“It is hard to follow one great vision in this world of darkness and of many changing shadows. Among those shadows men get lost.” —Black Elk I have dedicated the essays that I write this year to Black Elk, but I have not yet told you why. The answer is that I see deep truth […]
#18 | SAWING THROUGH COVID
“For it is dangerous to attach one’s self to the crowd in front, and so long as each one of us is more willing to trust another than to judge for himself, we never show any judgement in the matter of living, but always a blind trust, and a mistake that has been passed on […]
Happy Hour Podcast: Guest Kevin Hancock
In this podcast, Kevin speaks to host Joel Fleischman about Kevin’s story of finding the power of shared leadership. Kevin explains how he struggled with losing his voice and the journey he started to gain inner acceptance and balance, as well as ways he could continue to lead his family’s company. He also speaks with […]
#17 | AMERICA ALWAYS GETS WHAT IT PAYS FOR
“The devil doesn’t come in a red cape and pointy horns. He comes as everything you ever wished for.” —Tucker Max On Thursday, March 11, 2020, I left the Wild Dunes Island Resort and headed for the Charleston International Airport. I had just given a talk to the New South Construction Supply management team about […]
#16 | THE FUTURE TRAVELS THROUGH THE PAST
“No future without forgiveness.” —Bishop Desmond Tutu It’s not just those in positions of leadership or privilege who must become more self-aware. In the last two essays I have discussed how it’s important for me as a white, Christian, male CEO to reconcile my inherent privilege in Western society. This is done not to engender […]
#15 | WHITE SPACE
“One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings.” —Franklin Thomas Everyone I was looking at was white. […]
Heart-Centered Sales Leader
In this podcast, Kevin Hancock speaks to host Connie Whitman about his book The Seventh Power: One CEO’s Journey Into the Business of Shared Leadership. In his book, Kevin shares the philosophy, values and strategies Hancock Lumber Company has embraced on its journey toward becoming an employee-centric company. They also discuss the dangers of being a […]
#14 | RESURRECTING MARY
“Jesus’s inner circle of disciples includes both men and women on an equal footing. There is no distinction made between a male group of disciples and a female group of camp followers.” —Cynthia Bourgeault In AD 313 the Roman emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and with a single edict elevated a banned set of spiritual […]
#13 | OH . . . THE STORIES WE’VE TOLD
“La Storia di questi avvenimenti fu scritta dai vincitori.” (“The history of these events was written by the winners.”) –Italian proverb Are you aware that your view of the world is based on a carefully cultivated set of stories that you have been repeatedly told since childhood? You’ve likely been fed these stories for so […]
#12 | SUNSETTING MY IPHONE
2021 IDEA-SHARING ADVENTURE SERIES BY KEVIN HANCOCK “If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night I bet they would live a lot differently.” —Bill Watterson It was cold by Southwest Florida standards. As a result, nobody was around. Cool, cushioning sand encased my bare feet as I meandered without intention or destination. […]
#11 | A SELF-ABSORBED AMERICA
2021 IDEA-SHARING ADVENTURE SERIES BY KEVIN HANCOCK “The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” —John Muir Last week I wrote about the importance of CEOs broadening their roles and seeing the highest calling of free enterprise as the advancement of humanity. This week I […]
#10 | THE CEO ROLE
2021 IDEA-SHARING ADVENTURE SERIES BY KEVIN HANCOCK “Every writer I know has trouble writing.” —Joseph Heller I often have to write for a while before it becomes clear to me what I am writing about. This is contrary to what I was taught in middle-school English class. “You must know the end of the essay […]
#9 | HENRY, MAMIE, EDDIE, AND BUTCH
2021 IDEA-SHARING ADVENTURE SERIES BY KEVIN HANCOCK “Your choices and efforts, be they small or grand, define who you are.” —Richelle Goodrich Henry and Mamie Wilson migrated north from South Carolina to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1921. “I believe he was about the first black man they ever hired at US Steel,” his son Tim would […]
#8 | THE GOOSE AND THE APPLE
2021 IDEA-SHARING ADVENTURE SERIES BY KEVIN HANCOCK “Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.” —Wayne Dyer The Charles River Esplanade is a meandering urban green space separating Boston’s Back Bay neighborhoods from the Charles River. Filled with hardwood trees, playing fields, and exercise paths, the Esplanade traverses more than three […]
#7 | THE FUTURE-BASED SELF
2021 IDEA-SHARING ADVENTURE SERIES BY KEVIN HANCOCK “What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.” —Buddha Despite an incalculable myriad of differences in backgrounds, experiences, and opportunities, every living human shares one common truth: We must all move into the future from the spot we presently occupy. […]
#6 | CIRCLES AND SQUARES
2021 IDEA-SHARING ADVENTURE SERIES BY KEVIN HANCOCK “You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be round. The sky is round, and I have heard that the Earth is round like a ball, and […]
#5 | ORIGINS
2021 IDEA-SHARING ADVENTURE SERIES BY KEVIN HANCOCK “Bureaucracy and social harmony are inversely proportionate to each other.” —Leon Trotsky What are the origins of bureaucracy? How did “power” historically become centralized in command-and-control hierarchies? How did certain groups come to exert a defining influence over others? The answer, at its most fundamental level, is through […]
#4 | SURRENDER
2021 IDEA-SHARING ADVENTURE SERIES BY KEVIN HANCOCK “Well, I’ll be darned,” Walt said to Jimmy from the driver’s seat of the truck. “Yes,” Jimmy replied from the passenger side. “They stock those filters at AutoZone down in Elko and sell them for eight bucks apiece.” “I did not know that,” Walt said, clearly amazed. From […]
#3 | STAYING ON MISSION IN A CHAOTIC WORLD
2021 IDEA-SHARING ADVENTURE SERIES BY KEVIN HANCOCK In the first decades of the twenty-first century, three exceptional yet unforeseen events altered humanity’s course. On the morning of September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda militants hijacked four airplanes. Within hours the twin towers of the World Trade Center would fall and a global war would commence. In 2008, […]
#2 | Awakening
2021 IDEA-SHARING ADVENTURE SERIES BY KEVIN HANCOCK Awakening to what? Awakening to the sacred knowing that dwells within us all. Awakening to the power, path, and purpose that only the spirit within you can provide and the mysteries that only awakening can solve. As the legendary American mythologist Joseph Campbell understood, “We are the truth […]
2021: JOIN ME ON AN IDEA-SHARING ADVENTURE
Hello! In the spring of this year I am publishing my next book! 48 WHISPERS from Pine Ridge and the Northern Plains is a hybrid of sorts. First, it’s a photography book featuring full-page photos that I have taken at Pine Ridge, the Black Hills, and across the plains. Second, it’s a personal and organizational […]
My New Year’s wish is that everybody on Earth would feel trusted, respected, valued, and heard!
