In my work as an executive coach to help others build vision, voice, and followership -- one of the biggest steps you can take for your career and life is to take the baby steps towards seeing yourself as "an owner."

Most would agree that innovation is everyone's responsibility, but employees can't innovate unless their leaders empower them to do so. Innovation needs a champion within the organization to push them to take calculated risks.

Lightning McQueen may as well take his place next to Thomas the Tank Engine: The reign of the car as the central fetish of American life is drawing to a close.

Stashed away in a draw somewhere on Capitol Hill is a simple piece of legislation that would have done much to stop the mortgage mess, robo-signing, unfair foreclosures, and the growing claims against lenders.