Excuse: Often dishonest, seeks to avoid or shift responsibility, and is used to justify behavior. Reason: Honest, valid, and focuses on explaining the cause of a situation. The distinction between an excuse and a reason can significantly impact our growth and...

It’s never gone It’s aways waiting It’s always avaiable It’s always willing to be redeemed at a moment’s notice But there is a little problem we encounter along the way. Potential is hard because Netflix is easy. Potential is hard because Instagram is easy....

Every choice you make comes with some sort of consequence. In an instant you can only pick one path, and you must deal with the repercussions of not picking any of the others. In the words of Sheldon B. Kopp, a brilliant American psychotherapist, you’re pretty much...

There was a gardener who was running his family business, that had been passed down from his grandfather to his father and now to him. The staff were happy, and they had more than enough customers, and the team and business were both very successful. For as long as...

Feedback is backward-looking: it leads people to criticize you, or cheer for you. Advice is forward-looking: it leads people to coach you. When we ask for advice, we open the door to valuable insights and guidance that can help us navigate challenges more...

“Think about what great advice it is when you sit down at a computer and screw your life up forever by telling someone to go to hell, or something else, in 30 seconds and you can't erase it," Warren Buffett once said. In other words, think twice about giving...

The quote by Zig Ziglar, F-E-A-R has two meanings: “Forget Everything and Run or Face Everything and Rise” - The choice is yours encapsulates the dual nature of fear and the choices we make in its presence. Fear is an instinctual response that can trigger a...

Optimism fuels ambition, innovation, and resilience. It is a key factor in driving individuals and organizations to pursue bold goals and embrace new opportunities. When leaders and entrepreneurs adopt an optimistic outlook, they are more likely to take calculated...

 The facts are… The internet has given us unprecedented access to knowledge that grows, like our curiosity, exponentially each year. There are 2.5 quintillion (a quintillion is a million trillion) bytes of data created each day. Google searches increase around 10...

It's important to understand that unlike a piggy bank, which reduces in value as withdrawals are made, your personal and professional worth is a dynamic and ever-expanding asset. Investments in your skills, knowledge, and experiences continually enhance your value,...

In the realm of business leadership, vulnerability is often misconceived as a weakness, but it can actually be the cornerstone of exceptional leadership. A leader who embraces vulnerability demonstrates authenticity, fostering trust and genuine connections with...

The Assumption Gap:  I assume that I will automatically grow “You will either step forward into growth or you will step back into safety.” -Abraham Maslow  The Knowledge Gap:  I don’t know how to grow “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but little want of...

Being unforgettable isn’t about seeking attention or accolades; it’s about living a life of purpose and impact that touches the hearts and minds of those you encounter. But how does one achieve this goal? Here’s 4 tips to becoming unforgettable, not just in grand...

After graduating college, Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph received a ‘handwritten list of instructions’ from his father… Do at least 10% more than you are asked. Never, ever, to anybody present as fact opinions on things you don't know. Take great care and...

The greatest managers in the world do not have much in common. They are of different sexes, races, and ages. They employ vastly different styles and focus on different goals. But despite their differences, these great managers do share one thing: Before they do...

What You Know (your knowledge) “To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.” -Confucius What You Can Do (your skills) “Success is a learnable skill. You can learn to succeed at most anything.” -T. Harv Eker Who You Know (your network)...

Once there was an older man, who was broke, living in a tiny house and owned a beat-up car. He was living off $99.00 social security checks. At 65 years of age, he decides things had to change. So, he thought about what he had to offer. His friends raved about his...

The brain’s propensity to oversimplify and then act more quickly than necessary can be problematic. This dynamic also applies over a longer time frame, as your brain interprets past events with its “oversimplification” filter. For example, many humans are...

As minimal as possible: Simple things reduce the number of steps, pages, features, signoffs, requirements, and other hurdles required to get something accomplished.. As understandable as possible: Simple things are defined by clear, straightforward language. They...

As we celebrate Independence Day today, let us take a moment to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. On this day of patriotism and reflection, let us remember the values of freedom, unity, and resilience that defines us as individuals and as a...

