When I was growing up, at least once a year my parents and I would get together with my uncles, aunts and cousins on my mother’s side for a gathering with another family named the Hunters. The adults from all the families were long-time friends, their friendship dating back to college and pre-marriage days. In total there were seven children, no more than about four or five years apart in age. While getting together with the Hunters was a highly anticipated event and looked forward to by all, there was one part of the gathering that I dreaded. I knew, however, that this activity would occur, because it was as much a part of the festivities as my mom’s baked… [Read More]
How Smart Are You Really?
You may have been Valedictorian of your high school class. Or graduated magna cum laude from college. You may have aced the SAT, ACT, GMAT, LSAT, and every other exam that measures one’s intellectual acumen. If so, congratulations. Good for you. But your good grades may not be as important a factor in your success as you think. According to Harvard Business Review, the real key to your professional success, and I will add your personal happiness as well, is your Emotional Intelligence. First identified in 1995 by psychologist and scientific journalist Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence (or EQ) is defined as “the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically”…. [Read More]
Get Serious!
Do you ever feel that you’re wasting your time…and your life? Do you ever feel that time is passing quickly and that you’re not living the life you want? Do you ever feel that you’re not at your personal best? That there’s more you want to do or be? Well, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get serious! It’s time to focus, to make a plan, to get on track, and GO! Maybe you want to get off the path you’re on and head in a different direction. Maybe you feel stuck and need a fresh perspective of the path you’re on. Or maybe you need a jump start to add some energy, enthusiasm, and enjoyment to your… [Read More]
Isn’t It About Time…?
Isn’t it about time to make a move? To get unstuck? To stop making excuses? To recognize and live up to your potential? To get what you want? To be your personal best? Author Karen Lamb made a statement that got my attention. In fact, I put it on a sticky note and attached it to my computer monitor where I see it every day. Karen Lamb said, “A year from now, you may wish you had started today.” Thought-provoking, isn’t it? How many plans have you made but never executed? How many goals have you set but never followed through to achievement? How many good intentions of eating healthier, exercising, saving money, improving relationships, volunteering, starting a business, writing… [Read More]
I’ve Got Your Back
When it comes to battles and warfare, you can’t beat the Romans for their innovative strategies. One of their most effective defenses against enemy attack was a tactic called the tortoise. To protect themselves from enemy spears and arrows, Roman legionaries would form a square with their backs in and shields out. They would then lock their shields to form four walls and a roof. It was called a tortoise because it looked like the impenetrable shell of a tortoise. Doing so provided protection for soldiers. Most importantly, their backs were protected. We frequently hear the term “I’ve got your back”. What a reassuring phrase that is to hear. It refers to the idea that when one is in a… [Read More]
