5 ways to be a great manager

July 21 2015

Managing people is hard. I think this is why there are so many bad bosses. Now that I’m leading a team of my own, I’ve realized how much skill goes into becoming a great manager. While leadership traits may come naturally to some, managers can make the effort to create cohesive, hardworking teams and establish workplaces filled with satisfied employees. Leaders […]

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Excuses (If…then)

July 14 2015

When I have enough money, then I’ll volunteer my time. When the kids are out of the house, then I’ll travel. When I become famous, then I’ll write a book. When I’m less busy, then I’ll start going to the gym. Focus too much on when, and then may never happen. Focus on then, and when becomes less important. Our dreams […]

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Odds

July 08 2015

fail try fail try try try SUCCESS fail fail fail try almost try try try made it try fail try SUCCESS try fail try SUCCESS try fail fail try almost made it try fail try SUCCESS try try try try SUCCESS fail SUCCESS fail try SUCCESS fail fail fail try try fail try fail try […]

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15 links to supercharge your bookmark bar

June 30 2015

Mix it up. Read good writing. Read bad writing. Learn something new. Remember something old. Get inspired. A few of my bookmarked favorites (in no particular order): Alltop Fast Company :zenhabits Brain Pickings Derek Sivers Farnam Street Zig Ziglar Steven Pressfield David Lee McSweeney’s Internet Tendency Reid Hoffman Lifehacker ReadWrite Lean In Medium

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Trying less, not more

June 26 2015

“Try is best” somehow evolved into “try harder.” If we don’t get the results we’ve set out for, it is a direct reflection of the work we’ve put forth. No success? You must’ve done something wrong. You didn’t reach the bar, you don’t measure up, you didn’t work HARD enough. The irony is life seems […]

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It is better to earn a high salary or be happy?

June 18 2015

This is one of the questions I ask students as part of a broader English speaking exercise. “Do you think it is better to earn a high salary or be happy in your job?” A pause always follows and eyes dart around the room before landing on empty notebooks. I give students a few moments to […]

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Ten times better

June 09 2015

A “little better” doesn’t cut it. You have to be much better. Much, much better. Ten times better. This is how you separate yourself from the competition. This is how you improve. This is how you win. Everything is crowded. The marketplace, the speaker lineup, the dating scene, the applicant pool. In an age where […]

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7 steps to creative inspiration (or, don’t live a boring life)

May 28 2015

1. Step outside of the familiar. 2. Feel uncomfortable (this is important). 3. Force self into new situation if need be. 4. Release any and all judgements, pretences. 5. Observe: watch movements and responses and reactions; notice your thoughts and behavior patterns; see outcomes as if you’re watching clouds pass in the sky. 6. Return […]

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Being human

May 19 2015

Recently I was rejected. I spent a lot of time crafting the perfect letter, re-writing and re-reading and editing the hell out of my argument to compose a convincing, logical, matter-of-fact and to the point submission. I sent in my proposal confidently. The rejection was prompt, and, of course, it stung. I received a phone […]

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10 essentials for the modern world

May 13 2015

1. You have to make time for your goals otherwise they won’t happen. 2. You have to recognize where you’ve come from in order to have the endurance to keep going. 3. You have to have the right team around you to get it all done. 4. You have to strive to do work that […]

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