One of the things that is magic about curiosity is that you don’t need anyone’s permission to use it. You don’t need a team, and you don’t need any special tools that you don’t already have with you all the time. Curiosity is a mind-set. Period. Another powerful...

To be creative, lose the fear of being wrong. No one likes a person without an opinion. At worst you could be wrong (and if so, graciously admit and accept). I’m not saying you walk in the first day and tell everyone what you think. You listen. You survey. You pay...

There are only two ways to influence human behavior: You can manipulate it or you can inspire it, states Simon Sinek. So, it’s manipulation vs. inspiration, those are the two choices. Fear, real or perceived, is arguably the most powerful manipulation of all. When...

Potential is one of the most wonderful words in any language. It looks forward with optimism. It is filled with hope. It promises success. It implies fulfillment. It hints at greatness. Potential is a word based on possibilities. Think about your potential as a...

The only thing you can guarantee about your future plan is that it's going to change. May as well bake that right into the plan. This is why the greatest leaders inspire; not demand, tell, or force - they give the people around them something to believe in. Then it...

The goal was ambitious. Public interest was high. Experts were eager to contribute. Money was readily available. Armed with every ingredient for success, Samuel Pierpont Langley set out in the early 1900s to be the first man to pilot an airplane. Highly regarded,...

It takes approximately seven years to get a Ph.D. in economics from a leading school. But it’s borderline fair to say you can capture those seven years in one sentence: If the other guy’s getting better, then you’d better be getting better faster than the other...

Long, long ago, as the story goes, people used to think that finding a perforated coin brought good luck. Think of it as another version of the four-leaf clover. There was once a poor man who had not been very successful in his work and in life. But one day,...

It is quite easy to get approval if we ask enough people, or if we only ask those who are likely to tell us what we want to hear. The likelihood is that they will say nice things rather than be too critical. Also, we tend to edit out the bad so we hear only what we...

When studying statistics at UC Berkeley in 1947, doctoral candidate George Dantzig arrived late for class one day. He saw two problems on the blackboard, which he assumed were homework, and copied them down. Feeling they were harder than usual, it took him a few...

People can help you in many ways throughout life, but there are two things nobody can give you: curiosity and drive. They must be self-supplied. If you are not interested and curious, all the information in the world can be at your fingertips, but it will be...

“Lombardi Time” is more than just a punctual approach; it’s a philosophy, a mindset, and a legacy that transcends mere minutes on a clock. Coined in the homage to the legendary football coach, Vince Lombardi, it encapsulates a commitment to excellence, discipline ,...

Today I can complain because the weather is rainy, or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free. Today I can feel sad that I don’t have more money, or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from...

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” -Albert Einstein “The man who has no imagination has no wings.” -Muhammad Ali “Those who know the power of imagination are not afraid of reality.” -Nitin Namdeo “Anyone who lives within...

Everyone has a vital role to play in creating a positive work environment. Still, although everyone knows it, sometimes things turn negative, or worse, toxic. One of the most counterproductive activities that can harm a business is talk, gossip, and needless...

Fixed mindset or growth mindset – it’s your choice. If you have a fixed mindset, you believe you are who you are, and you cannot change. This creates problems when you are challenged because anything that appears to be more than you can handle is bound to make you...

It’s Wrong To Be Right Being right is based upon knowledge and experience and is often provable. Knowledge comes from the past, so it’s safe. It is also out of date. It’s the opposite of originality. Experience is built from solutions to old situations and...

How about the relentless commitment to a strategy of the aggregation of marginal gains – the philosophy of searching for a tiny margin of improvement in everything you do? It is so easy to overestimate the importance of one defining moment and underestimate the...

They say nobody is indispensable. Yet, organizations go to great lengths to retain employees who are seen as critical for their operations. So, how do you make yourself indispensable at work? How do you grow in places you never thought you would? 1. Do work that...

Firstly, you need to aim beyond what you are capable of. You must develop a complete disregard for where your abilities end. Try to do things you are incapable of. If you don’t believe the impossible can happen, then you are right. Make your vision of where you...

In honor and celebration of all past and present FFA members, let us never forget the value of Agriculture and the American Farmer. FFA – developing our future innovators and leaders in agriculture And on the eighth day, God looked down on his planned paradise and...

