Let’s talk about a topic that many people don’t give much thought to. I’m talking about the matter of choosing the people you want to work with. It’s an integral part of any business person’s success, but we often get in the habit of taking customers as they walk in the door simply because they walked in the door. And once in a while, we…
There’s been a lot of hype in recent years about The Law of Attraction. Rhonda Byrne really pushed this concept forward with her movie The Secret, which came out in 2006. Presented in a non-traditional style, this movie really dove into the idea of creating the life you want to live by manifesting things, experiences, and relationships simply by focusing on them intently and single-mindedly….
When you were a kid, did you ever have friends your parents didn’t approve of? Most of us did. It never seemed fair because our parents didn’t really know them like we did, right? And we thought they were fun kids to hang out with. So why were Mom and Dad so worked up about us being friends with them? It’s probably because our parents…
Live, Love, Leave a Legacy. I Am Blessed to Be a Blessing Another year alive thanks to LVAD! March 20th is my 1-year LVAD anniversary. In March of last year I spent the entire month in the hospital with heart failure from a virus. I ended up having to have open heart surgery, and a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) was implanted after my heart…
Who is that Man in the Mirror? Let’s talk about honesty and integrity. These are two words that people often associate with successful leaders. And they’re two words that are nearly always tied together when talking about leadership traits. Why is that? Perhaps it’s because it’s hard to be honest in all your dealings without treating people fairly and with integrity in the process….
Make 2019 a Risk-Filled Year! I know this blog title is a little unconventional. Most people are warned not to take risks instead of being encouraged to take them. But sometimes the biggest payoffs are in the biggest risks. Without having the courage to take the risk, you miss out on something big. Sometimes really big. Take Alex Honnold, for example. Alex Honnold,…
I’m always excited when I get a chance to do something nice for someone. It’s what lights me and makes my day. That happened yesterday when Shamrock Roofing and Construction gave a free roof to Frank Giles, a 93-year-old World War II Navy veteran who served on the USS Lexington. Shamrock Roofing & Construction provide roof 4 hero. Frank said he knew something was up…
What is your WHY? Many business schools teach that in order to be successful in the marketplace – any marketplace – you have to have a unique selling proposition or USP. It’s what sets you apart from the competition, something that makes the product or service you offer stick in consumers’ minds. Seth Godin called this a Purple Cow in his book by the same…
All parents are masters at overcoming objections. They have to be. Kids can come up with a jillion reasons for not doing what they’re asked to do. Just try telling a 4-year-old to put her coat on and see how many excuses you get from her as to why she shouldn’t have to or doesn’t want to. The smart parent who learns how to overcome…
People know who they have the potential to be. The challenge is seeing that process through. Self-development is an art. It takes time. It requires patience. It asks you to step outside your comfort zone. It is challenging — and that’s the point. However, the biggest challenge when it comes to self-development is the process itself. People really struggle with the path and all its twists and turns,…
“Compounding is the greatest mathematical discovery of all time.” — Albert Einstein The quest to become a better version of yourself often feels like a roller coaster ride. It’s hard. And it’s usually so uneven. You can end in failure. But life is a journey, not a marathon, so you always have another opportunity to restart and improve. Many people practically look out for secrets,…
Four years ago my sister got me something that would dramatically alter the direction of my life. In fact, it was probably the most influential gift I’ve ever received. It would help me find my true calling, become a writer at the Huffington Post, and go on a 5-month road trip across America by myself. You know what it was? One of these… A journal….
Leadership style and philosophy help drive successful organizations. It occurred to me the other day that I’m in the very fortunate position of having had the opportunity to create and run my own businesses. I’ve done it not just once, but several times over the course of my career thus far. I’ve built a mortgage bank from the ground up, starting as a financial advisor,…
When It’s Better to Receive than Give Everyone has heard the old saying, “It’s better to give than to receive.” Parents teach their children this philosophy from an early age because that’s what their parent taught them; that, and the fact that no one wants their children to grow up to become selfish, self-centered adults. When children are very young, there’s a time for them…
I learned long ago the importance of giving back. As a kid I watched my parents get involved in various causes and community events, and I saw the positive impact it had on them. I figured there must be something to this giving back thing or they wouldn’t keep doing it. Little did I know that my exposure to that would eventually lead to my…
Rebuilding after Crisis There’s nothing more devastating than putting your life into an entrepreneurial endeavor only to have it go belly up. All those hours – sometimes years – of blood, sweat, tears, sleepless nights, money issues, and personal sacrifice suffered through only to discover that upon birth, your brainchild is stillborn. Or more heart-wrenching…it shows promise in the early years, only to slowly wither…
There’s a paradox with self-improvement and it is this: the ultimate goal of all self-improvement is to reach the point where you no longer feel the need to improve yourself. Think about it: The whole goal of improving your productivity is to reach the point where you never have to think about how to be more productive. The whole point of pursuing happiness is to reach the point where…
There’s a quandary I hear people talk about a lot in the self-improvement world which goes something like this: “Should I keep trying to change, or should I just learn to love myself?” The people posing this question almost invariably feel terrible about themselves, and further, they assume that’s par for the course. It isn’t. In fact this whole “self-love vs self-improvement” thing is a…