From Twinkle to Beethoven: Moving Ahead with Courage

Courage determines our potential. It is the dial of success.

My two oldest kids are taking piano lessons this year. Some pieces they learn are instant hits: learned quickly and played daily, they become the family anthem for a short while.

Then, there’s those other songs: Way too hard, Dad! I can’t do it! I won’t do it! This is so stupid! (…stomping away, slamming the door…).

Mom convinces them to come back, be brave, believe they can do it, work through the hard parts, practice makes perfect, over and over… it may be painful.

Continue Reading

What Kind of Growth Environment Are You In?

When I coach people, I ask what surrounds them day in and day out. The people, activities, books, sounds… all these things influence us one way or another, for better or worse.

Can you think of a movie you used to watch (or still do) that got you really pumped up? For me, it was the iconic Rocky movies. I remember as a kid getting so excited watching those movies that I would  be jumping up and down in front of the TV screen, doing push-ups, instigating some good-old brotherly boxing fights…. I’d even create new workout regimens in my basement so I could be as buff as Rocky.

Continue Reading

How to Embrace Change

For a while now, my front door has been purple. Not just purple: the Joker Purple. I’m not kidding. It’s a long story about how it got to be that way but my wife never liked it. (I thought it was cool!)

Recently, it was finally time. She asked me: Please, please, please can we change the door color now? She has painted around the house but I’m the one who used to do it for a living. When it comes to the front door and oil paints, it’s definitely my job.

As much as my beloved spouse was excited about the change,

Continue Reading

How You Know You Are Connecting

The Salvation Army has the coolest signal ever – the little bell. I don’t know if you have ever seen or heard the bells but they scream, “Look at me and give me some money!”

I was walking through a store that had a volunteer ringing the bell and asking for donations – I could not help but look and want to give. That little bell was all the signal I needed to hear and know what I needed to do, to know what they wanted me to do. Great communication!

As a leader and communicator,

Continue Reading

Don’t Get Overwhelmed: The Slow-But-Sure Approach to Personal Growth

With purposefulness, every step you take is taken with determination. Learn more

At leadership workshops, people ask me: These leadership tools are all great but I feel I am so busy and already doing so much – how can I begin to change and take on more in my life? 

This is a really great question.

I am not going to sugarcoat the answer by saying personal development is easy or that it will come to you overnight. I’m sure you’d prefer the truth.  I tell them and you, the hardest person you will ever have to lead is yourself.  It’s not easy to do but,

Continue Reading

5 Reasons You Should Dream BIG

Sometimes, when coaching, I ask people if they would rather live life with dreams or without any at all.

I haven’t had anyone tell me they would rather live without any dreams.

It’s in our DNA to dream, to want to stretch our possibilities. By our nature, we simply want to win: be successful, be filled up, achieve goals, climb higher. This is how we were created to be.

So, if we were created to dream, to achieve MORE and become MORE, doesn’t that mean that our dreams should be attainable?

Of course,

Continue Reading

7 Ways to Flush Out Negativity From Your Thinking

“Happiness begins where selfishness ends.”

This is a quote from one of my favorite leadership gurus, John Wooden.

Isn’t it the truth? Negativity is selfish in nature: it’s self-pitying, doubt-filled, and fear-driven. Unfortunately, it’s most often the choice we make.

There are plenty of times when I want to give in to exhaustion and negativity, toss in the towel and take the easy route! However, I also know that there’s no good in giving up or giving in.

In times of weakness, we must urgently ask: How are my thoughts and actions hurting those I love? 

Continue Reading

Money: For Better or for Worse?

Money influences us daily.

No wonder our world is driven by it and seemingly obsessed over it!

To be ensnared by it or free of its grip: believe it or not, we have the choice.

When I was younger, I thought money meant success, greatness and happiness. I imagined that once I had a lot of it, my anxieties in life would vanish and life would be carefree.

I soon realized that money is not happiness nor is it success. Money can be a tool for survival, peace of mind, pleasure, satisfaction,

Continue Reading

You’re Worth the Investment

In my early years mentoring with Mark Pierce, I remember he had me memorize these words:

God does not create junk.

He knew I needed to know that. I’d often struggled with believing in myself. I also knew that belief in myself would determine my level of personal effort. I quickly learned and used some special tips I’m going to share with you today.

First, let me ask you this:

How about you? How is your belief in yourself?

Over the years, I’ve worked really hard on developing the I am worth it attitude.

Continue Reading

Think Ahead to Stay Ahead

How would you like to be able to get more done without working more?

This is called working smarter. I can teach you how.

I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t enjoy that!

If your life is like mine, it’s busier and more tangled than ever. So much to think about, to do and, at times, it’s overwhelming to say the least and harder than ever to get it all done! You have new demands, challenges and opportunities that seem to continually overflow your plate – and you begin to wonder: How am I going to get ahead?

Continue Reading