PROVERBS FOR YOUNG ENGINEERS and Some Older Ones, Too By Philip Swain Editor, Power Magazine 1. The ability to see the obvious is a rare and valuable talent. 2. In the engineering world, brilliance doesn't rate unless tied to common sense, character, and...

The word ‘Kaizen’ is composed of two Japanese words: ‘kai’ meaning ‘change’ and ‘zen’ meaning ‘for the better’. In the Kaizen philosophy, innovation is seen as an incremental process; it’s not about making big leaps forward, but rather making small things better,...

What you learn at school are facts, known facts. Your job at school is to accumulate and remember facts. The more you can remember, the better you do. Many times, those who fail at school are not interested in the facts, or maybe the facts are not put to them in a...

We have, as a people, become obsessed with the development of the intellect, but we so often ignore the development of awareness. A person may be highly educated, can have doctorates in two or three subjects, and yet be unaware of how to earn money, how to build a...

Good. Quite Good. Very Good. The best in our field. Or the best in the world? “Talent helps but it won’t take you as far as ambition. Everybody wants to be good, but few are prepared to make the sacrifices to be great. You will become whoever you want to be.” -Paul...

It’s a term being talked about a lot more frequently in conference rooms, classrooms, locker rooms, and even living rooms. Perhaps it’s because there is an abundance of new research that shows that positive people, positive communication, positive interactions, and...

The Law of Diminishing Intent states: The longer you wait to do something you should do now, the greater the odds that you will never actually do it. It argues that the further away we get from our original spark, idea, or energy surrounding a goal or plan, the...

“Although no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.” -Carl Bard “We all get the exact same 365 days. The only difference is what we do with them.” -Hillary Depiano “Always bear in mind that your own...

You can look at this as a positive or a negative statement, your choice. If you are prepared for disappointment, you have a chance of turning that disappointment into a positive. Most people think of disappointment as a negative and turn disappointment into a...

The danger inherent within a bureaucratic culture is that failure is not identified and risk is not rewarded. When accountability is neither identified by management nor embraced by the employee, and the fear of failure overpowers the reward for success, then the...

If you don’t care about the tiny details, you’ll produce bad work because good work is the culmination of hundreds of tiny details. The world’s most successful people all sweat the small stuff. While the competitors think consistency or big wins are the path to the...

Do I know what is expected of me at work? Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work correctly? At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day? In the last 7-10 days, have I received recognition or praise for good work? Does my...

First you assume good news is permanent. Then you become oblivious to bad news. Then you ignore bad news. Then you deny bad news. Then you panic at bad news. Then you accept bad news. Then you assume bad news is permanent. Then you become oblivious to good news....

Probability and uncertainty are so difficult for us to understand. A related, and equally important problem is how easy it is to underestimate rare events in a world as large as ours. With a large enough sample, any outrageous thing is apt to happen, states...

As we pause to celebrate Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season, we find ourselves reflecting on the incredible journey we've undertaken together as a company. This season of gratitude provides the perfect opportunity to express our deepest thanks to the...

On effort: “You don’t get anything. You must earn it.”  Nobody owes you anything – go figure it out. Plus, its much more rewarding and you will be better off in many ways, both tangible and intangible. On leadership: “Your job as the CEO of the business is to be...

Because, as inventor Charles Ketterling has suggested, we will have to spend the rest of our lives there. If we can discern what the future has in store for us, we can better prepare for it. We can take advantage of what the future holds for us – we’ll know what...

Submit to pressure from your peers and you move down to their level. Speak up for your own beliefs and you invite them up to your level. If you move with the crowd, you’ll get no further than the crowd. When 40 million people believe in a dumb idea, it’s still a...

If everyone has the same number of hours in a day, why do some people seem to get so much more done than others? How do they do more, and accomplish more? The answer lies in their approach - they go small. When your goal is creating the absolute best chance to...

Every time you achieve something new, you should immediately look for something to build on that success – often in ways that weren’t necessarily obvious to you beforehand. What can you do today that you couldn’t do yesterday that moves you closer to what you want...

“Whatever you do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.” -Goethe “A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.” -John Maxwell “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem...