Hello and Happy New Year! Wishing you and your family a safe and fun holiday! Looking forward to 2021! Across 2020 I participated in nearly 100 “events” (podcasts, articles, talks, interviews) hoping to advance the concepts of EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT – SHARED LEADERSHIP – DISPERSED POWER – and RESPECT FOR ALL VOICES. My goal is to […]
Election day is finally here and with it I have one wish and one promise…
Election day is finally here and with it I have one wish and one promise… MY WISH… and hope… is that all 565 of us who work at Hancock Lumber VOTE (or have voted)! That’s your voice / our voice in action! MY PROMISE… While every election is important, America will neither be SAVED nor […]
Kevin Hancock on What Matters Most Podcast
Kevin Hancock joins What Matters Most host Paul Samuel Dolman to speak about his shared leadership philosophy. They speak about how CEOs and other leaders might elegantly break down the planet’s entrenched, top-down governance model in favor of a new playbook for heightened human engagement, hallmarked by shared leadership, dispersed power, and respect for all voices. […]
Leaders of Lumber: Kevin Hancock
In this article, Kevin Hancock speaks about how important company culture and sharing leadership are at Hancock Lumber. Kevin explains how his journey to Pine Ridge opened his eyes to how narrow his leadership focus was. He was the largest voice in the room and after losing his voice, he could no longer be the […]
ProDealer Industry Summit Presentation 2020
Kevin Hancock shares a keynote speech with the ProDealer Industry Summit in October 2020. In this presentation, Kevin highlights the importance of culture in the workplace, stressing that it is what makes the difference between companies and performance. The ProDealer Industry Summit is an exclusive three-day educational forum designed to promote the growth of lumber […]
Five Steps We Must Take To Truly Create An Inclusive, Representative, and Equitable Society
In this interview, Kevin Hancock reflects upon how traditional views of leadership have caused disruption, inequality, and misrepresentation throughout history. “Leaders of established organizations have often ‘over-reached.’ By this, I mean that those with the most power often abuse it and go too far.” He goes on to say that the quest for equality and diversity […]
The Inventions Show EP10: Kevin Hancock, CEO Hancock Lumber
I wanted to take a moment to share a recent podcast I participated in on The Inventions Show with host Tack Lee. Here is his excerpt from our chat: Live with your heart not just your head with Kevin Hancock, a sixth-generation family CEO of Hancock Lumber, one of the oldest companies in America which […]
THE ECONOMICS OF PLACATING CHINA & MULTI-NATIONAL CORPORATIONS SELECTIVE APPROACH TO SOCIAL JUSTICE
So the article copied below fascinates me. I’ve been on this theme for a while but have not really known how to approach it. I’m trying to reconcile the following dichotomy – there are lots of American based multi-national corporations that want to lead for social justice in THIS country (which is great) BUT won’t […]
COVID Response Strategies
The Wall Street Journal 8/24/2020 Article “New Thinking on Covid Lockdowns: They’re Overly Blunt and Costly” This is the most thoughtful, data driven, reflective, and objective considerations of potential strategic responses designed to achieve maximum and balanced health, economic, and social salvation from COVID that I have read. –Kevin Hancock “400 million jobs have been […]
Be the Change That You Wish to See in the World
In this interview with Thrive Global, Kevin Hancock shares the story about how he came to visit Pine Ridge for the first time and the life lessons he learned along the way. Kevin’s shared leadership and voice empowerment ideas have helped him create a new employee-centric model for Hancock Lumber. Kevin realized there are a […]
Unstoppable: How Kevin Hancock of Hancock Lumber was Able to Thrive Despite Spasmodic Dysphonia
In this interview, Kevin Hancock talks about how he was able to find positivity and strength through his diagnosis of Spasmodic Dysphonia (SD). By changing his mindset and prospective, Kevin was able to see his diagnosis as a gift which allowed him to begin listening to the ideas of others. When he began listening, he […]
Recent Press Updates: Featuring The Seventh Power
Hello! Just sharing the following podcast and op-ed piece that I wrote on the importance of shared leadership, dispersed power, and respect for all voices. If you like them, please share! Thank you, The Enlightenment for Change interview with Connie Whitman was one of my favorite podcasts to date! Connie was a great […]
A Lesson in Leadership From the CEO of One of America’s Oldest Companies
In this interview, Kevin Hancock is asked specifically about his leadership style and how it differs from others. They also speak about how important your authentic voice is and why it is important to listen without judgment. Kevin highlights the importance of hearing voices besides your own, especially as a leader. By engaging others, their […]
Book Review: The Seventh Power
This article is a complete review of Kevin Hancock’s newest book The Seventh Power: One CEO’s Journey into the Business of Shared Leadership. Written by Margo Kelly, this review highlights the way leadership lessons are intertwined in the narrative to create an engaging story. Margo shares how she felt Kevin’s writing stimulated her own thoughts and […]
Finding Your Authentic Voice
Kevin Hancock joins the Leadership from the Core “Love in Action” podcast with Episode 53, Finding Your Authentic Voice. Host Marcel Schwantes chats with Kevin, who shares his inspirational story of finding purpose in the midst of adversity and re-scripting his definition of leadership as a result. They also discuss his new book, The Seventh […]
Kevin Hancock: The Seventh Power
In this podcast, Kevin Hancock speaks to The Better Show host Ian Mikutel about his new book The Seventh Power: One CEO’s Journey into the Business of Shared Leadership. Kevin and Ian speak about how his new leadership style formed, why companies struggle to disperse power within the organization, and what individuals can do to empower […]
How to Make Shared Leadership a Reality
Article published in the April 2020 issue of Stanford Social Innovation Review. Click to read complete article “Having found a piece of my own authentic voice, I wanted to help others do the same, and a lumber company in Maine became an unlikely platform where this could occur. The new goal: create a socially transformative […]
Business Community Building: We’re All in it Together
In the Workable article “Business Community Building: We’re All in it Together,” Kevin Hancock is interviewed among other business leaders about the importance of clarity in the COVID-19 pandemic. Kevin speaks about the need of the company to follow the lead of the people connected to it. This unification of employees creates a deep connection. The article goes […]
The Culture Hour: Shared Leadership
