Four Powerful Words
“I Can Do This” is a very simple, very short phrase yet it is an incredibly powerful self-affirmation, a bedrock reinforcement of self-worth and self-determination.…
Bad gets worse when you try to ignore it
While it may be appropriate to be deliberate in your approach, to observe or monitor a problem for a while, one should rarely, if ever,…
Are You Strong Enough to be Weak?
“Are you strong enough to be weak?” is a catchy way of asking “Are you confident to be appropriately vulnerable?” To be open and authentic…
Three Things Expert Negotiators Do That You Don’t
Realize or not, we are all in the influence and persuasion business; we all negotiate to one degree or another. Thus, to create better relationships…
The Siren Song of Perfectionism
Perfectionism is not the key to success or the protection from criticism or self-doubt that we sometimes hope it will be. Rather perfectionism all too…
Details Create Success
“I believe in the basics: Attention to and perfection of, tiny details that might be commonly over-looked. They may seem trivial, even laughable, but they…
Understanding Understanding – The Expert Blind Spot
The “Expert Blind Spot” refers to the tendency to forget how much you know, how challenging a subject matter can be to a novice, to…
Many a False Step Is Made by Standing Still
Even when you are on the right track you’ll get run over if you just sit there. Doing nothing (aka Decision by Indecision) is still…
WAIT: Why Am I Talking?
Given that we learn most when we listen and nada when we talk, why do we choose to talk? All too often, it is a…
Base Metal into Gold; Weakness into Strength: Mental Alchemy
As far back as 300 AD, the ancients wrote of a “philosopher’s stone” that could transmute base metal into gold. Well, I can’t tell you how to spin gold…
You Can’t Hide You
Just like you cannot not communicate, you can’t hide you either. Your daily behavior teaches your values; every action reveals the belief system that motivates…
The Folly of Self-Doubting
“I don’t believe anyone ever suspects how completely unsure I am of my work and myself and what tortures of self-doubting the doubt of others…
Know-it-All vs. Learn-it-All: Which Are You?
Few would out and out admit to being a know-it-all; the trap most fall for is far more subtle. We are justifiable proud of our…
When Setting Goals, Be Careful not to Set Limits as Well
It’s ironic but when we set goals, we can inadvertently set limits as well. When you hit your goal, is that your internal signal to…
Hard Work Alone is Never Enough
Much has been made of the theory that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master a skill. The idea was popularized by Malcolm Gladwell…
Learned Helplessness, Learned Effectiveness
Learned Helplessness is a mental belief that you are unable change a situation and a resulting unwillingness to continue trying; a sense of powerlessness that…
Dreams are Easy
Anyone can have a dream and anyone can daydream their life away. But are you willing to commit to a viable action plan to make…
Thought-Watching
The steady stream of thoughts in our head, our self-talk, is so constant that we lose awareness of their impact. Yet thoughts are things and…
You Will NEVER Get it ALL Done
Face it, Live with it, Deal with it: You will never get it ALL done. And if you think you have, it’s an illusion. And…
How Strong is a Chain with a Broken Link?
Q: How strong is a chain with a broken link? A: Not strong at all. The same holds true in large measure for any service…
When Positivity Turns Negative
Folks, I’m a huge advocate of a positive mindset. Positivity is NOT a magic wand but most everything in life goes better when you walk…
Train It, Trust It
“Train it, then trust it” is a mantra for athletes about releasing worries in the moment of performance and having faith in the depth of…
How Strong is your Mind Moat?
We all know what a moat is, a protective ditch that surrounds valuable real estate. Moats are usually wide and deep and down here in…
Positivity is NOT a Magic Wand
Anyone who thinks that positive thinking will solve all their problems is delusional. That is not positive thinking, that is wishful thinking. Life is full…
Who is in Control?
What (or who?) runs your life? Where do you think the locus of control lies? Folks divide up into those that believe the locus of…
Leaders that Don’t
To be effective, a leader must be comfortable being in charge, at ease with being in command. They must give direction with the calm confidence…