Too often, having a firm position on something seems to stop people from seeking further input from others or truly listening to opposing views when they are offered. The “stance” taken by many who are resolute about their ideas seems to be like an intellectual immune system with antibodies primed to seek out and destroy […]
I believe the human mind has built in psychological and neurological safety valves that prevent its subjugation. God, Nature or the Universe (as you like it) evolved the hardware and software of our central nervous system to set off louder and louder alarms when our inspirations, ideas and intentions are thwarted by others who try […]
Coronavirus, protests against prejudice, political infighting and widespread economic uncertainty are all contributing to surging levels of stress across America and around the world. Headlines invade our peace of mind. Powerful and negative narratives threaten to carry us away with them. Faced with such forces, there is one simple tool that many people can use […]
As someone who has written screenplays, I was always intrigued by the “plot points” they include. According to Syd Field, one of the most celebrated teachers of screenplay writing, every film includes two plot points—scenes or moments in the story that spin the action in an entirely new direction. Something happens that seems to change […]
I keep a quote from Winston Churchill on my desk. It’s carved into a block of metal and topped with a little metal knight. It says, If you’re going through hell, keep going. It’s a statement worth remembering and worth sharing—for more than one reason. First, the obvious: Giving up is never the right option. […]
Some of my clients are quick to judge themselves—sometimes harshly—when they look at others and see accomplishments or characteristics that they feel they should have been able to achieve or embody. “We come from similar circumstances and had similar opportunities,” one Vice President of a financial firm told me. “I must not be putting in […]
If you haven’t noticed it already, it may be worth wondering whether your least favorite person keeps appearing in your life. Now, I don’t mean the very same person. I mean reasonable facsimiles of your least favorite person. Your second marriage is to the same man, albeit with a different name, as your first marriage. […]
I have worked with many clients who aren’t at all sure what their calling is. Often, we find the answer by looking at parts of their early life stories that they have “buried.” Maybe a sincere interest that deserves to be resurrected was initially ridiculed or simply not supported by others. Maybe a deep desire […]
You probably wouldn’t expect to read a piece about a squirrel written by me. I’ve written most recently about building a vision for one’s business or life, developing a strategy for giving powerful feedback to others and the art of delegating work. I’ve posted heartfelt thoughts on social media about the turmoil in our nation. […]
How does it happen that by the time we are adults, we live lives partly based on denial, fiction and repression, depriving ourselves of the enormous personal power that comes from living authentic lives? Part of the answer is often that as vulnerable children and adolescents, we began quietly recording our life stories, but not […]
