As we move into December, we move into holiday celebrations. Our minds shift to reflect on the past year. What went well and what we might have done differently. Around the middle of the month (or sooner), we start to shift our thinking. We start looking forward to...
The other day, I heard someone use the word audacious. The word means bold, fearless ambition. Being audacious isn’t about being reckless. It’s having the courage to pursue something beyond the norm. Taking bold strides toward a future that others might think...
On an episode of Cal Newport’s podcast, he talked about lifecycle-centric planning. The episode was great and led me to this blog post on his website. The primary message is this: “Fix the lifestyle you want. Then work backwards from there.” – Cal Newport The entire...
With football season in full swing, I was reminded of an interview with Drew Brees. He was on the news back in the spring. Talking about his transition to a post-football life. I was particularly drawn to one quote: “My priorities are shifting from success to...
In an episode of Self-Improvement Daily, the 2-minute episode covered this quote: “If courage is taking action despite fear, then bravery is the solution to regret.” – Brian Ford The idea of bravery being a solution to regret resonated with me. In particular, I...
What if we shifted our thinking about our goals at work? Instead, we could think of them as projects. With a project, we assess the current situation. We identify gaps between where we are and where we want to be. Roadblocks are discussed. Deliverables are split into...
As we move through the third quarter, we may already start thinking about the year ahead. Nothing specific, just ideas. Where might we want to focus? What could we change to make our lives just a bit better. Some ideas will be small. Others will have more of an...
Change comes in all shapes and sizes. We might make little changes like taking a reusable mug to the coffee shop. We might also champion a whole new process or product at work. Any time we are looking to make a change with other people, we need to inspire &...
We have likely all heard of the Eisenhower matrix. The four-box grid that considers urgency and importance. The map enables you to determine which to-dos on your list should be addressed first. The urgent and important. It’s amazing the insight and clarity that four...
July 2nd (tomorrow) marks the midpoint of the year – Halfway Day. This is a great occasion to pause, reflect, and refocus. Both individuals and businesses can embrace the day. We can leverage the milestone to take stock of progress and plan for the months ahead. With...
Do we limit what is possible? We lead full lives. Work. Family. Hobbies. We make money and spend it on our lifestyle. We get into routines and habits. Life becomes comfortable. We may get overwhelmed, but generally we know the cycles. My Perspective In the flow of...
An episode of the Mel Robins podcast earlier this year had an interview with Steven Bartlett. The title was “The 51% Rule” and it focused on decision making and how to make decisions better. One of the discussions centered around the idea of reversible decisions....
I heard a comment the other day that was discouraging. “People think they are too far away from their goals to even try.” – Jennifer Mackey-Mary It was in the context of weight loss but could apply to any goal we might have. My Perspective I started thinking about...
There was an article in the Harvard Business Review written by Teresa Amabile and Steven J. Kramer years ago called “The Power of Small Wins”. A finding in the research was this: “Of all the things that can boost emotions, motivation, and perceptions during a workday,...
As the daylight hours get longer, I start to feel like I have more time to get things done. More energy. More drive. There has always been “spring cleaning”, but this is broader than cleaning my spaces. So, I did a bit of searching to see if there is a connection....
Today, nearly 60% of the workforce is comprised of knowledge workers. By the end of 2023, Gartner predicted 39% would be working hybrid. The pandemic brought on the Great Recession. Followed by Quiet Quitting. And, more recently, Coffee Badging - you swipe into the...
I’ve been thinking about how we learn. In the process, I came across two quotes from Albert Einstein that feel relevant today. “Commit yourself to lifelong learning. The most valuable asset you’ll ever have is your mind and what you put into it.” - Albert Einstein And...
When we think about who we will be at 85, what do we see? In a financial class I took recently, they mentioned four phases of retirement. Honeymoon. Go Go. Slow Go. No Go. There was something eye opening about this structure. Then, I heard a podcast that we...
I heard someone say that “coming of age” happens at many moments in our lives. Typically, the phrase is associated with the time we move from childhood to adulthood. A transition from one phase to another. Yet, there are many points in life that we make transitions....
Today marks the 500th day that I’ve started my day writing. A handful of days, the writing had to happen at a different time, but mostly it’s been the morning. The rules have been simple – one page a day on personal development topics. About 325 of the posts...
The first step in understanding success is recognizing that the definition is personal and subjective. What is considered success for one person might not be significant for someone else. Success should be defined on your terms and aligned with your values. We are...