Fear and anxiety have their place.  You should feel them, and it’s neither possible nor healthy to try to turn them off. But they are not you.  They do not make your decisions, decide your performance, or rule your relationships. They can do those things, of course, if you allow them to.  But doing so will rarely, … Continue reading Fear and Loathing (and Anxiety, Anger, Shame, …) →

When you’re working on your life, how much time do you spend looking ahead?  How much time organizing and planning?  How much actually doing the nitty-gritty work? In his book The E-Myth Revisited, Michael Gerber describes the three “personalities” he believes necessary in every business:  the Entrepreneur, the Manager, and the Technician. Entrepreneur – focused on … Continue reading Gimme an ‘E’ →

Got 10 minutes?  Good. Pick one: A) Of all the things you do every day, what are the 20% that give you the most pleasure? B) Of all the people with whom you spend time, who are the 20% that are most rewarding to you? C) Of all the things you do every day, what … Continue reading Go Pareto On Your Ass →

The people with whom you surround yourself: Do they support you? Do they call you on your bullshit? Do they challenge you to grow? Do they make you laugh? Do you trust them? Do you learn from them? Do they inspire you? Do they make your life better? If so, great. If not, why not? … Continue reading Your Circle →

Achievement is important.  Pushing yourself and others to do more, to be more, is worthwhile. But don’t forget to take the time to appreciate both yourself and what you’ve accomplished. Take a breath.  Reward yourself.  Give yourself a pat on the back and your soul a much-deserved hug.  Reflect on what you’ve done and how … Continue reading Achieve, Then Appreciate →

When was the last time you said to yourself, “This might not work,” then followed it up with “Screw it, I’m gonna try it anyway.” Usually we think, “This might not work,” and walk away.  It’s easy to believe that there’s little value in doing something that’s going to end up a mess. That’s wrong.  Failed … Continue reading This Might Not Work →

If you’re the type that reads with a highlighter, using it every few minutes to mark something striking or brilliant before plowing on only to forget it later, try this instead: As you’re reading, if you come across something that seems significant, close the book and put it down.  Go for a walk and turn the idea over inside … Continue reading Ditch the Highlighter →