Life will throw us curve balls on a regular basis, and if we are fortunate enough to lean in to them we will stretch and grow into more evolved versions of ourselves. Lessons in humility and gratitude are ones that many people prefer to avoid, and I believe this is a mistake. Recently, I spent several hours virtually with a friend and colleague I hadn't been in touch with for several years. We had worked together on a few projects in the past, but once they were complete we simply drifted … [Read more...]
Beauty of Imperfection and Simplicity
How Are You Embracing the Beauty of Imperfection and Simplicity in Your Life and Business? In 1995, a massive earthquake struck Kobe, the seventh most populous city in Japan. It registered 7.2 magnitude on the Richter Scale. More than six thousand people were killed, thirty thousand injured, and another forty-five thousand people were left homeless. Yet, there was one area where not a single building was damaged or even had a crack... Days later, architect Tadao Ando made his way … [Read more...]
Tiny Habits for a Lifestyle by Design
Tiny Habits Make the Difference for All of Us! My life until age 50 was one of struggle, lack, and uncertainty. There were never enough hours in the day to accomplish my goals, and even my goals were not ones that were going to make a difference and change my circumstances. Then, I decided one day to make a one year plan to leave my life behind and create a new life for myself. You can do the same, or something similar and it can be a joyous, life-changing process for you as well with tiny … [Read more...]
New Year 2024 – Your Year to Celebrate
Happy New Year 2024! Your Year to Celebrate has arrived... Are you excited about what this new year could bring, or resigned to the idea that nothing will change for you? Making resolutions for the new year are so last millennium and didn't work for most of us anyway. Instead, creating an annual theme that's in alignment with your goals, dreams, and vision for your life makes more sense. While I found 2023 to be challenging for me on a personal level, that did not affect the way I have … [Read more...]
A Christmas Miracle
Christmas miracles come in all shapes and sizes, and when you're least expecting them to arrive... It was Christmas Eve in 2006 and I had been online as an entrepreneur for almost six months. I took a call that was intended for a family member who had just recently started a handyman service. I answered and the voice on the other end said... "Is the handyman available this afternoon or evening? I have some computers and equipment that need to be set up. I do realize it's Christmas … [Read more...]
The English Teacher
If you darken a door for too long, there's a chance you won't ever go inside... Mrs. Kranick could set up a scene that would come to life in my mind. It was 8th grade English class and I was struggling with my school work for the first time in my memory. Whether it was the clinking of champagne glasses at a cocktail party in Westport, Connecticut during the 1950s, or applying for credit at Sears to buy a guitar for her son's birthday and being turned down because her husband wasn't there to … [Read more...]
Success Habits to Create a New You
Develop Growth Mindset Success Habits Habits are something we all believe we know everything about, yet few of us actually know how to use success habits to create a new version of ourselves. When deciding what new habit to pursue, it's easy to look at all the things we shouldn't do as a place to begin. We want to stop smoking or stress eating. We want to learn how to say ‘no’ or to quit spending so much time on social media. Have you ever considered the flipside of all that by building a … [Read more...]
How Mad Money Led to a Decades Long Friendship
How the Concept of "Mad Money" Forged a Decades Long Friendship... We'd first met in person in the weeks before 9-11. Suzanne and my stepson, Nick had been married the year before and baby Melissa arrived a year to the day later. It was 2000 and international communication could be slow and awkward. There were faxes sent and cards mailed back and forth, and the occasional phone call where the minutes were carefully watched so no one would go over their budget. I finally made the trip in … [Read more...]
Productivity and Goal Setting for Writers and Entrepreneurs
Productivity and Goal Setting Are Achievable for Everyone... I've written and spoken on these topics in great detail over the years, but the truth is that productivity and goal setting go hand in hand. Here, I'm sharing my thoughts, ideas, and strategies on productivity and goal setting for writers and entrepreneurs because I believe our needs are quite different from those who identify in different ways. The Ivy Lee Method is a simple productivity technique that dates back to the early 20th … [Read more...]
Optimism As a Way of Living
Optimism as a way of living is currently in vogue. And it's true that optimism sets people apart from one another. Okay, I'll admit it... I'm optimistic most of the time. Throughout my life I've been called "Pollyanna" and most recently someone referred to me as being panglossian, which I had to look up. But what about the majority of people: Is this a common trait and state of mind? The good news is that studies by psychologists reveal that the majority of people are primarily optimistic. … [Read more...]