Managing the Tension Between the Urgent & Important
Although I’ve been aware of Stephen R. Covey’s book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” for many years, I am actually reading it for the first time right now. On the surface, his 7 habits make a lot of sense, but he drills down very deep in the book in a way that causes […]
What Motivates You?
As I was thinking about this week’s topic, I started to wonder about the various things that motivate others. Writing a “motivation” article each week can lead to certain assumptions on my part if I’m not careful. Most people would love to be more motivated and inspired in their lives and careers, but my guess […]
Two Key Success Factors: Clarity & Simplification
Pursuing any goal can be both exhilarating and frustrating…sometimes simultaneously. I’ve discovered that it’s easy to complicate things by trying to have all the answers upfront when we really don’t know what will happen down the line. Clarity is important because it’s vital to know and define what you want to achieve. Simplication matters because […]
Don’t Be Your Own Worst Enemy
As I’ve been reading “Slow Productivity” by Cal Newport, something jumped out to me… Most of our time-management problems are of our own making. We can blame bosses, clients, the economy, our families, and a plethora of other entities, but the reality is that we have more control over our schedules than we think. Unless […]
Fresh Ideas Come from Unexpected Sources
I recently ordered a book because the title captured my attention, but when it arrived, it wasn’t what I expected. Rather than being disappointed, I found myself intrigued. While the topic wasn’t what I anticipated, the ideas shared in the book made me think about business in new ways. I’ve heard from many experts to […]
The Ripple Effect of Decision-Making
I’m a big college basketball fan, especially when it comes to my home state Kentucky Wildcats. Go Big Blue! 🙂 One year ago, I was disillusioned after they were beaten again by a much lower-ranked team in the NCAA tournament and I refused to place my new logo decal on my truck until we had […]
Are You Productive or Just Busy?
I’ve just begun reading a new book called “Slow Productivity” by Cal Newport. I’ve enjoyed his previous books “Deep Work” and “Digital Minimalism” which have caused me to think a lot about doing what matters most and fighting against our very distracted digital age. His latest book challenges our society’s obsession with “productivity” and defines […]
Transformation May Just Be One Question Away
Last week I was trying to figure out how to update my website and I sent an email to a friend who I thought might know the answer I needed. In just a few minutes, he responded and within an hour or so, my website received an upgrade that I had been wanting to do […]
What’s Your Legacy?
Last week I received news that my beloved babysitter from my childhood passed away at 93 years old. “Miss Pat” was a faithful subscriber to my weekly emails and would occasionally reply to me and tell me how things were going in her world. It was always great to hear from her as she played […]
When There’s a Leadership Void, Step Up to the Plate
It’s not uncommon in organizations to have leadership gaps in different seasons or on different teams. Sometimes it’s ignorant neglect. Other times, complacency sets in and people simply go through the motions. If you find yourself frustrated that there’s a lack of leadership, take the initiative to step into the role that’s needed. As John […]