One Simple Strategy of the Highly Successful Highly successful people are creators. Now before you protest, “I’m not a creative person!” let me explain. To be creative doesn’t mean you have to be skilled with a paintbrush, play an instrument, or have an eye for interior design. Creative instinct takes many forms. Whether they create …
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 amazed at …
I have written on habits many times over the years; it is a subject I return to over and over, because, without question our habits are critical to our success! I absolutely agree with what Australian actor and author Frederick Matthias Alexander once said: “People do not decide their futures; they decide their habits and …
Even if you try to avoid conflict and stay out of politics, you can’t help but be aware of the extreme polarization and vocal disagreement rampant in our world these days. Everywhere you turn, every news source you see, there is clear evidence of different viewpoints, opinions, and values. So what happens when you find …
One of the very best gifts that we can give to others is absolutely free, and yet extremely valuable. When given thoughtfully and sincerely, this gift will bring smiles and lift spirits. It will not only please and affirm the recipient, but also bring joy and satisfaction to the giver. Giving this gift is like …
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 …