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…
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…
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…
“All of life is but a mass of small choices — practical, emotional, and intellectual — systematically organized for our greatness or grief. We must never forget that it’s not only our big dreams that shape reality. The small choices also bear us irresistibly toward our destiny.” – William James Every day we think and…
Thinking is one of the primary ways we plan and pursue objectives in life and at work, and it is one of the primary ways we look at, evaluate, and respond to the events and situations we experience. Effective thinking produces successful responses and action. Ineffective thinking produces less-than-successful responses. There are 3 basic kinds…
Who in your office needs a word of encouragement? Who at home needs your support? Who among your friends needs a boost? Encouragement is a powerful thing. The word actually means “to strengthen the heart,” and therein lies its power. When you encourage someone, you give them strength. You give them support. You give them…
Don’t lose to yourself. Don’t let you defeat you. Many people are held back by their own mindset. They sabotage themselves through doubt, fear, and limiting beliefs. They often sabotage their quest for achievement. When they begin to push themselves beyond their comfort zone, they give in to the voice that tells them to stop….
People seek popularity and praise, and there are some who attempt to gain it by any means possible. They are fixated on how they are perceived by others. They want to be liked and admired. They want to gain approval, and they want to avoid criticism. If they perform in a way that gains approval…
When a conversation is difficult and full of emotion, wise people don’t react, they respond. They are thoughtful and intentional. They are discerning and disciplined. They seek to bring clarity and perspective to the conversation. Unwise people get caught up in their emotions and react with heat rather than light. The result is escalated anger,…
Your mind is constantly operating. Myriad of thoughts and feelings run through your head every day. You experience situations, you do your best to see clearly and evaluate effectively, and then you decide how to respond. You are continually bombarded with the messages of advertisers, and you must decipher what is true and what is…