Driving your car through a dense morning fog, your visibility is about the same as trying to read a textbook through wax paper. Even with your fancy LED fog lights, the intersection that’s less than a block away is nothing more than an opaque blur. In this scenario, just like in life, you have a […]
Read MoreIn stressful times, it’s easy to get derailed by matters that might be viewed as trivial under ordinary circumstances. A colleague shows up late to a Zoom call, the client changes her mind mid-stream, the boss unleashes an unnecessary rant. These infractions can dampen our work productivity on a normal day, but their impact can […]
Read MoreScott Cunha, the celebrity stylist for Kendall Jenner and Nicole Richie, doesn’t cut his own hair. Neither does Kiyah Wright, the two-time Emmy award-winning stylist whose clients include Tyra Banks and Jennifer Hudson. Mara Roszak cuts for Emma Stone, Olivia Wilde, and Brie Larson, but not for herself. The physical mechanics of a haircut make […]
Read More“If you view the glass as half-full, you’re an optimist,” the old saying goes. “But if you see it half-empty, you’re a flat-out pessimist.” We take this metaphor to be a truism, pushing ourselves to see our cups as full as possible. But what if we’d be better off with a completely empty cup? It […]
Read MoreSpending a good chunk of my days researching human creativity, I landed on a strange phenomenon. What-if questions, one of the hallmark techniques of innovation, can also serve to extinguish imagination depending on where they are used. Oddly, the same framework can both ignite creativity or quell it, subject to where it is placed in the invention […]
Read MoreThe demure art world felt shockwaves over the last week as the dramatic news broke. The mysterious street artist known as Banksy made history when his painted work self-destructed minutes after being purchased for $1.4 million at a Sotheby’s auction. Immediately following the thud of the closing gavel, the audience stood in bewilderment as the […]
Read MoreA recent employer asked job seekers the following riddle: “You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night. You pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus: 1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die. 2. An old friend who once […]
Read MoreLousy weather left the plane full of passengers stranded on a cold runway. Air Canada had to reroute the flight for safety, leaving passengers frustrated, late, and uncomfortable. As the plane languished on an open runway, passengers became restless… and hungry. The peanuts were gone and airline catering was closed. When demands for food intensified, […]
Read MoreIt stings. Another soul-crushing reprimand from a boss, parent, or spouse. That nauseous feeling when you feel unappreciated, misunderstood, and blamed. We’ve all been there, and in that knee-wobbling state we are far from playing at our best. On the other hand, remember how you felt after receiving a big boost of positive reinforcement. A […]
Read MoreWe all face incredible challenges in our lives. Difficult people. Ruthless competition. Time constraints. But so many of us succumb to an imaginary and impotent demon that strangles our potential and restricts our progress. This fictitious monster is called simply … the past. While the past can be a great teacher, it can also shackle our […]
Read MoreMy friend Les Gold, star of the hit TV series Hardcore Pawn, gave a dynamic speech this week that left the audience mesmerized. His opening line really struck me: “How bad do you want it?” As products of a consumer-driven society, we want just about everything. We want fancy cars, palatial homes, and exotic travel. We also […]
Read MoreTo me, it’s not about comparing yourself to other people or being boastful. It’s about comparing “down” to a previous version of you.
Read MoreNow I’m no prude and I’m all for artistic expression. But peddling obnoxious trash to audiences in order to sell more records can’t be making the world a better place. Sure, these “artists” are scoring a bunch of cash. But at what cost?
Read MoreThroughout my career, my favorite saying has always been: “Someday, a company is going to come along and put us out of business. It might as well be us.”
Read MoreAs the dark side becomes yummier, it’s time for you to strengthen your resolve.
Read MoreGo ahead. It’s your turn to spin the wheel.
Read MoreLet the countdown begin.
Read MoreIf you are pursuing anything worth doing, they heat is likely to get really hot. Before you forfeit your dreams, perform a careful examination to see if you are really in a “can’t” dead-end or just a “won’t” situation.
Read MoreTry approaching your next challenge as a detective from 16th century London. Or a heroin-drenched jazz musician from the early 50’s. Or your seven-year-old nephew. Or the warden of a maximum-security prison. Or Kim Kardashian. Or Darth Vader. Or the Octomom.
Read MoreYou can’t be great at everything, but you’re probably world-class at something.
Read MoreWe can point fingers, complain the world isn’t fair, and swim in a pot of victim soup. Or we can push ourselves and our organizations to achieve the coveted 1% position.
Read MoreIf you or your company has the personality of a pet rock, it’s time to shake things up. If you don’t, your competitors surely will.
Read MoreSend the critic out for a long walk, ask the right questions, and get busy with manifesting your true potential. Everyone else’s is already taken.
Read MoreMany of us chase success, only to find it to be an elusive tease.
Read MoreMany people find themselves in “okay” jobs, “okay” relationships, and living “okay” lives. It takes boldness and courage to let go of the known to pursue the wonder and magic of what’s possible.
Read MoreHow do you know if you’ve accomplished something today?
Read MoreWhen will we teach each other that if you follow the rules, think there’s only one “right” answer, and avoid mistakes at all costs, we’re simply resigning ourselves to mediocrity?
Read MorePersonally, I have a ton of work do to on my new scorecard. Do you?
Read MoreSteve famously said he wanted to “put a ding in the universe.” You have done that, my friend, and so much more.
Read MoreWith so much effort spent catching people doing something wrong, it’s time to start catching each other doing something right.
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