I was thinking the other day about my 4th-grade teacher. I was a precocious youngster, and she found a way to pull some of us aside and give us extra challenges. Sometimes, we helped our classmates; other times, she encouraged us to go deeper into a subject we enjoyed. She noticed me and found a…
I scheduled too many things today. Mondays are for thinking and writing, and I knew I had a lot to think about and at least one thing to write about. But two calls had slipped into my schedule. No, that’s not true. I said “Yes” to two calls today. That would have been OK, but…
For most of us, the start-up phase of our business involved a lot of fear. Speaking for myself, I was terrified that I couldn’t make a living. That every client that hired me would be the last. Or someone would figure out that I was making this whole thing up as I went. That makes…
I’ve come to see that the only problem anyone ever has is believing things that aren’t true. ~ Steve Chandler As I talked to this agency owner about growth, she was getting fired up!1 “How much do you think I can grow in the next 12 months? Could I double my fees? Could I triple…
“…the strength of the pack is the Wolf and the strength of the Wolf is the pack.” ~ from Rudyard Kipling’s The Second Jungle Book Those who know me would tell you about my focus on improving daily. I strive to improve my craft, become a better listener, and grow in my ability to lead myself and influence…
Self-esteem is like a difficult-to-cultivate flower. It requires frequent nurturing that occurs when you keep your word and follow through on your promises. Derrick Bell This year, I’ve been on a journey to become more impeccable with my word. When I commit to being somewhere, doing something for someone, or following up, I’m more rigorous…
There was a day you decided to start that business. On that day, you had no idea what you were getting yourself into. You just began, and when obstacles came, you learned how to get over or around them to keep moving forward. Since that day, you haven’t stopped. You have consistently taken steps toward…
I like to think of myself as being a coherent whole person, but that description isn’t fully accurate. I’ve got some parts. (I’m betting you have some too.) On the one hand, I’ve got a very analytical, rational, and logical side—that part of me that loved calculus and engineering, who turns everything into a puzzle…
You are responsible for your second thought and your first action. My son and I were having some Father-Son banter a few days ago, and he said something that felt like it crossed a line. It stung, and I didn’t like it. It was one of those quick back-and-forth things, and I didn’t catch my…
I got a call from one of our family’s medical providers this week. I hadn’t paid their bill, and they were assessing us a late charge and threatening to withhold services… I felt irresponsible, careless, foolish, and sloppy when I listened to that message. I could hear myself in my head, “You idiot. You know…