About six months ago, I started answering my cell phone by saying, “Good news only!” I’m not sure why I started doing that (I admit I’ve always been a fan of the Chaka Khan song Tell Me Something Good), but I thought I’d start the conversation requesting something good. I get all kinds of reactions […]
good news, mindset, news, optimism, positivity
Roller coaster enthusiasts have a term for the brief period of time right after a roller coaster has gone up the first hill, but before it is about to start that first descent, where they’re waiting in anticipation and excitement for that thrill ride to begin. They call it “the moment.” And it made me […]
Awareness, moments, selfaware
Back in high school I was excited to be accepted into an Honors English class, but not so excited when the first test was returned to us and I got a D. Apparently, there were a number of people in that same situation, and the teacher said, “If you didn’t get a good grade, you […]
mindset, positivity, recovery, upset
I was flying back from Charlotte after delivering a seminar for a client, seated in the last row of the plane in an aisle seat. When we landed, I stood up getting ready to get off the plane, and there was a young woman in the seat across the aisle in the same row asking […]
experience, happiness, positivity
In a survey by the American Psychological Association, more than half of US adults (56%) reported significant stress related to the 2020 presidential election. It is not surprising that this percentage was an increase over the 2016 election (52% reported election-related stress). And it is not surprising that so many people feel anxiety about the […]
election, Stress, stress management
One of my favorite concepts in psychology is called “Parkinson’s Law.” It suggests that work will expand to fill the time that was allotted for it. You might think of it as a measure of inefficiency. For example, if we leave three hours to do something, that tends to be the amount of time […]
efficient, leadership, time, time management
For years I’ve had a personal “Board of Directors.” This isn’t a formal group that has scheduled meetings. And (so far) none of them has asked to be paid. But they are close friends and trusted colleagues with whom I share important questions or problems. Each one of them has a professional specialty, and I […]
Communication, Personal Board of Directors, professional circle, social circle
Viktor Frankl’s powerful book Man’s Search for Meaning is a gem. (He nearly published anonymously, until someone convinced him otherwise.) It has profoundly impacted my outlook on life. Frankl was a psychiatrist and Nazi concentration camp survivor who lost everything that he had including family and his wife. Based on his experiences in the camps, […]
influential, power, thinking
Mark Twain said,” There are two kinds of people in the world: one kind separates people into two kinds of people and the other kind doesn’t.” I’m definitely the kind that separates people into two kinds of people. I think there’s people who listen to respond or reply, and the other kind who listen to […]
effective listening, focused, Listening
I’ve been inspired and encouraged over my life by quotations from people both famous and also regular people that I know. And one of those people was my maternal grandmother. She died when I was a child, but a relative told me that when people needed encouragement after getting through a difficult time, she would […]
inspiration, Motivation, quotes