I know someone who asks every job candidate he interviews: “Are you lucky?” He says that the answer is a window into the candidate’s psyche. The responses he’s heard span everything from definitive yeses to surprisingly honest no’s to some philosophies in between including that you create your own luck. Read more
When beginning to work toward a challenging goal, there is a common tendency to dwell on the degree of difficulty. Sometimes this scares us into believing that what we are setting out to achieve is not really possible. Sure, we can describe the goal easily enough, but two minutes later we’re talking about how hard it’s going to be to get there. We forget that difficult doesn’t mean impossible. It can just feel that way when we hyper-focus on the potential obstacles. Read more
A few years ago, my husband was discussing a business issue with a friend and was anxious to decide the best course of action. After Jess described what was perplexing him, Bill said, “Well, you have a decision to make. But remember, what you’ve got here is a high-quality problem.” Jess appreciated Bill’s reminder that his problem wasn’t in the category of something to worry over. It simply called for his creativity and either way, he couldn’t lose. Read more
Have you ever worked toward something and wondered if your efforts were paying off? Read more
This past winter I was comforting a friend after her mother’s funeral. Emotionally spent from the service and reception that followed, we sat at home that evening with her family. Her sixteen-year-old daughter had been so poised and mature, as she received condolences for the loss of her grandmother. It was a school night after a very long day and she was exhausted. She cried as she explained the dilemma to her mother. She wanted to stay home from school the next day to catch up on the work she had missed, but she had to go to class because her two cousins had decided that they were going. How would it look to the teachers if her cousins showed up and she was home? Read more
Nearly ten years ago, I was at that point in my corporate career of contemplating what was next. I applied for a different internal job which appealed to me somewhat, though not completely. I didn’t get it. I decided the next step would likely be outside the company though I let it be known to senior management that I was eager for something new to do. (That’s code for not quite flipping out yet but getting there). Along came a high exposure, though somewhat risky project that had no guarantees of obtaining funding or support. Perfect, I’ll take it! Read more
Nature teaches us that pruning is necessary for continued growth. In horticulture, pruning is “the removal or reduction of certain plant parts that are not required, that are no longer effective, or that are of no use to the plant. It is done to supply additional energy for the development of flowers, fruits, and limbs that remain on the plant.” (1) Read more
Recently, while at lunch with a friend, I mentioned a challenge I was having with a certain business initiative. He must have detected a hint of frustration and gave me a surprised look that said, “You’re not giving up, are you?” Of course not, I reassured him. “Oh good,” he said relieved, “…because you’re just getting started.” Read more
The last seven issues have been dedicated to elements of positive thinking. Let’s take another look to underscore how they all work together. Read more
(#7 of 7) from the series: Does Positive Thinking Really Work?
In the movie “Bowfinger,” seeking relief from a pervasive sense of doom, Eddie Murphy’s character falls under the influence of a cult-like group called Mind Head. He’s told to counter his paranoid anxiety with the mantra: “Keep-it-together. Keep-it-together. Keep-it-together,” which he nervously repeats (usually right before losing it). Read more