Why is procrastination so damaging to your productivity? Stop the headwind of procrastination by planning out important tasks, staying on schedule and getting them done on time. Several days ago, I took my golden retriever on his customary walk. The wind was blowing pretty hard and I found myself leaning forward a little and planting my steps deliberately in order to keep moving…
Inspiration
Think About Breathing
There is immense value in taking a few minutes a day to just be alive and pay attention. It fosters clarity, perspective, and awareness. A great way to do this is to stop whatever you’re doing and focus on your breathing. Every day, take a few minutes to just focus on your breathing. Be totally aware and alive in this moment. Suddenly, the cares of the day will be swept away and you will wake up and notice your surroundings. Make this a daily habit for greater clarity, perspective, and confidence in your life.
Make Weak Areas Strong
We all have areas where we are weak. Take a lesson from Bill Porter and work on it until your formerly weak areas become your greatest strengths. Pick a weakness, work on it, study, practice, step outside your comfort zone, enlist the help of others, and rise to a new level.
Jump In!
I’ll never forget the day our swim instructor said it was time to do the high dive. I immediately got at the back of the line, where I watched all of my class mates climb the stairs and jump off the high dive. Fear is a thief that robs us of enjoyable experiences and future success. Take a lesson from my swimming instructor and “Just jump in!” Do the thing you fear.
Has Civil Society Come to an End?
While it’s true that civility is decreasing, while violence and degeneracy are increasing, we have by no means lost our society. Yet. Let us choose to promote positive virtues in your personal actions and to focus on the good in others. It will improve your attitude, your happiness, and ultimately improve our world.
Are You In the Garage?
Sometimes life hands us difficult challenges. There are times when we are figuratively in a cold, dark, lonely place–like my garage. As unpleasant as these times are, they are necessary for us to learn and grow and bloom into the person we are meant to become. The truth is, everyone has their times in the garage as well as their moments to bloom in the sunshine.
Rise Above the Clouds
We sometimes allow the problems and stresses of life to cloud around us, blocking our vision and depressing our spirits. When this happens, our outlook can seem hopeless. We need to realize that hope and sunshine are just above the haze. We can Rise Above the Clouds, overcoming despair with a new perspective.
Disadvantaged Childhood? Succeed Anyway!
If you think that you had a disadvantaged childhood, listen to the story of Mario Andretti. Mario was born in Northern Italy the same year that World War II broke out. When the war finally ended, borders had shifted and his family found themselves in communist-controlled Yugoslavia. They decided to leave their homeland as refugees[Read More]
What makes a Mom great?
To that great mom and all the moms reading this—Happy Mother’s Day!!
Choose to Be Happy Anyway
Has something happened to you that wasn’t your fault? Is there some unfairness in your situation in life? Take a lesson from Jason and just “let it go.” Choose to be happy anyway. Choose to be grateful for what your challenges have taught you. Choose the abundant life.
Turning Tragedy into Triumph
Be encouraged to take what others might see as a defeat and turn it into a positive.
Persistence Really Does Pay
The story of Alex Hailey and how he wrote the book “Roots”.
What is Your Excuse, Today?
My son and I are going on a backpacking trip with his scout troop. Yesterday, a backpacking expert came and spoke to our troop and their parents about how to prepare for this trip.
How to Build a Habitable Hobbit Hole for $4,200
A Wales man actually built a hobbit hole with nothing stronger than a chainsaw and lived in it… for $4,200. Further, it’s completely sustainable environmentally.
Plan to Succeed
The more time you have to do something, the longer it takes. Don’t just hope you’ll have time to get something done. Plan it, schedule it, then do it. That is a recipe for success.
Moving from Why and Who to How
When something unpleasant happens to us, we go through a series of questions as we attempt to mentally process the event. Often our first response is “Why did this happen to me?”
How Happy are You?
Recently, I had dinner with an old friend who I’ve known for 28 years. Pat Hill is a world-class artist, illustrator, painter, and commercial designer–with talent up to his eyeballs.
Just Be
With all of the things you are expected to be, it’s a good idea to set them aside once in a while to just be–just celebrate the fact that you exist and have infinite worth.
Fabulous De-Stressing Tips
Everyone knows that stress can kill but what they don’t know is that stress can be easily reduced or eliminated. Author and professional speaker Sandra Smith offers three action steps you can take today to reduce the stress in your life.
Go Forward
Last week, as I was walking my Golden Retriever, another dog passed by with its owner going in the opposite direction. Naturally they caught the attention of my dog, who never wants to miss an opportunity to socialize with anyone.
Choose Wisely
Once, I dreamed that I was in a large room with dozens of tables filled with every kind of food imaginable. It was a buffet like no buffet I have ever experienced.
Perk Up Your Mind
After 10 years, our message to Perk Up Your Mind is more relevant and critical than ever before. Boosting your attitude is not easy. It takes work. But, it can completely change your life. Here are 5 sure-fire steps to perk up your mind and your life.
Proceed with Passion
Do you remember dreaming as a child about what your future would be like? Did you have big plans in high school or college to accomplish something truly great in your life?
Holiday Giving
The holidays are a time of giving. People scramble around, rushing from store to store, spending hours online, scouring newspaper ads—just to find the perfect gift for a loved one.
Bumps in the Road
Recently, I ran into an old friend at a neighborhood event. This woman has been plagued with numerous chronic health problems throughout her life, yet she continues to serve others with a positive, upbeat attitude.
Freedom to Fail, Freedom to Succeed
But, today I want to talk about the freedom to fail. What? Who would ever want to celebrate the freedom to fail? You and I should–because without the freedom to fail, we do not have the freedom to achieve real success.
Blaze a Trail
Recently, I noticed a bumper sticker on a rickety old car. It said simply: “I go where I’m towed.
Don’t be an “Almost” Achiever
One of the saddest words in the English language is the word “almost.” I’m not speaking of someone who gives it their all but barely misses their goal. (That person is sure to double his or her efforts and demolish the goal the next time around.) I’m talking about the person who “almost” get’s started, or who “almost” sets a goal, or who “almost” gives it their best shot.
Live Your Dreams
Life doesn’t always go as you planned. I recently read the story of a man who deeply desired to be an artist but faced great opposition from his family and friends.
Thoughts are Things
Thoughts are the building blocks of our actions. Just like a well-prepared blueprint is critical to constructing a safe, efficient and beautiful building, so our thoughts become the plan for our actions in building a life.