Several weeks ago I published a pair of articles on self-control and self-discipline. In the second article I offered a very simple summary of the difference between the two traits: “Self-Control is about controlling reactions and keeping urges in check, while Self-Discipline is about persevering and maintaining positive habits.” I went on to explain how these two traits …
I don’t know who deserves the credit for originally penning this list of six things mentally strong people do, but when my friend and colleague Dee McCarthy posted the following image to LinkedIn last week, it immediately resonated with me. They move on. They don’t waste time feeling sorry for themselves. They embrace change. They …
I once read an excellent blog post by bestselling author and speaker Jon Acuff. Jon made a rather surprising list of all the good things that happen to you when you compare your success to someone else’s. That’s right—good things. Just wait until you see the list! Here it is—I just added a couple things to …
As all great leaders know… leaders are not perfect. Try as they might, every leader still has flaws. They still make mistakes. They still fall short. They still have regrets. They still yearn to do better. Every leader is imperfect. So why is it that so many leaders try to appear flawless? While strength and …
The late John W. Gardner, a cabinet member who served under President Lyndon B. Johnson, gave us these wise words: “The first and last task of a leader is to keep hope alive—the hope that we can finally find our way through to a better world—despite the day’s action, despite our own inertness, shallowness, and …
An article written by Michael Hess for CBS Money Watch serves as a reminder that customer service really is not customer service when done begrudgingly. In the article, If You Do Something For A Customer, Do It Happily, Hess relates a story about a very poor customer service experience that could have been completely different had …
Reflecting on recent events and the current political and social climate, I felt this article from two years ago was worth republishing this week. Remember, we cannot force others to grow or to change or even to understand our own perspective; but we can plant seeds. ___________________________________________________________________________ I do not know with whom the following …
Whether virtually or in person, I hope you get to share some love, laughter, and conversation this holiday season with those dear to you. May this crazy year close with blessings and hope for the future! Merry Christmas!
...Last week we began considering how closely linked are the virtues of Self-Control and Self-Discipline. A very simple explanation of the two is that Self-Control is about controlling reactions and keeping urges in check, while Self-Discipline is about persevering and maintaining positive habits. So how are reactions and habits connected? As I noted in my last article, Self-Control is of course …
Self-Control. It is an incredibly important and powerful trait, with a very big job description. It is responsible for keeping your temper in check, it’s in charge of holding your tongue, it is required to prevent you from eating all of the Christmas cookies at once, and it must be ever vigilant in the face …
This week we are celebrating Thanksgiving Day here in the USA. Though the date changes year to year, my entire life Thanksgiving Day has fallen just after my birthday, which makes it an even greater season of reflection for me. A few years ago I shared a story about sitting in a Starbucks and observing …
No one likes failure. No one sets out to fail. Even when you fearfully anticipate failure, you still try your best to avoid it. But failure, to some degree, is inevitable. Nobody can do everything perfectly every time. Even the most successful people have and will experience failure. Highly successful author and speaker Seth Godin …
Awhile back I saw and shared the following image on social media, which shows two photos of renowned basketball coach John Wooden side by side with basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (formerly known as Lew Alcindor). The two photos were taken decades apart, and are accompanied by the caption: “Never forget those who helped & guided …
This excellent quote from Golda Meir, former prime minister of Israel, is one of the best definitions of success I have ever read: “Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all of your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility …
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” You’ve probably heard that statement a time or two—you may have even said it a few times. But is it really true? Do tough times really ‘toughen you up?’ I do believe there is much to be gained from facing challenges and overcoming hardships. But I also subscribe …
Quotes have a way of putting things into perspective. I receive inspirational quotes via email on a regular basis, and often like going through different quote books to see what wisdom I can glean from others. In an effort to never stop learning, reading through these tidbits of wisdom provides insight and tips for success, …
Throughout human history people have sought the key to happiness. Countless people have pursued wealth, power, fame, beauty, strength, health, hobbies, relationships, religion—and any number of other things—in hopes of finding happiness and fulfillment. Frankly, I’m sure any and all of those pursuits may very well bring happiness to some people—the key to happiness is …
As you go through life and navigate job changes and career moves, chances are at some point you will work on your résumé. You will do your best to represent yourself in writing as well as you can, listing out relevant experience, skills, and achievements. But not everything you bring to the table can be …
Several years ago my friend and colleague Emily Sirkel wrote the following article about the importance of asking for help—not just for your own sake, but also for the benefit of those you ask. _________________________________________________________________________ I love moving. I also hate moving. Part of me is always eager for an adventure, for something new and …
Many virtues mark the life of a great leader. Integrity, ambition, vision, and empathy are just a few. But perhaps most important of all virtues is courage—because without the courage to hold fast, the demonstration of these other virtues is sporadic at best. Author, poet and performer Maya Angelou expressed this conviction when she said, …