Test assumptions as inferences Share all relevant information – no silos Focus on interest, not positions Be specific – use examples – don’t mince words Agree on what important words mean – clarity Explain the reasons behind one’s statements, questions, and actions...

Passion An intense passion or desire for something. “Without passion, you don’t have energy. Without energy, you have nothing.” -Warren Buffett Perseverance The ability to be steadfast in reaching long-term goals despite difficulties. “Success is no accident. It is...

Basic Financial Maxims I Want My Kids To Know By Ron Muhlenkamp July 1991 (…and still relevant!)   There is no free lunch. There’s no free income either. The essentials of life are cheap. Only the luxuries are expensive. A bad product is always a bad deal. A...

An excuse is a justification for doing – or not doing – something. The dictionary implies that it’s a “reason” and we should not accept that description. An excuse turns out to be something other than the real reason that motivates your actions, or lack thereof....

Labor Day is a special occasion to honor and pay tribute to all the workers in our country who work hard and have contributed so much to our economy and society. It is a well-deserved tribute to their hard work and dedication.  It is through this hard work, all-in...

We Shall Meet Life With Full Presence and Power. We Shall Reclaim Our Agenda. We Shall Defeat Our Demons. We Shall Advance With Abandon. We Shall Practice Joy And Gratitude. We Shall Not Break Our Integrity. We Shall Inspire Greatness. We Shall Slow Time. Without...

We can accomplish almost anything within our ability if we think that we can! Most great achievements in this world were first carefully thought out. Think – but to a purpose. Think constructively. Think as you read. Think as you listen. Think as you travel and...

“Be obsessed or be average.” -Grant Cardone To dominate your sector, your goal, dream, or ambition, you must first dominate your every interest, thought, and consideration. Obsession is not a bad thing; it’s a requirement to get where you want to go. You want to be...

All powerful companies, ideas, products, and people are omnipresent. This is the kind of mind-set from which you must operate – to make yourself (your company) available everywhere. The goal is to make people see you and/or your company, so often that they think of...

To really understand, manage, maximize, and squeeze every opportunity out of the time you have - you must fully understand and appreciate how much of it is available to you. You must take control of your time. If you listen to people discussing the topic of time –...

You must pay attention to what has your attention. This is much easier said than done. In just the span of the last several minutes, I’ll bet your mind has wondered and thought about several other things. The first step to being more productive is paying attention...

The need to having a purpose goes beyond personal happiness and fulfillment. It often involves serving others, finding and utilizing your unique talents, and having a positive impact on others around you. Finding purpose is a personal journey – it involves...

“The universe doesn’t give you what you ask for with your thoughts; it gives you what you demand with your actions.” -Dr. Steve Maraboli Too many of us are looking for the secret shortcut, and unfortunately in almost every instance, there is no shortcut. The more...

“Fear is inevitable, but it should never be a stopping point.” -Jeff Bezos “Fear is an insidious virus. Given a breeding place in our minds, it will permeate the whole body of our work; it will eat away at our spirit and block the forward path of our endeavors....

Customer Satisfaction is Paramount: Focus on delivering excellent customer service and creating products/services that solve their problems. Adaptability is Crucial: Be flexible – be prepared to pivot and adjust your business strategy as circumstances change....

“Constantly seek criticism. A well thought out critique of whatever you’re doing is as valuable as gold.” -Elon Musk Although getting criticized is certainly not the best feeling in the world, there is great news: Receiving criticism is part of the growth process....

“Average is always a safe choice, and it is the most dangerous choice you can make.” -Erwin Raphael McManus Average never yields anything more than average and usually much less. Average thinking and actions will only guarantee you misery, uncertainty, and failure....

There is definitely a direct connection between finding your passion and reaching your potential. “A person can succeed at almost anything for which they have unlimited enthusiasm.” -Charles M. Schwab Start maximizing what you have, instead of worrying what you...

“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.” -Helen Keller “Often, in the real world, it’s not the smart that get ahead but the bold.” -Robert Kiyosaki “Develop the strength to do bold things....

It is fairly common for people who don’t get what they want to provide justifications – and even lie to themselves – by minimizing how valuable succuss is to them. It’s easy to spot this trend in our society today within entire demographics and population segments....

