The need to “believe in yourself” is a pretty common sentiment in our culture and society these days. From the childhood “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” mantra of The Little Engine That Could, to the more grown-up definitions of self-belief and self-confidence, believing in oneself is considered quite …
Most of us have suffered under poor leadership at some point in our lives. Whether a boss, a coach, or even a parent, it’s a sad reality that poor leadership tends to be more prevalent than great leadership. But when we do experience great leadership, it leaves an impression. Think of a great …
Do you remember counting down to your birthday, Christmas, or summer vacation with so much excitement and anticipation that you drove your parents crazy? As a kid, there was always something to look forward to. The school bell at the end of the day. A family vacation to the beach. Getting your own room. Learning to …
Think about it. America has many issues, problems, and challenges. Yet several billion people—yes, billion with a B—would literally give anything and everything they have in order to live in America! We are blessed in a million different ways. Have a wonderful holiday weekend. And Happy Birthday America the Beautiful!
...Our past experiences increase our knowledge and skill, build our credibility, and create the foundation for who we are today. There is no denying that what we have done and what we are currently doing is highly relevant and important to who we are. But something else critically important to our identity is where we …
It is amazing how much the world has changed during my lifetime. There continues and will always continue to be change—every year, every month, every day. Hand in hand with the incredible social transformation of the past several decades are the changes and advancements in technology. It may be hard to believe, but that …
Have you ever felt like you just couldn’t do something? That the odds were too great, the challenge too big, or your ability too small? I know I have. I think we all feel that way at some point in our lives. But when I lack confidence in my ability to tackle a challenge, it’s …
I read an article by Jeff Goins awhile back that really resonated with me. In it he shared how his plans to become a professional musician fell through. He explained, “Before I could learn what was the right path for me, I had to get good enough at music to realize it wasn’t my true …
I recently came across an article titled “The Very Best Way to Manage Female Employees.” Intrigued, I checked it out. The author of the article, Jeff Haden, began by describing his experience attending a conference breakout session, an executive seminar, and a Master’s level leadership class all in the same week. Each event imparted guidance …
Wally Blume did pretty well for himself after college. The discipline and solid work ethic ingrained in him by his parents served him well, and for two decades he enjoyed a comfortable career in the grocery business with the Kroger Company. Starting out as a store co-manager, by the age of thirty he was promoted …
Maria Ninfa Rodriquez—who went by her middle name, Ninfa—was born in 1924 in Harlingen, Texas, along the Mexico border. One of twelve children, she grew up in a humble Catholic family who grew and raised their own food, living modestly but happily. In 1945 Ninfa married the love of her life, “D.T.” Laurenzo, and …
Dorothy Winn grew up in the 1950s as the eldest of twelve children. A family of migrant workers, the Winns traveled from crop to crop, everyone working to put food on the table. Life was a bitter struggle to survive each day in order to work the next. To make their situation even worse, …
Jacquie grew up in a loving, hard-working southern family. Though money was often scarce, her close-knit family enjoyed the simple things in life and they got by well enough. However, due to her family’s financial situation, as the eldest child Jacquie knew college wasn’t an option for her. So after high school graduation she married …
Bill Wilson did not have an easy childhood. His parents divorced when he was eleven, and afterward went their separate ways—leaving their children behind. Fortunately, Bill’s grandparents took him and his little sister in, giving them the love and support they hadn’t received from their parents. As a young man, Bill was drafted into the …
A Rough Start In 1896, when he was six years old, Harland’s father died unexpectedly from a sudden illness. His mother was left no recourse but to go work long shifts in a local factory in order to provide for Harland and his two younger siblings. Despite his youth, Harland quickly fell into the role …
Anna Mary was well versed in life’s hardships. Born in 1860 as the third of ten children, she left home at the age of twelve to work on a neighboring farm as a hired girl. She labored for her wealthier neighbors for fifteen years before meeting and marrying the love of her life, Thomas. The …
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 …
How the Greats Master the Art of Conversation: We have conversations with other people every day. Depending on the day and our line of work, we might speak with dozens of people throughout the day. But out of all those appointments, meetings, phone calls, and hallway greetings, we might have just one or two really genuine, one-on-one conversations that last more than a few minutes. Those are our chances to really influence others.
...I love to walk. When the weather is nice, I walk for miles around my neighborhood. When the weather is not so nice, I do the same inside my gym. Whether I’m listening to a podcast, dictating an article, or having a phone meeting, my brain is always engaged and the wheels are turning with …
I, like many people, believe in the priceless value of maintaining good health and physical strength through exercise. Throughout my life I have reaped many benefits from staying active and engaging in strength-training exercises. But no matter how faithful I am to an exercise regime, the inevitable reality is that my strength will eventually …