Focus on what you can control. Don’t waste time and energy on things that you can’t control. While the logic and common sense of this advice is self-evident, many people find it difficult to do. Nevertheless, it is an essential skill. What you focus on — what has your attention — is one of the…
A few weeks ago I shared a story from the book “If I Get to Five” by Dr. Fred Epstein, a gifted and visionary pediatric neurosurgeon in New York City. The primary theme of the book is courage, and in particular the courage of children who are facing life-threatening illness. Here is another excerpt from…
Your attitude has a profound impact on how you live your life and do your work. Your attitude affects how you pursue your goals. Your attitude affects the way you respond to change and adversity. Your attitude affects the way you interact with family at home and colleagues at work. Your attitude even affects how…
In the 12 year period between 1992 – 2004, the Concord De La Salle high school football team in northern California went undefeated. During that span they won 151 consecutive games. Although only a high school football team, the winning streak — led by head coach Bob Ladoucer and his staff — was one the…
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year grandson. The old man was having trouble in his twilight years: his hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his steps faltered. The family ate together at the table, but the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas…
…Lots of Repetition Our effectiveness in every dimension of life is directly related to our ability and willingness to learn. We can only do what we learn to do. And that is the heart of the matter. Learning is not about taking in more information. It is not about sitting in a classroom. True learning…
Do you feel the accelerating pace and increasing pressure of life and work? There is no question that we live and work in a hurry-up, high-pressure world dominated by the tyranny of the urgent. There seems to be a never-ending and ever-growing list of people, projects, and priorities competing for our time. And to make…
There is a difference — often a big difference — between being smart and being wise. Smart people talk a lot. Wise people listen a lot. Smart people know what to say. Wise people know when and how to say it. Smart people know how to get what they want. Wise people know what’s worth…
“I learned to discipline myself to do things I didn’t want to do. Now, I also discipline myself to do things I love to do when I don’t want to do them.” — Edward James Olmos It’s a discovery most of us have made at some point in life: Setting goals is fairly easy, but…
Dr. Fred Epstein is a gifted and visionary pediatric neurosurgeon in New York City. In his wonderful book “If I Get to Five,” Dr. Epstein vividly describes the lessons he learned about courage from his patients — children who are facing life-threatening illness. “The title of this book was inspired by a child who helped me…