In this video, Kevin Hancock speaks to Premier Rapport Culture Hour host Shelley Smith about his newest book The Seventh Power: One CEO’s Journey Into the Business of Shared Leadership. He talks about how his leadership style transformed when he lost the use of his voice. By lifting up the voices of others, Kevin can […]
How to Talk to Your Boss About Your New Work-From-Home Challenges
In this article, Kevin weighs in on how to communicate with your manager about balancing work and family. During the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people found themselves working from home and finding the work/life balance very difficult. Kevin highlights that no one is alone in this new struggle. Everyone is in this together and experiencing […]
Leadership Power is Meant to be Shared and Dispersed
In this article, Kevin Hancock is interviewed about how important sharing leadership power is and why he believes it was meant to be dispersed and shared among the tribe. He cautions against consolidating power, saying that “across time, those who have the most power have often gone too far. Over-reaching ultimately however collapses back upon […]
7 Signs That Say You Have the Mindset of a Great Leader
Centralized power and decision-making control is out. Shared leadership is in. In this article, Kevin Hancock is interviewed about his story of finding the employee-centric company model. After listing the 7 signs of great leadership mindset, the article concludes with “dispersing power is not a difficult task, but creating a culture where every voice matters […]
This Family Lumber Company Has Survived 11 Major Economic Downturns. Here’s How
Hancock Lumber learned how to sell global and act local. In this article, Kevin Hancock speaks with Steve Goldberg about the challenges that Hancock Lumber has faced with economic tides since 1848. While looking at the reasons that Hancock Lumber has been able to survive these hard times, he discusses that he recently started looking […]
An Excerpt From The Seventh Power
This article is an excerpt from Kevin Hancock’s newest book The Seventh Power: One CEO’s Journey Into the Business of Shared Leadership. It begins with his trip to Kiev, where Kevin is pensive about how millions of humans were sacrificed so that the success of the center might be advanced. It brings about a reflection into […]
Culture Makes The Difference
Article by Kevin Hancock, published in March 2020 on the Young Upstarts website. Young Upstarts is an online business resource for startup entrepreneurs, small business owners, idea people, and intrapreneurs seeking change within their organization. What differentiates companies? It’s generally not products, services, facilities, or equipment. Years ago, I would have said it was people […]
If Everyone’s Voice Was Heard, What Might Change?
Kevin Hancock appears on the b Cause podcast with host Erin Hatzikostas. In this podcast, Kevin and Erin speak about his shared leadership philosophy, visiting the Pine Ridge Native American Reserve, spiritual enlightenment, and his new book, The Seventh Power: One CEO’s Journey Into the Business of Shared Leadership. The b Cause podcast works to […]
Leadership and Lumber: An Interview With Kevin Hancock
In this interview, Kevin Hancock speaks about different themes in his newest book, The Seventh Power: One CEO’s Journey Into the Business of Shared Leadership. He speaks about what the Seventh Power is, how he came to learn about it, and how he incorporates his lessons into his daily life. He also shares the best advice […]
A Butt-Kicking Project to Overcome the Drain of Talkative Leadership
This article highlights the downfalls that talkative leaders often use to justify their conversation monopoly and the negative impacts it can have on culture and engagement. It also gives an exercise that leaders can partake in to find out how often they take over entire conversations. Kevin Hancock’s story is shared through a video interview […]
Putting Work Back In It’s Place
In this article, Kevin Hancock writes about the importance of having a proper work/life balance. He highlights the difficulties of keeping work weeks to forty hours in the manufacturing industry, but admits there is no denying the benefits of having a balanced life. “Today I encourage all of the 525 people in our company to […]
Culture Makes the Difference: Great People are Everywhere, Great Cultures Aren’t
Written by Kevin Hancock, “Culture Makes the Difference” explores the differences between companies and what are the key differentials between them. “Culture makes the difference. An organization’s culture either creates an environment where great people can flourish, or an environment where people are frustrated, held back, or stymied. What makes one corporate culture different from […]
Advocating For Shared Leadership
In this interview, Kevin Hancock speaks with host Helene Stelian about the importance of sharing leadership and finding your authentic voice. Kevin’s goal is to find his own authentic voice and create a company that fosters the culture that allows others to do the same. By creating an employee-centric company, Kevin hopes to achieve this […]
The Age of Localism
In this article, Kevin Hancock speaks about shared leadership, employee engagement, and employee-centric company structures. “Humans will always benefit from banding together to create value and solve problems. But institutions will need to alter the ways they engage with the world. Take corporations, for example, where employees have historically existed to serve the company. This […]
True Profitability and Productivity Come From Striving for a Bigger Social Goal
This article is an excerpt from Kevin Hancock’s new book The Seventh Power: One CEO’s Journey Into the Business of Shared Leadership. “At Hancock Lumber, we grow trees, but that is not our core objective. We make lumber, but that is not our primary purpose. We manage logistics, but that is not our most important task. […]
The Age of Localism
In this article, Kevin Hancock explores the beginning of the age of localism; the idea that localized decision-making, rule-setting, and self-organizing will be the new pathways towards excellence. Kevin also discusses what will happen to larger companies in the future and the role that they play in our lives. “Take corporations, for example, where employees […]
How Losing His Voice Taught a Maine CEO to Give Workers More Say
In this article by the Bangor Daily News, Kevin Hancock shares how his journey to Pine Ridge changed the way he thinks about power, leadership, and the human spirit. By rethinking the way he led Hancock Lumber, Kevin was able to give a voice to his employees. He found that they had the answers and […]
5 Clear Signs You’re Not An Authentic Leader
In the article, Kevin Hancock’s core belief that leaders should listen more than speak is highlighted as an important indicator of being an authentic leader. Authentic leaders are naturally those who disperse and share leadership with those around them. Author Erin Hatzikostas says that when you share leadership and listen to others, “you’ll be amazed […]
Spasmodic Dysphonia, Leading Differently, & Strengthening Voices
