“Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming…”
I love movies; someday I’d like to write some screenplays, or even produce a movie. Likely, this is among the (too many) things I dream about but will never get around to doing. If only I had 10 lives, or even get by on a few hours sleep each night, then perhaps. But, for now, [...]
My Trash, My Selfishness
I hate germs. And I can’t stand touching the door handle on the way into a public bathroom, but particularly so on the way out. So like some, I use the paper towel to open up the door handle on my way out. Sometimes–usually–there’s a trash can near the door on the way out. At [...]
9/11: Dreaming with a Broken Heart
We spent the weekend of September 11th in New York City a few weeks back (for those still trying to figure it out, I moved out East in June and took a job to run a start-up company, our update in a forthcoming post). I was in the City all day Friday for meetings, one [...]
A Legend Lost
This weekend, as many of you know, a legend passed away. His name was John Wooden, and while his amazing coaching skills that led to an incredible array of victories for UCLA, more than that he was an amazing human being that has transformed so many peoples lives. So, without any wordiness, I’ll let a [...]
Can You Be Coached?
Last night I had the opportunity to speak/facilitate a small group discussion around Coachability and Listening. So the guys didn’t need to take notes, I promised I’d circulate the culmination of ideas and discussion points captured as we shared the dialogue. I thought it might be a good blog entry, so decided to simply publish [...]
Goodbye, Univera
As many of you now know, yesterday with the internal team and today with the entire external field organization I announced publicly my resignation from Univera as the CEO of International. I’ll be wrapping up my time at Univera through the end of May. I have nothing but the greatest things to say about my [...]
Happy 5th Birthday Buddy
Here’s my annual disclaimer: The reason I write in my blog is to connect with people. Not just from one segment of life, but from many. Usually the focus revolves around finding your purpose, passion, and renewal. And as part of the thread of stories I try to share experiences and observations in leadership, volunteerism, [...]
Jake Shimabukuro
A simple song brings a simple message. Find your passion. Watch this guy, Jake Shimabukuro, play the Uke and ask yourself if this guy isn’t just amazingly passionate about what he does? With 50-years of training, I couldn’t do what he just did on this YouTube video. But, the point is that he couldn’t do [...]
I Hate Museums
Okay, that opening title is a bit dramatic. First, as my wife reminds the kids–and me–we don’t HATE anything. Second, even if I DID hate something, I don’t REALLY hate museums. At least not all of them, just certain kinds. But what was valuable is that I learned something this week about myself. And, Pascal [...]
Coachability
Here’s a short entry that, I believe, is a key success factor in life…Maybe one of the success factors for YOUR life. And this will also help me break my complete absence of blog posts in the last ten days. I also read the leadership books, magazines, listen to the stories and the speakers, and [...]
Authenticity…From a Friend
Here’s another one that I didn’t intent to post, but it was simply on my heart tonight. So here it is, full of imperfections, my vlog on “Authenticity…From a Friend.”
Patrick Henry Hughes
A friend passed this onto me today, thanks Jan, and it’s such “postable” blog material I had to put it up right away but not without a few comments first. It starts a little slow and just keeps morphing into this amazing story of a determined spirit to succeed, find a passion and commit to [...]
From NBA to Mayor of Detroit
When he reached retirement age, Dave Bing got himself a job he never wanted. Mayor of Detroit? He wanted no part of it. “I really didn’t want him to do it,” his wife, Yvette, says. “None of us wanted him to do it,” adds one of his three daughters, Cassaundra. For years Bing’s old Syracuse [...]
3 Rules of Success
A great drill down into THREE SIMPLE RULES for success. Too often we overcomplicate. Thanks, William Green, for breaking it down… “I’m a proud plumber’s son from Western Massachusetts. In my family, working with tools is the highest honor. It isn’t how many degrees you have. It’s what you can do. So that had a [...]
Happy New Year! Now, Let’s Just DO IT!
I used to scoff a bit at the New Year’s resolutions. But no more… Everybody needs a “restart.” It’s one of the things that made high school or college so great; every year, or ever Semester, you got a do-over. But once you get into working adulthood, the do-overs are a LOT less frequent, and [...]
The Harlem Children’s Zone
Sometimes you hear people talk about “playing politics”, make sure not to “step on anybody’s toes” or “be sure not to rock the boat”; perhaps you’ve been told to “watch your back” or just “tone it down and take the time.” But sometimes that’s the worse advice you can ever give…or take. The following is [...]
Leadership Lesson from WHO?
A symphony. Specifically a conductor of a symphony. I didn’t think it’d pique my interest, but two minutes turned into five into ten turned into the 23 minute lesson which I’ve thought about quite a few times this evening. It’s a great lesson. Entertaining. Thought provoking. Educational. Inspirational. Convicting. I think in each of us [...]
Winning Big in a Down Economy
It’s tough to win big in business even in a good economy. It’s competitive and challenging, but it sure is easier in a boom marketplace than in a down economy. There’s never been a more difficult business environment in most our lifetimes than what we’ve experienced this past year. But what IF, in a down [...]
A Great Fall Weekend at Xpand Your Business
You could not ask for a better place to spend this past October weekend than at the Alderbrook Resort in Union, Wash., reveling in the great achievements of our newest Gold and Platinum Associates this past year. Between enjoying the crisp, cool fall air, the turning colors of the trees, and the magnificent view of [...]
Do what you Love, Love what you Do
I get inspired watching someone who is an expert at whatever they do, doing it and doing it well. And it is simply icing on the cake when it is clear that they also love their jobs. Jack Borden is a 101-year-old attorney. He clearly doesn’t need to continue practicing law at his age, but [...]
10 Tips from Happy People
This one requires little intro or explanation. 10 Tips from Happy People Are you happy? It’s a simple question, but with numerous variables underlying it. What makes someone happy? Is there more than one route to happiness and more than one way to measure it? If you’re an economist or a social scientist, you may [...]
An Unexpected Gift
This is probably one of the most amazing stories I’ve heard in quite some time…Words don’t do justice to it, so if you read the article and like it I’d suggest you also watch the video. What an incredible story of an unexpected gift. Although Phoenix cab driver Tom Chappell insists he always knows where [...]