“Without trust we don’t truly collaborate; we merely coordinate or, at best, cooperate. It is trust that transforms a group of people into a team.” -Stephen Covey In business, as in life, trust is elemental. We all cherish it. Most of us think we deserve it. Few of...

We often talk about being in a good or bad “state” of mind. What we’re referring to is our mood and how we are feeling at that time. Most people see themselves as being at the mercy of external influences. Thus, if we’re having a good day, it means things “out...

A habit is a behavior that has been repeated enough times to become automatic. The process of habit formation begins with trial and error. Whenever you encounter a new situation in life, your brain must make a decision. The habit-forming process now begins. Try,...

1. We Shall Meet Life With Full Presence and Power. 2. We Shall Reclaim Our Agenda. 3. We Shall Defeat Our Demons. 4. We Shall Advance With Abandon. 5. We Shall Practice Joy And Gratitude. 6. We Shall Not Break Our Integrity. 7. We Shall Inspire Greatness. 8. We...

Live them and Reach Your Potential 1. The Law of Intentionality: Growth Doesn’t Just Happen 2. The Law of Awareness: You Must Know Yourself to Grow Yourself 3. The Law of the Mirror: You Must See Value in Yourself to Add Value to Yourself 4. The Law of Reflection:...

“Curiosity is the beginning of wisdom.” -Francoise Sagan “No one is dumb who is curious. The people who don’t ask questions remain clueless throughout their lives.” -Neil deGrasse Tyson “Curiosity is one of the most important permanent and certain characteristics...

Continuous dissatisfaction with the status quo is the best way to keep growing as an individual, an organization, or a company. Constructive discomfort with yourself, your business, your people, and your products, systems, and services will fuel ongoing change and...

“I never worry about action, but only inaction.” -Winston Churchill “What you do speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson The story involves H. Ross Perot when he was on the board of General Motors. Perot was constantly frustrated by...

Asking is the most important discipline in life. Think about it – what have you ever gotten without asking? Be honest with yourself – it’s minimal. There are always exceptions, but it’s not the norm. You must ask for what you want: directly, assumptively,...

We don’t just hesitate to rethink our answer. We hesitate at the very idea of rethinking. Part of the problem is cognitive laziness. Some psychologists point out that we’re mental misers: we often prefer the ease of hanging on to old views over the difficulty of...

SELFLESSNESS: Embrace the idea of “We, then me.” Serve the team first. ENTHUSIASM: Enjoy what you do and celebrate who you are and what you stand for. Expect the same from others. TRUST: Have faith in your partners. Just do the right thing, every time. Take care of...

“One who never asks either knows everything or nothing.” -Malcom Forbes “No man really becomes a fool until he stops asking questions.” -Charles P. Steinmetz The main reason questions are so effective is that most people love to answer them. Questions stimulate the...

We Shall Meet Life With Full Presence and Power. We Shall Reclaim Our Agenda. We Shall Defeat Our Demons. We Shall Advance With Abandon. We Shall Practice Joy And Gratitude. We Shall Not Break Our Integrity. We Shall Inspire Greatness. We Shall Slow Time. We have...

With stock and commodity prices all over the place and everyone trying to figure out "real value" is, it is time to share a favorite story. This is a wonderful tale about “price discovery” involving two of our nation's most famous business titans: J.P. Morgan and...

By the time you figure out how to adapt to change, it’s usually too late – the world has changed again. The fact is, we are nearly always behind and nearly always working on yesterday’s problems. The solution, according to experts, is to learn during performance –...

When is a dirty bathroom a broken window? It is a question that today could be at the core of a business’s success or failure. Answering that question correctly and using the answer as a beacon could allow your business to dominate its competition indefinitely....

The Theory of the Dipper and the Bucket Each of us has an invisible bucket. It is constantly emptied or filled, depending on what others say or do to us. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it’s empty, we feel awful. Each of us also has an invisible...

1. We Shall Meet Life With Full Presence and Power. 2. We Shall Reclaim Our Agenda. 3. We Shall Defeat Our Demons. 4. We Shall Advance With Abandon. 5. We Shall Practice Joy And Gratitude. 6. We Shall Not Break Our Integrity. 7. We Shall Inspire Greatness. As we...

“Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.” -Michael Josephson “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” -Seneca “What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new...

…or, “The Thrill of Not Believing Everything You Think” I have a pair of beige, stonewashed jeans that I love. A friend of mine once made the mistake of calling them gray, so I corrected her. A spirited disagreement ensued, and I enlisted the help of various...

What is the difference between Success and Excellence? Success is based on a comparison with others. Excellence is measured against your own potential. The only comparison I should be managing is with myself. Will I be better tomorrow than I am today? Will I be...

Tenacity [tuh-nas-i-tee] noun _____________________ the quality of being very determined; persistent forward momentum with a game plan; to never stop trying to achieve a goal even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds “There are risks and costs to action....

We Shall Meet Life With Full Presence and Power. We Shall Reclaim Our Agenda. We Shall Defeat Our Demons. We Shall Advance With Abandon. We Shall Practice Joy And Gratitude. We Shall Not Break Our Integrity. We Shall Inspire Greatness. We Shall Slow Time. As we...

When in decision-making meetings, argue as if you’re right, but listen as if you believe you’re wrong. When in conflict with team members, be willing to lose a few battles to win the war. Predetermine what “hills you are willing to die on.” Remain teachable in new...

“Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year because it reminds us to give thanks and to count our blessings. Suddenly, so many things become so little when we realize how blessed and lucky we are.” -Joyce Giraud “Thankfulness is the quickest path to joy.”...

“The only thing limiting you is yourself.” -Ken Poirot “If you surround yourself with positive people who build you up, the sky’s the limit.” -Joel Brown “Push YOURSELF to the edge of YOUR limits. That’s how you expand.” -Robin Sharma “There is no finish line. It’s...

The man who thinks he can and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.  Confucius knew that an individual executes to the level of what he or she believes in themselves. Create a higher level of self-confidence – create a higher level of self-esteem. Many people...

We Shall Meet Life With Full Presence and Power. We Shall Reclaim Our Agenda. We Shall Defeat Our Demons. We Shall Advance With Abandon. We Shall Practice Joy And Gratitude. We Shall Not Break Our Integrity. We Shall Inspire Greatness. We Shall Slow Time. Carry the...

The 80/20 Rule Most of what exists in the universe – our actions, and all other forces, resources, and ideas – has little value and yields little result; on the other hand, a few things work fantastically well and have tremendous impact. There is no magic in the 80...

1. We Shall Meet Life With Full Presence and Power. 2. We Shall Reclaim Our Agenda. 3. We Shall Defeat Our Demons. 4. We Shall Advance With Abandon. 5. We Shall Practice Joy And Gratitude. 6. We Shall Not Break Our Integrity. 7. We Shall Inspire Greatness. 8. We...

How do you feel about yourself as a person? Are you positive? Are you negative? On a scale from 1 to 10, what number would you use to describe how you feel about yourself? Take a moment to rate yourself. Whatever number you picked to describe your self-image also...

This is what I know today, but I know there’s more to know. Our learning is dynamic and limitless. This allows you to be confident and passionate, while at the same time hungry and open to learning. Learning – it requires an intentional decision. The posture of...

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent; it is the one most adaptable to change.” -Charles Darwin “I used to resent obstacles along the path, thinking, ‘If only that hadn’t happened life would be so good.’ Then I suddenly...

We know the brain must answer every question posed to it, and that one of those answers might be “I don’t know.” What happens then? If we respond by just giving up, nothing is gained. In fact, a lot is lost. In addition to missing out on opportunities, we also...

Labor Day was created in the United States to honor the contributions of the vast workforce of the country. Celebrating Labor Day reminds us of the value of people who work in different industries. It is through them that we have all of the conveniences we’re...

Thoughts from Ryan Holiday: Appearances are deceiving. Having authority is not the same as being an authority. Having the right and being right are not the same either. Impressing people is utterly different from being truly impressive. You can’t learn if you think...

Thoughts from Ryan Holiday’s book on Ego: One might say that the ability to evaluate one’s own ability is the most important skill of all. Without it, improvement is impossible. And certainly ego makes it difficult every step of the way. It is certainly more...