In this podcast, Kevin Hancock speaks to The Impactor’s Podcast host Avery Konda about being a social impactor. Kevin’s leadership style fosters personal growth and shares the burden of leadership among everyone to ensure voices are heard. Kevin believes that employees should have more than an economic gain from being at their place of work. […]
CEO Kevin Hancock Lost His Voice, But Gained a New, Wildly Successful Management Style
In this podcast, Kevin Hancock speaks with Monday Morning Radio host Dean Rotbart about his new book The Seventh Power: One CEO’s Journey Into the Business of Shared Leadership. Kevin and Dean discuss the employee-centric model that Hancock Lumber has adopted and how Kevin came to the realization that this was the path he wanted the […]
The Business of Shared Leadership – A CEO’s Quest to Disperse Power
In this TEDx Talk, Kevin Hancock speaks about employee engagement and how this is affected by leadership style. In workplaces where employees do not feel heard, understood, or able to lead, they often become disengaged with the work they are performing. It leads to job dissatisfaction and eventually, employee turnover. When employees are able to […]
Finding Your Voice
In this video, Kevin Hancock speaks about his leadership style at Hancock Lumber and how it evolved. He believes that everyone should feel safe and comfortable sharing their authentic voice. When people are heard, they transform into leaders who can share their ideas and empower the voices of others. “Leadership teams have the responsibility to […]
Kevin Hancock Appears on Tell Me More Podcast
Kevin Hancock joins Renee Changnon on the Tell Me More podcast to share his story about how his speech disorder set him on a path to develop new management skills and a company culture that encourages all employees to be leaders. In the Tell Me More podcast, Renee Changnon, NRHA’s Retail Outreach Coordinator, talks to […]
The Single Most Important Idea in the History of Humans
In this video, Kevin Hancock speaks at the Legal Services Corporation board meeting about the importance of each individual having a voice. He goes on to share his journey to Pine Ridge and how he found his inner peace and self-actualization through his experiences there. Kevin connects the two ideas, sharing that when people are […]
EXCITING NEWS: My next book releases on February 25, 2020!
Hello! I have some exciting news! My next book, The Seventh Power – One CEO’S Journey into the Business of Shared Leadership, releases on February 25, 2020. My publisher, Post Hill Press recently launched the ‘coming soon’ sale site on Amazon. Check out the link and help me share it with others! It takes a community of […]
Governor Mills Nominates Individuals for Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission
May 24, 2019 – PRESS RELEASE Governor Janet Mills announced today that she has nominated six people to serve on the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission. The Governor nominated John Cashwell, Robert Checkoway, James Cote, Kevin Hancock, former Senator Michael Pearson and former Senator Richard Rosen to serve on the Commission, an inter-governmental entity charged in […]
Kevin Hancock Addresses the ‘Elephant in the Room’ at the DO MORE GOOD Conference
DO MORE GOOD by Kevin Hancock “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” – Margaret J. Wheatley May 18, 2019: This past Friday I spoke in Lincoln, Nebraska at the DO MORE GOOD conference. Don’t you love that title, DO MORE GOOD?! The conference was held at the […]
Do More Good Conference 2019
In this video, Kevin Hancock speaks at the Do More Good Conference about his life story. From losing his voice to his spiritual quest to Pine Ridge, Kevin shares with the audience how he grew both internally and as a leader. He also delves into how he saw changes in Hancock Lumber and what he […]
The Consequences of Overreaching
The Wall Street Journal recently published this article titled, Fast-Tracked Aircraft Certification, Pushed by Boeing, Comes Under the Spotlight My next book is about, in part, OVERREACHING, and how leaders often go too far and take too much… One of the common paths of overreaching, I have concluded, is GOING TOO FAST…and cutting corners in […]
Pinky Clifford Receives National Award!
Click on the link below! On March 28th in Washington D.C., my dear friend and NOT FOR SALE book star, Pinky Clifford, is receiving a distinguished award from the National Low Income Housing Coalition for her decades of work to bring home ownership opportunities to the people of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. I am […]
The Seventh Power and the Age of Shared Leadership
In this podcast, Kevin Hancock speaks about his new book The Seventh Power: One CEO’s Journey into the Business of Shared Leadership with Enterprise Radio’s host Eric Dye. They discuss his journey to Pine Ridge and how it led to a new way of leadership. Kevin is an advocate of strengthening voices of all individuals—within a […]
Embracing the Age of Shared Leadership
Kevin Hancock presented the keynote speech at the LBM Strategies Conference in 2018. The keynote highlights the importance of the Shared Leadership philosophy on employee engagement, job satisfaction, and culture. The LBM Strategies Conference brings together LBM pros to address and share practical, tactical solutions to today’s toughest business challenges. LBM Strategies is produced by […]
Celebrating today…
Today is a day to celebrate all the good we have done as parents…and to forgive any transgressions…and to contemplate fresh starts when necessary. One great thing about life is no matter who you are or where you are there are always past events to be thankful for AND future chances to create something fresh […]
Kevin Hancock at the ChIME Event
In this video, Kevin Hancock is the keynote speaker at the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine to discuss spirituality and business. He shares his thoughts on improving the workplace culture and environment to enhance the value of the lives of employees. His philosophy that everyone can help lead the company and be comfortable sharing their thoughts […]
Kevin Hancock to speak at UMA
The University of Maine at Augusta and the Office of the Dean of Students have invited Kevin Hancock to speak about his experiences on the Pine Ridge Reservation as part of their recognition of Native American Heritage Month at the Augusta campus. This event is open to the public, and will be held from 12pm […]
2017 Featured Speech at Builders Summit in Falmouth, ME
In this video, Kevin Hancock is the featured speaker at the 2017 Builders Summit. Here, Kevin shares the journey he began when his voice began to weaken. He speaks about Pine Ridge and how his time among the Lakota tribe began his healing journey. The lessons he learned there and within himself brought changes to […]
2017 SAGE Lecture Series
9/26/17 – This past Tuesday, Kevin Hancock was invited to speak at the University of Southern Maine in Portland as part of the SAGE lecture series. SAGE provides academic lecture and discussion programs chosen by its members, in topic areas such as history, culture, the arts, geography, anthropology, and science. Using University and community resources, the […]
Third Printed Edition of NOT FOR SALE – Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse launches!
