In his superb best selling book titled The Greatest Success in the World, Og Mandino wrote about the critical and life-long importance of work and labor. The book includes ten excellent and forever enduring Commandments of Success. The First Commandment of Success begins as follows: “THOU MUST LABOR EACH DAY AS IF THY …
Imagine that you are facing a field full of targets. In your hand is a bow and arrow. You put your arrow in place, raise your bow, steady your arm, draw back, and release. Oh wait, I forgot to tell you to aim! Without aiming, it’s definitely possible that you’ll hit one of …
Some people insist “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” No matter how many times and how many ways that worn out old saying has been disproven, many people still believe it. “I’m too old.” “He’s way too stubborn!” “She’s just set in her ways.” “I couldn’t change if you paid me.” “Why worry …
I was only a few pages into the book, and I’d already highlighted dozens of excellent quotes when I was stopped in my tracks by this eight-word statement: “We honor people when we honor their time.” Though I was eager to keep reading Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller’s powerful little business fable, …
When it comes to work and to life, I believe cooperation wins over competition any day. Even so, a little competition or friendly rivalry can be a good thing, if you channel it right. While unhealthy competition can derail focus, lead to discord, and – depending on perceived “winner” – result in either …
“The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet.” ~James Openheim Happiness is a choice. I believe happiness is an attitude, not a state of being. And just as we can choose our attitude, we can choose to be happy. It’s not always easy, but I do …
There’s no denying that the world is a crazy, fast-paced place, and it only seems to get more chaotic with each passing week! What seems safe, secure, and dependable one day may be gone the next. Unfortunately, we cannot plan for every conceivable misfortune, and we would wear ourselves out if we tried! …
I am a person of confidence. I have come a long way, overcome many challenges, and met with a lot of success in my life. I’m not boasting by any means – I certainly have made more than my fair share of mistakes, and there are a million things I know that I’m not …
I love good music, and as a musician myself (I taught classical and flamenco guitar for several years), I have a deep respect and admiration for true musical talent and ability. I have been privileged to enjoy countless excellent concerts and symphonies over the years, and I am always so fascinated by all that …
You are getting older. Like it or not, you and I are getting older every single day! Whether you’re still in your youth, middle aged, or enjoying your golden years, there’s no escaping the subtle but steady reality of aging. When we’re young, we tend not to worry about aging. In fact, we …
In case you haven’t noticed, life doesn’t always go according to plan. Even the most carefully planned strategies and very best intentions get derailed by the unexpected and the unavoidable. It’s not just the big things, like career paths and families, that don’t always turn out the way we’d envisioned; we frequently get …
I am an admitted news-junkie, avid-reader, and life-long-learner. I consume hours of news stories and dozens of articles every day, and I love it. I enjoy being informed, knowing what’s going on in the world, and – most importantly – learning new things. I also have a lot of other things I want …
Last year the world lost a remarkable man, talented speaker, and incredible teacher. Though several months have gone by since Zig Ziglar passed away, I still frequently reflect on the awesome legacy he left behind, and hardly a day goes by when one of his quotes or some of his advice doesn’t pass through my …
When planning and anticipating something important, it’s very easy and very tempting to spend time and energy thinking about all the negative possibilities. Perhaps, if you consider from every angle each scenario where something might go drastically wrong, then you can proactively avoid those scenarios! Seems logical, right? In reality, thinking about everything …
Author, speaker, and sound expert Julian Treasure is passionate about the often overlooked power and importance of sound. In a 2011 TED talk, Treasure addressed a critical concern, that “We are losing our listening.” He explained that since we’ve invented ways of recording, there’s become less of a premium placed on accurate and careful …
There are a lot of things in this world over which we have little or no control. We have little, and many times no control over weather, some illnesses, traffic, the attitudes and actions of other people, and the cost of necessities such as fuel and groceries. The reality is that sometimes, a significant …
Whenever you first begin a new pursuit, whether it’s building a new business, working on an advanced degree, changing careers, training for an athletic event, or anything else, it’s easy to get discouraged when you think about how many steps are involved and how far away your goal appears to be. I believe that …
While we all appreciate hearing the words, “Thank you,” the value of this simple phrase can vary greatly from one utterance to another. We all know that when those words pass some lips, they mean very little, while those same words can mean the world coming from someone else. Context matters greatly when it comes …
Whether it’s a presentation to a conference room full of senior executives, a speech to a crowd of your peers, a blog article on an important topic, or a book that just went to press – whenever we “put ourselves out there,” we tend to hold our breath and wait for the feedback. Every …
Twentieth century American philosopher Will Durant succinctly distilled a thought from the work of Aristotle in two short sentences: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” I have long believed in the power of habit. If you really stop to think about it, you’ll be …