Would you like to know the secret to good communication, positive relationships, and a peaceful, harmonious existence? It’s pretty simple. Just keep your cool, Baby. If you’re like most folks these days, you’re stressed to the max. There are many contributors to the out-of-control feeling that many people feel on a daily basis. Escalating gas and food prices. The threat of war. Physical and mental exhaustion. Traffic. Polarized politics. Each one of these circumstances contributes to stress that can erupt in anger and frustration. Recently the feeling of scarcity has been pervasive. Scarcity means not having enough – not enough employees, enough supplies, enough time, enough money. And when you get caught up in scarcity, tempers can flare and lead… [Read More]

Balance. We desperately want it. Our bodies are made to seek it. When riding a bike, walking on a log, navigating over slippery rocks in a stream, water or snow skiing, hiking a rocky path, or doing yoga, the goal is balance because losing it can cause a crash…and most of us aren’t too fond of crashes. During these activities, we concentrate on our actions and do everything possible to keep our equilibrium. Staying balanced can be hard work. We also seek balance in our lives, a balance of work and relaxation, and that can be hard work, too. Interestingly, the term “work/life balance” first appeared in the late ‘80s, about the time that people started being tethered to electronic… [Read More]

We’re all aware that identity theft is a growing concern. In 2018, the Federal Trade Commission processed 1.4 million fraud reports totaling $1.48 billion in losses. And according to a 2019 Internet Security Threat Report by Symantec, cybercriminals are diversifying their targets and using stealthier methods to commit identity theft and fraud. Scary, isn’t it? But perhaps a more dangerous concern is people stealing their own identity. That sounds strange, doesn’t it? It sure does. But it happens all the time. Let me explain. At a recent speaking engagement, I asked the attendees to create a name tent and place it in front of them. I’ve learned that having a visible first name helps individuals at a table connect with each other… [Read More]

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]