Hello! The third printed edition of NOT FOR SALE – Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse arrived from the publishing company today! The book first launched in the fall of 2015 and we now have 6,000 copies sold or in distribution. To celebrate, now through September 30th, we are having a big sale! For every […]
Maine InnKeepers Podcast Link
Hello! I did a live Facebook podcast with the Maine Restaurant and Innkeepers Associations today! On October 24th I am speaking at their 1st annual Maine Hospitality Summit (www.mainehospitalitysummit.com). Here is a link to the podcast…: https://www.facebook.com/MaineInnkeepers/videos/10154577491767282/ At their conference we are going to be talking about leadership strategies for pushing power out from the corporate […]
Searching for Voices in the City of Music
I was blessed to be the key note speaker this weekend at the annual National Spasmodic Dysphonia Conference held, ironically this year, in the Music City of Nashville, TN. People with broken voices from all over the world came to the city of beautiful voices to learn, connect and share their stories. It was such […]
What unites us is more powerful than what divides us…
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wYXw4K0A3g] Hello! This is a great short (4:00 minute) video reminder about how we are all more alike than we are different. The ideas that we think divide us are not as big as they appear… Kevin Hancock President / Hancock Lumber khancock@hancocklumber.com Books available at www.kevindhancock.com
The Ten Virtues of Leadership for a Collaborative World
This short article is by a friend of mine…Larry Miller…a lean management consultant. The article is titled The Ten Virtues of Leadership for a Collaborative World. This is a quick but brilliant read and just had to share this with you. I don’t use the word ‘brilliant’ very often…but this article is briliant! I shared […]
Connecting Tribes!
I had the honor of being the dinner speaker tonight at Aetna’s world-wide finance team leadership conference in Hartford, CT. They had 400 of their finance leaders there from around the globe. Aetna bought a copy of the book NOT FOR SALE for each attendee. It was really fun to share the story of Pine Ridge and […]
It takes adults to make the world too complicated…
Just sharing this 3 minute video…no one in the video over 10 years old…could solve all the world’s problems…
Humanizing “refugees”…makes the truth of what America should do easy to see…
Hello! This video humanizes the Syrian refugee crisis. Whenever you humanize a situation the truth surfaces. President Trump’s current position of distancing America from refugee challenges is the opposite of what should be done and who we are as a country. “Refugee” – a person who has been FORCED to leave their country in […]
It always comes back to what WE do…
Hello! I had this essay picked up as the OP-ED in the Maine Sunday Telegram Today. http://www.pressherald.com/2017/02/05/maine-voices-americans-set-example-for-new-leader/ The world around us can be very mesmerizing and distracting but at the end of the day our path always comes back to what we each choose to do on a local level. That’s the 7th Power, the […]
Americans Should Set Example for New Leader
In this article published by the Portland Press Herald, Kevin Hancock writes about how Americans can and should set examples for the newly elected President. As Kevin’s leadership style evolved into one of employee leadership, he mentions instances where he has become concerned with the lack of communication coming from the leaders in government. However, […]
Spirit of Christmas
I have been saving this video for Christmas. When you have 15 minutes you might enjoy this 60 Minutes segment on how love and ideas ended the 50 year old gorilla war in Columbia. It’s the best example I have seen of the new Aquarian paradigm of human engagement. The New Columbia http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-colombia-after-civil-war-lara-logan/ More than […]
The Secret of Change
I saw this quote today. It crystalized a thought I have had for some time for the people of Pine Ridge and the other reservation communities of the northern plains. This quote also speaks to the one concern I have had surrounding the protests at Standing Rock. More broadly, I think this quote is applicable […]
The Gift of Ideas
I participated in a small leadership workshop recently where there goal was simple…acquiring a piece of new learning…putting an idea in your head that had not been there before. The program was a reminder that growth is an intentional act…you have to be looking for new ideas, wanting to think differently. It all reminded me […]
Holiday Book Sale!
