I rock a daily plan, have a gratitude journal, I even review every week religiously for my wins and areas of improvement. And […]
I am a firm believer that contrarian thinking often creates positive outcomes. That going against the grain and the opposite direction of the crowd is ok, and oftentimes, how one can find the right answer, direction, or philosophy for living. First off, its crowded going with the masses. Yes, staying in your lane is safe, […]
If we all wrote a letter to our boss and shared how we view their leadership, how would that work out? Could they handle the truth? If you’re a leader, could you? Many leaders have earned their stripes through time and tenure. The title, power, corner office and “control” are prized commodities. But, what if […]
Welcome to the latest episode of Outside Insights Podcast #17. I recently interviewed a mentor, a friend, a customer and an exceptional leader, Fran DiNuzzo. Fran is an executive who has built his career around growing people and companies. I was honored that Fran took a break between his CEO responsibilities and Board of Advisor […]
For this week’s podcast, I sat down with a long-time friend and consistent source of inspiration for me: Joe Clancy, owner of ST Publishing. In this podcast, Joe shares many lessons applicable for life and business. I’m confident you’ll find nuggets of wisdom that you can apply to your life today. It goes without saying […]
A culturally driven work environment starts with a mindset that bonds life thinking with career thinking. This is a concept that serial entrepreneur and Outside Insights regular, Alan Burkhard, discussed during our latest podcast chat – the last in his 12-part leadership series. I summarize our discussion on culture-driven mindsets below. Be sure to click […]
As a history buff, I recently read a short story about the fall of Napoleon. Yes, the Emperor of France who conquered most of Europe in the 1800s. In a famous event, Napoleon raced back to Paris from the battlefields after receiving intelligence that his two top government officials were apparently conspiring against him. […]
While 2020 is a year we might hope to forget – we will always remember the realities faced and the lessons learned. Why does it seem like the issues, challenges, and obstacles keep coming relentlessly? That behind every crisis is another one waiting to greet us.First, a virus turned global pandemic, then the economic fallout […]
As we rang in the new year last week, we also waved goodbye to 2021. Under the sounds of cheering, fireworks, and the classic Auld Lang Syne – it was hard not to feel a little hesitation amongst the hope. We’re two years into pandemic life and it’s easy to make a list of what […]
On the perpetual journey to entrepreneurial leadership and growth, the ability to be nimble is key. Success doesn’t come overnight, but keep the grind going and take the licks. That’s entrepreneurship. On this week’s podcast, Rob Herrera, architect, real estate developer, entrepreneur, and founder of The Mill, and Placers President Chris Burkhard, warn that entrepreneurs […]
Athletes, singers and actors/actresses have them. Performers spend all of their time honing their skills and perfecting their craft while someone else helps guide their career. They go to their career agent for advice, counsel, and opportunities because they lack the know-how or the time to do it themselves. What about us mere mortals? Today’s […]
Self-limiting beliefs are the assumptions or perceptions we have about ourselves and the way the world works. These assumptions are “self-limiting” because by holding on to these beliefs, we are in some way holding ourselves back from achieving our goals. An all-too common example of a self-limiting belief among young leaders often sounds like: “I […]
Not considering the responsibility that you feel as a leader, parent, or team member, if you really think about it, aren’t you the most important person in your life? Even if you live a life of service, if you’re not whole, you won’t be able to serve others to the best of your ability. […]
Superheroes of comic books and Marvel movies wear costumes and save the world from evil. Most come from humble beginnings and experience the injustices of their world first-hand. Their experiences forge their character and will in ways that enable them to later protect and fight for the rights of others. Think of Superman as he […]
My week in Block Island was planned when 2020 was looking like any other year. Right now, the idea of a vacation or time away is causing real consternation for many. Those lucky enough to have jobs find themselves exhausted from six months of heads-down work where time off just feels weird – “bad” even? […]
“Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” – T.S. Elliott The truth is, those who know me are tired of hearing about my Mount Rainier climb. I don’t blame them – the preparation was all-consuming for me. In fact, I should start with a […]
At face value, the definition of success can feel pretty narrow. Growing up, many of us are told that to be successful we need to go to college, land a well-paying job, work up the ladder, receive hefty raises, contribute to our 401(k) and then retire with a healthy retirement and time to finally do […]
Welcome to Summer 2021, many have money to spend, time in their vacation banks and freedom to explore. If you’re like me, and like many, taking time off has created genuine stomach churning angst. Thoughts like “I might miss something”, “I might look like I don’t care about my team or my company” can run […]
In one of my favorite reads, Zen and the Art of Happiness, Chris Prentiss outlines that things happen in our life for the best possible reasons – we just don’t know why at the time. So, let me ask you a question for you to ponder this weekend. What has happened to you that appeared […]
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not […]
Here’s the truth, friends – I have a war in my mind that gets fought every day.I am going to bet that I am not alone. 2020 seems to have done this to me and to most people I know – probably even you. We are in a constant state of angst, recharged with every […]
It’s officially August – about six months since news of a formidable virus with a strange name infiltrated the headlines. For six months, we’ve seemingly been in a constant state of alert while adjusting to a “new normal” – one that will never really feel normal. A reality where we’re continually asking ourselves, what comes […]
There is one truth for all entrepreneurs – success depends on who you have in your corner. There are the well-known characters: your co-pilots in business, dedicated team, and cheerleaders at home who make up your personal army. Then, there are the characters who get less fanfare but whose role isn’t any less critical: the […]
Entrepreneurs solve the right problem. What is the right problem? It’s a problem that leads to building a method to make money. Gain clarity on lessons of entrepreneurship by listening to this week’s podcast featuring University of Delaware’s Senior Instructor of Entrepreneurship Vince DiFelice. When he and Placers President Chris Burkhard exchanged humbling stories of […]
I have a confession to make – I’m addicted to reading. I find few things in life that enable me to calm my thinking mind, stop the to-do list, and create space like reading does. It soothes me. I love my reading space because it’s a form of meditation for me. I ideate when I […]
Servant leader Rob Eppes said he believes that an entrepreneurial soul is something most business owners are born with; Outside Insights Podcast Host Chris Burkhard laughed and agreed during this week’s episode. An upbringing that “points to the horizon,” looks to “what can be” and asks, “How can we make it better?” nurtures an entrepreneurial […]
