Working for an extended amount of time without taking a break epitomizes the classic American work ethic. Pulling 70+ hours at the office, skipping meals, taking calls whenever they come in, answering emails into the wee hours of the morning, working through every weekend—basically slave-driving oneself—is often regarded as virtuous—like some bizarre, ultimate proof of […]
Visioning, goal setting, action planning, and even revising systems of execution are staple fare this time of year, and I’ve written many articles touting the benefits of implementing all these practices. One aspect I’ve never explored, however, is the benefit of identifying an overarching theme, that once named, becomes the though-line of all your endeavors […]
Here we are…at the beginning of the year when all things seem possible. Goals and dreams are dancing in our heads and we convince ourselves that this year is going to be different. We think that we will learn from our past mistakes and follow-through, be more consistent and achieve whatever we set our hearts […]
This past weekend, my wife and I had the amazing opportunity to attend the annual Entrepreneurship Summit at Washington and Lee University. For two days, we rubbed elbows with scores of trendsetters, thought leaders, business disruptors, billionaires, philanthropists, and social reformers from every corner of the business world. Amanda and I immersed ourselves in learning […]
Many folks are on the fence about hiring a coach. Reasons for the hesitation are wide ranging. Is it worth the money? Does anyone really need a coach? What are the guaranteed benefits of hiring a coach? And the big question any hard-nosed, self-reliant, enterprising individual asks about coaching is this: “What can a coach […]
Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Perhaps you can relate: You plan to exercise before work, but it’s cold outside and you hit the snooze button instead. You hope to lose a few of your winter pounds, but in the grocery store, you grab that bag of chips (or cookies). You get into the […]
Over the years, I’ve seen people accomplish some amazing things: launch programs, start businesses, and even find ways to land 7-figure incomes. I’ve also observed some of the smartest people I’ve ever known hit a plateau in their business, and drive themselves crazy about it, running around in circles, burning their brain cells, frantically developing […]
Inevitably, even the best laid plans go awry. Where you place your focus in the critical moments following a debacle will determine your ability to either move forward or get trapped in frustration. Here’s a story of something that went gut-wrenchingly wrong in my world a few weeks ago. Will and I came up with […]
It was around noon on a Monday and I was getting ready to have lunch with my wife and daughter at a little diner in Richmond. Typically I don’t get the opportunity to have lunch with my family on a Monday so I was grateful for the occasion. We piled into a booth in the […]
I was looking over an old workbook that I created for a client today. The specific section I was reviewing was on how to improve communication across generational lines. As I read the material, I was struck by how my own advice flies in direct contrast to what I’ve observed lately on social media as […]