Kevin Hancock’s award-winning book, Not For Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse, on sale for $20/each with FREE shipping, or, BUY 3 GET 1 FREE! Now through 12/31/16. Get your newly released 2nd edition copy with new cover & pictures, signed by the author for the perfect holiday gift! Enter coupon code: […]
Not 4 Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse
In this podcast, Kevin Hancock speaks with host CinnamonMoon to discuss his book Not For Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse. In his book, Kevin shares the driving factors that led him to his vision quest in South Dakota. He shares the details of how his life changed during and after the quest, […]
Not For Sale: Guest Kevin Hancock
In this podcast, Kevin Hancock speaks with The Common Sense Psychic host Phyllis King about his new book Not For Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse. The book depicts his journey to Pine Ridge to visit the Indian Reservation and the lessons he learned along the way. One of the largest realizations on […]
How Spirit Quests & Indigenous Wisdom Can Shape Better Business Leadership
In this podcast, Kevin Hancock speaks to The Lucid Planet podcast host Dr. Kelly Neff about the lessons he learned at Pine Ridge that permanently altered the course of both his life and leadership style, including learning to listen more, looking inward for purpose, strengthening the voices of others, and reconstructing his entire sense of […]
Native American Callings Panel Discussion Guest
In this video, Kevin Hancock joins a panel at Kansas State University Staley School of Leadership Studies as a discussion guest on Native American Callings. Kevin shares his story about losing his voice and traveling to Pine Ridge. He speaks about how the leadership styles on the reservation, coupled with the events of losing his […]
This is Phyllis Young, leader of the Dakota pipeline protest
View this post on Instagram This is Phyllis Young, leader of the Dakota pipeline protest. We were together for 2.5 days non-stop as speakers at Kansas State U. I could give her speech and she could give mine. We agree on some issues and see many other issues differently…but we left UNDERSTANDING each other, seeing […]
A Loss of Voice as a Way for the Soul to Stop Working, Stop Leading, Stop Caretaking
In this video, Kevin Hancock speaks to The Kevin Moore Show host, Kevin Moore about his book Not 4 Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse. This book highlights the journey Kevin Hancock made to Pine Ridge after losing his own voice. He connected to the tribe at Pine Ridge because they, too, lost […]
The 7th Power…
Hello! I wanted to share this passage below from a daily reading web-site I subscribe to because it offers a powerful description of the 7th Power…how easily it can be lost…and, therefore, how easily it can be found… “One of the most common ways in which we imprison ourselves is by comparing ourselves to others […]
Guest Presenter: Kevin Hancock
In this video, Kevin Hancock stars as the guest presenter on Skidompha Library’s “Chats with Champions” series. Kevin discusses his book Not For Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse and the journey the book showcases. This healing quest brings Kevin to South Dakota, where he meets the Lakota tribe living on the Pine […]
Strengthening the Voices of Others
In this article, Kevin Hancock shares his story about losing his voice and how his leadership style adapted to this major obstacle. By listening more to others, Kevin is able to preserve his voice and create a new employee-centric culture at Hancock Lumber. “Leadership is about doing less, not more. It is about restraint. It […]
More Awareness & Connectivity…Less Judging and Fixing
Before 7 AM the streets of Boston belong to the runners and the homeless. This man was sleeping on a bench in Copley Square early this morning holding a small America flag. I walked past him, like everyone does…but could not get him off my mind. So I circled back. I didn’t decide lightly to […]
How To Find Spiritual Fulfillment
In this video, Kevin Hancock speaks to The Inspiration Show’s host Natalie Ledwell about finding himself through the journey outlined in his new book Not 4 Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse. In Kevin’s trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation, he reflected on losing his voice, how to cope and find peace with […]
Not 4 Sale in Big Blend Magazine
In this article, Kevin Hancock’s book Not 4 Sale is introduced, giving a look into the reasons for Kevin’s journey to Pine Ridge and the ideas that began afterwards. After a series of solo trips to Pine Ridge, Kevin began to realize that we are all one tribe. This led to him rethinking the structure and […]
2016 Independent Author Network Award Winner: Religion and Spirituality Book of the Year!
Not For Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse has been selected by the 2016 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards as a winner in the “Religion and Spirituality” category! The IAN category winners are now submitted for the Book of the Year Award and will be announced on September 1st. The IAN […]
Not For Sale!
In this podcast, Kevin Hancock speaks with Law of Attraction Talk Radio host Jewels Johnson about his new book Not 4 Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse. He speaks about how important his journey to Pine Ridge was to finding his sense of purpose and rethinking how he leads his employees. Kevin’s quest […]
E-Book Now Available on Kindle!
Yesterday, NOT FOR SALE – FINDING CENTER IN THE LAND OF CRAZY HORSE launched it’s e-book on Kindle! https://www.amazon.com/Not-Sale-Finding-Center-Crazy-ebook/dp/B01J95KZ2O/ref=sr_1_8?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1469801110&sr=1-8&keywords=not+for+sale The e-book is a unique digital experience with all the color and pictures of the printed version!
Global Radio Tour Begins!
My book, NOT FOR SALE – FINDING CENTER IN THE LAND OF CRAZY HORSE began its global radio tour this morning LIVE on the Kathryn Zox show. Her show broadcasts live on “Voice America/World Talk Radio” every Wednesday at 10 AM EST. My segment opened today’s show…which you can listed to via the following link: http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/93687/the-kathryn-zox-show […]
Pictures from Pine Ridge (just got back)!
Hello! I wanted to make my most recent pictures from Pine Ridge available! I just returned from visit #9. The book is gaining traction on the Rez and northern plains, which makes me happy! I also keep expanding my circle…going deeper with existing friends and making new ones! AWARENESS + CONNECTIVITY = RECONCILIATION That is […]
Sunset Above Singing Horse (AKA…I know why cowboys wear pants)
First the humor of it all: I know why coboys wear pants. I just keep forgetting. Everytime I walk up onto the rolling hills and grasslands above the Singing Horse Trading Post in shorts…I remember. I just spent the last 20 minutes picking tiny, tiny prickers out of my shins and ankles! One a more […]
People Are People!
Yesterday was on of my favorite days on book tour! I spent the morning at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham. I did a one hour book talk and visited with 20 men who live there. Then we moved over to the women’s correctional center and did a one hour talk with 8 women there. […]
Kevin is headed back to Pine Ridge!
Kevin is headed back to Pine Ridge! On Wednesday June 22nd from 1-3pm, Kevin will make his first stop of the trip at the Devil’s Tower National Monument where he will be on hand to sign books and personally discuss his story with people who are visiting one of the many locations he writes about in his book! Not […]
It is time!
First, I want to share a link to the Muskie Access to Justice Award dinner, held here in Maine on May 25, 2016. The event was a celebration of what I suggested that night was the single most important idea in human history: “equal access to justice for all”. An idea so delicate that constant […]
Connectivity
“Attention is the rarest & purest form of generosity.” – Simone Weil I want to start with something funny. One thing I love about Pine Ridge is the powerful sense of humor and playfulness that lives in the hearts of the people there. I recently gave a small amount of money to a friend from […]
Momentum is Building!