Ego; An unhealthy belief in our own importance. Arrogance. Self-centered ambition. It’s that petulant child inside every person, the one that chooses getting his way or her way over anything or anyone else. The need to be better than, more than, recognized for, far...

“A man’s worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions.” -Marcus Aurelius Ambition is the most important tool to achieve success, overriding both talent and resources by far. An ambitious attitude can lead anyone to triumph and satisfaction, regardless of...

It’s been said for a thousand years: Give and you shall receive. That is the essence of servant leadership. Character:  You serve your team with credibility, integrity, and the core values that they expect. Learning:  You serve your team by being a student, by...

“Believe in your infinite potential. Your only limitations are those you set upon yourself.” -Roy T. Bennett “Most people are not really free. They are confined by the niche in the world that they carve out for themselves. They limit themselves to fewer...

“Awareness precedes change.” -Robin Sharma Awareness is the ability to perceive what is going on – or not going on – in the world around and within us. Paying attention is proactive. It is a conscious act that expands our consciousness. A key to dramatic growth is...

“What could we accomplish if we knew we could not fail?” -Eleanor Roosevelt “If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” -Thomas Edison “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” -Max...

“The only source of knowledge is experience.” -Albert Einstein “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.” -Sun Tzu The biggest improvements we make usually come from upgrading areas of weakness and developing important skills and offerings we currently lack....

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” -Derek Bok “Education is that which remains when one has forgotten everything he learned in school.” -Albert Einstein “To learn and not to do is really not to learn. To know and not to do is really not to know.”...

“Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness of life.” -Linus Pauling “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning.” -Albert Einstein “Curiosity is one of the most...

“Self-belief and hard work will always earn you success.” -Virat Kohil “A dream does not become reality through magic, it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.” -Colin Powell “Sometimes success is disguised as hard work.” -S. Truett Cathy “Amateurs hope,...

The story of “Grandma’s Ham.” A husband and wife were fixing dinner one night. The wife, who was preparing the ham, cut off the two ends of the ham before putting it in the oven. The husband, who thought that was such a crazy waste of good ham, asked, “Why do you...

Motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing. It doesn’t matter how talented you are. It doesn’t matter how many opportunities you receive. If you want to grow, consistency is the key. Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to...

One evening, an elder Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside all people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us. One is Fear. It carries anxiety, concern, uncertainty, hesitancy, indecision, and inaction. The other is...

“Knowledge is the only instrument of production that is not subject to diminishing returns.” -J.M. Clark “When you really pay attention, everything is your teacher.” -Ezra Bayda ‘’A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their...

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today...

“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” -Peter Drucker “Leadership is about achieving a goal through a team. To achieve a goal, a team needs help – help to gain resources and to remove obstacles. Leadership boils down to a choice –...

“The chain of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.” -Samuel Johnson We focus on our strengths not only because it gives us more pleasure than dealing with our weaknesses, but also because we are creatures of habit. Once a routine...

When using the language of persuasion: 7% of your impact is through your words  38% of your impact happens through the tone of your voice 55% of your impact happens through visual input Understanding tone and body language are critical to connect and persuade. You...

Our natural tendency is to avoid problems, but they can be a blessing in disguise. If we think of problems as opportunities to improve or as puzzles to solve, businesses to start, or markets to win over, then we realize how potentially satisfying and profitable...

“No raindrop ever considers itself responsible for the flood.” -Anonymous “The price of greatness is responsibility.” -Winston Churchill “Those who enjoy responsibility usually get it; those who merely like exercising authority usually lose it.” -Malcolm Forbes...

“Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it!” – Mary Angelou “The sure way to miss success is to miss the opportunity.” – Victor Charles “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we are curious, and curiosity keeps leading us...

“He who does nothing does not fail.” -Old Italian proverb “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” -Colin Powell “Don’t find fault, find a remedy.” -Henry Ford “We get to choose every day to be happy...

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it take to sit down and listen.” – Winston Churchill “One of the best ways to persuade others is with your ears – by listening to them.” – Dean Rusk “The art of conversation lies in listening.” –...

“We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge.”  – John Naisbitt “The only real valuable thing is intuition.” – Albert Einstein Intuition becomes increasingly valuable in the information society precisely because there is so much data. That means...

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think, or...