Mindfulness is a focus on the present. Past thoughts and actions are done and over; memories may linger but only now matters. The future will be or may not be. The key is to be present. When you’re mindful you can monitor your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them as good or…
Details“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what sunflowers do.” – Helen Keller Do you see the world through rose-colored glasses? Or are you more of the “glass half empty” type? Evidence shows that positive thinking and optimism leads to better health and higher levels of happiness in…
DetailsFor much of my life I have avoided the Hokey Pokey, which is a silly dance best suited for children and seriously inebriated adults. You know what I mean. It is for kindergarteners who are innocent and carefree; for them the Hokey Pokey is just natural. For those in mid-life to late life it seems…
Details“Smart” can take many different forms. A high IQ doesn’t necessarily mean you have street smarts, but it probably doesn’t hurt. You might be intelligent in many areas of your life, but struggle in others. For our purposes, “smart” means behaving in a way that is aligned with your values and goals. Successful people usually…
DetailsA recent study by a psychologist at the University of Arizona found that people who spend more of their day having deep, heart felt discussions and who spend less time engaging in small talk seem to be happier. Or, simply put, the folks who choose idle banter over in-depth conversations are found to be less…
Details“I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” – Robert McCloskey, US State Department spokesman Being understood by your customer may be the most important aspect of selling. If they don’t get what you…
DetailsA common phrase used today in marketing circles is “sustainable competitive advantage” (often abbreviated as SCA). Michael Porter, lauded Professor of Harvard University, coined the term in the eighties and it lives on as an iconic business term. In fact, it has become a cliche, since its usage often is mangled and misapplied. SCA is…
DetailsOften in life we get something from someone that makes our life better. It could be words of encouragement, a gift of money, or a good push that gets us going again. At the time we think to ourselves that we need to pay them back someday. Often we do nothing since we don’t realize…
DetailsAnswer this question: what will your life be like in 10 years? Go ahead and take a guess. The truth is most of us are unable to accurately predict our future selves. The challenges in making this prediction include context and time. You know what your past life has been and you know what your…
DetailsCreativity is a concept that’s tricky to pin down. While it may be somewhat difficult to define, yet we know it when we see it. Is it an innate biological trait or something we can pick up as we go? How can we nurture creativity in ourselves and in others? Let’s explore. Steve Jobs once…
Details