Hello! Just sharing a couple of exciting updates. First, we recently learned that our book NOT FOR SALE – Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse won a national award for independent book excellence! Specifically, the book was selected by the National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA) (based in Los Angeles) as THE 2016 winner in […]
2016 Maine Live Event – Kevin Hancock
At Maine Live, 14 speakers told us their stories of integrity, tenacity, and courage. For Kevin Hancock, CEO of Hancock Lumber Company, that story is about losing his voice to a rare neurological disorder and then finding it again after spending time on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. There, he learned an important lesson about […]
Video of Kevin’s Maine Live presentation now posted online
Videos now available online! At the 2nd Annual Maine Live on March 24th, 14 speakers shared their stories of integrity, tenacity, and courage. For Kevin Hancock, CEO of Hancock Lumber Company, that story is about losing his voice to a rare neurological disorder and then finding it again after spending time on the Pine Ridge Indian […]
Mark Your Calendars for the month of May!
Mark your calendars! May is a busy month and full of a variety of opportunities to listen to Kevin speak about this about his book and the lessons he learned and applied during his time on the Pine Ridge reservation. Here is a schedule of events: Friday 5/6 12:30-2pm: Architects of Tomorrow event at the East […]
Sign Our Online Pledge!
On the cusp of this great opportunity to share an article recently published in the New York Times about Kevin and his book, A Lumber Executive Loses His Voice and Finds Balance, we wanted to share something else too! A few months back, Kevin shared an excerpt from his book of a written apology to the people […]
The idea is everywhere!
The town of Casco, where I live, has one traffic light. It only blinks, never turning fully red. Two buildings down from the old, red Hancock Lumber office on Pleasant Lake is the Casco Village Variety store. I go there most every day. Inside the store, to the left of the door, is a small […]
New York Times Features Kevin Hancock!
The New York Times features Kevin Hancock in their March 9th online article titled, “A Lumber Executive Loses His Voice and Finds Balance”.Writer Jennifer Van Allen recounts the past decade and Kevin’s journey – how losing his voice led to a series of unexpected events, ultimately helping Kevin redefine his role as CEO and share power more broadly […]
Author talk events and the value of book reviews!
Looking for something fun to do next week? Pick up a copy of Not For Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse and join us at the Bridgton Public Library on Tuesday, 3/8 from 4-6pm when Kevin Hancock will be on hand to discuss his book and sign copies! Books are for sale at the library […]
Organizations where EVERYONE leads!
http://www.hancocklumber.com/kevin-hancock-discusses-leadership-on-the-hr-power-hour/ I recently appeared on the “HR Power Hour” radio show on WLOB news & talk. During the show I spoke about creating a work culture where EVERY VOICE MATTERS. Organizations where everyone leads and feels heard will outperform those where just a few hold all the power. I feel this idea is valuable to […]
Exciting New Additions to the Website!
Exciting things are happening as we continue to spread the word about Not For Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse! We are excited to share these updates with you, and share with you some recently added sections to our website! The book is currently being sold in 17 bookstores in the […]
Life Lessons Lead to LBM Changes at Hancock Lumber
Kevin Hancock’s journey of self discovery after losing his voice is brought to life in his new book Not For Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse. Kevin’s quest brought him to the realization that the structure of Hancock Lumber could drastically change and improve employee engagement and job satisfaction. “I thought, what if this […]
Leading by Listening
In this article, Kevin Hancock is interviewed about his journey to finding a new leadership style by listening more to others. Kevin’s new management initiative helps bring Hancock Lumber to new highs, by creating a lean structure and maximizing employee engagement. They also talk about his new book, Not For Sale: Finding Center in the Land […]
The Apology
I was driving through the Black Hills after my second trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation when the idea hit me. AWARENESS, in and of itself, is a powerful act. More government programs won’t change Pine Ridge. What is needed is a sincere, thoughtful apology; recognition of what happened. So I grabbed my journal…took out […]
The Great Awakening – Transcending Tribalism
“Now you can see today why the world is in trouble. What is the social field today? The social field is the planet, and there isn’t a single system of action that has to do with the planet. They all have to do with one interest group or another.” – Joseph Campbell There was a […]
Tribalism
The Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of Shia Ismaili Muslims worldwide. He spoke recently at Harvard University about tribalism. The Associated Press summarized his speach as follows: “He said globalization should not mean the creation of a single, homogenized society where all differences are erased, but one where what we have in common and […]
What if we slowed down?
Hello! I want to share this short essay by Sophie Gregoire that my daughter Abby shared with me this morning! http://www.rebellesociety.com/2015/11/23/what-if-we-slowed-down/
We are the truth we seek to know!
To all my Pine Ridge friends – This quote reminds me of Pine Ridge…it reminds me of Casco, Maine…it reminds me of planet earth…it reminds me of being human. We are all one tribe and we are the truth we seek to know… Why We Struggle to find ourselves and How to do […]
Habitat For Humanity – Annual Raise the Roof Gala
On Wednesday I spoke at the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland annual “Raise the Roof Gala”. I enjoyed this opportunity becasue Habitat for Humanity is modeling the way for organizational effectiveness. Habitat for Humanity celebrates the power of the individual spirit. The volunteers and homeowners who are part of the organization are given important […]
Bethel Sawmill – Book Day!
I spent the day at our sawmill in Bethel, Maine yesterday. At the end of the work day, I gave each of the 103 people who work there a copy of my book, NOT FOR SALE – Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse! The day before I had personalized each book…took almost 3 […]
Spreading the word!
Sunday, I did a book talk at the Casco Library (my hometown library)! 1/2 of my former english teachers were there! That was a little overwhelming! Sold 20 books. Yesterday we shipped 12 books from on-line orders to 7 different states! Today I am giving a book to all 103 people who work at our […]
Balance
I want to share this great, short video. It summarizes what happened in just 20 years after wolves were reintroduced to the Yellowstone ecosystem. This story reinforces the Lakota view of the interconnectedness of all living creatures. Balance is nature’s optimal state. This also makes me think of human organizations and how easily they can […]
Hancock Lumber’s Kevin Hancock on Growing After the Recession
Kevin Hancock is interviewed in this article about Hancock Lumber’s growth after the economic recession. During this time, Kevin lost his voice, which creates a new leadership style centered around listening to others more than speaking. “I learned that leadership is about doing less, not more. It was letting people who have responsibility own their […]
Spiritual Essence #216
In this podcast, Kevin Hancock speaks with Love Maine Radio Podcast host Dr. Lisa Belisle about his journey to Pine Ridge. Kevin shares his draw to Pine Ridge and the connection he feels to the tribe there. During his quest to find peace with the loss of his voice, Kevin wanted to begin strengthening the […]
1st Library Event & Book Signing
I had my first library event and book signing last evening at the Harrison Public Library! It was great to see how vibrant libraries are reinventing themselves! There were 20 people there. We sold 14 books. Most refresing was the notion of an evening of discussion…a bit of a lost venue. No television…no internet…instead a […]
Spreading the word!
The book is off the a strong start and this makes me happy! This past weekend was Native American Sunday at UCC churches across America. I was invited to give the sermon at our church in Casco and it gave me a chance to speak about Pine Ridge. The UCC (globally) has repudiated the Doctrine […]
Thankful!
So my book launched this week! It has been great fun to share the story! This picture is from my office in Casco where I stacked books for shipment to all the people who helped make the project possible! All the great characters in my book from Pine Ridge received copies. I am thankful to […]
The book has launched!!!!
The book has arrived and is officially for sale! I am excited to share this story and help increase awareness and connectivity for Pine Ridge. Books are currently for sale online at www.kevindhancock.com. You can click the yellow BUY NOW button to the right of this post. All books ordered on my web site will […]
A Path to Change
In this article Kevin Hancock is interviewed about his new business leadership ideas and how dispersing power amongst all employees of Hancock Lumber has created a more successful company. “The more I held back and left space for others, the more everyone grabbed that space, embraced responsibility, took ownership, enjoyed making decisions, and ran with […]
Best Place to Work in Maine!
Hancock Lumber was recently selected as a “BEST PLACE TO WORK IN MAINE” for the second year in a row! This is an extremely difficult award to achieve. The criteria is based on confidential employee surveys in which the vast majority of respondents describe themselves as being “Highly Engaged” in their workplace. Since I lost […]
A Story I Had To Tell
In this article, Kevin Hancock recalls his first trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation and how this journey opened his eyes to life in the tribe. At a time in his life where Kevin was losing the ability to speak, he stumbled upon a tribe of people who had felt that their voices had been […]
Thunder Valley
Thunder Valley is a Lakota founded and managed non-profit at Pine Ridge that promotes economic independence through traditional values. They are beginning construction this summer on one of the largest housing developments in the modern history of the reservation. Nick Tilsen, the executive director, is one of my best friends at Pine Ridge and a […]
Off to the printer!
I made the first journal entry, that would become the basis for this book, on Sunday October 28, 2012 on a flight from Chicago to Rapid City. A short while later, my now close friend (and tribal member), “Pinky” Clifford met me at baggage claim and hosted my first visit to the Pine Ridge Indian […]
June is high school graduation season in Maine. At Fryeburg Academy, not far from where I live, a senior by the name of Thu Pham gave a graduation speech titled – “Stay Gritty”. In her commencement talk Thu cited the work of Angela Lee Duckworth who has been studying the characteristics that define success in school. Angela has concluded that […]
NOT FORGOTTEN
I spoke today at the annual Maine Youth Leadership Conference (MYL) (www.maineyouthleadership.org). MYL is one of my favorite organizations. Each year it brings 10th grade “ambassadors” from every high school in Maine to come together for a program of leadership development, social tolerance and personal exploration. For the past two years I have given the […]
Using Lean Processes to Improve Your Organization
In this video, Kevin Hancock presents at the Franco Center Chamber breakfast event, speaking about how Hancock Lumber has used lean processes to improve. Kevin defines a lean company as one that is “focused, efficient, accurate, agile, responsive, fun, and constantly improving.” He then shares the ways that he has helped foster these attributes to […]
Not For Sale May 2014
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My Morning Commute at Pine Ridge
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Pine Ridge Update
In the fall of 2012 I made my first visit to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota just to see what modern day life was like for the people who lived there. What I experienced during that initial visit fascinated me. It called out to a spirit deep within me. I was not […]
Full Circle (Me and Pine Ridge)
[wpvideo mYPbiWiW] In the fall of 2013 I returned to Pine Ridge for the 4th time… during this trip I hunted buffalo in Wyoming… rented a truck… brought the meat to the REZ… shared it with the people… walked the grasslands… worked on housing issues… celebrated Halloween… recorded stories from an elder… traveled north to […]
Let The Wind Blow Through You (Me and Pine Ridge continued)
I am writing a book about the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and the people of Oglala Sioux Tribe who live there. Along the way I enjoy sharing my experiences through pictures I have taken. This video follows my third visit to the Reservation where I; participated in a dedication ceremony for a […]
The Pine Ridge Story – 6 minute video
[wpvideo 6oMrs4eY] For the past 12 months I have been spending time on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in the southwest corner of South Dakota. “The Rez” as those who live there call it, is home to the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The tribe has a rich history as they are the descendants of Red Cloud, […]
An Employee Led Company
The Maine based construction company Cianbro has a sign up on their conference room in Pittsfield that simply reads, “No one in this room is smarter than all of us.” Another quote I like is, “If both of us always agree, one of us isn’t necessary.” Back in April I toured every location to sit […]
OST, Housing and Writing My First Book
Last November I visited South Dakota and Pine Ridge Reservation, home of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Indian people. This tribe has an incredible history with leaders such as Red Cloud and Crazy Horse. They ruled the entire northern plains from the Missouri River to the Big Horn Mountains for nearly 200 years. They defeated Custer […]
Customer Quote
“Customer intimate companies don’t deliver what the market wants, but what specific customers want. Their employees make sure that EACH customer gets EXACTLY what he or she REALLY wants.” This is one of my favorite quotes for our business and I use it all the time – it is on pine plaques spread across the […]
Hancock Lumber named MITC Exporter of the Year
Working Together
I have often found in business that the most powerful concepts are right in front of us in plain sight. Builders and suppliers have always “worked together” but today at Hancock Lumber we see a much deeper commitment forming that is redefining what this means. In our new economy ACCURACY and EFFICIENCY are the keys to […]