Is it really failure when things don’t work? Often, we look at the lack of the results we intended as a failure, when perhaps it’s something more. I am a learner; I often refer to myself as a lifelong learner. I value reading, learning organically and in workshops, from digital sources and books, really any challenge to my thinking is…
Curve balls. They happen. It’s when the stuff you couldn’t imagine or wouldn’t know was coming shows up and interrupts the previously scheduled plans you’ve had. They happen in small ways every day. If you’re over-scheduled, there’s no room for them and they result in anxiety, stress, and broken promises. There’s a simple fix for this one: schedule less, say…
Say exactly what you mean. There’s a concept! It’s very non-Midwestern. You won’t always be popular or please people, but you will be clear. You’ll also find the world around you (people, opportunities, events and rewards) will amplify. Too often, when trying to please others or deliver the message you think others want to hear instead of saying exactly what…
Can you see yourself on the same level as those you consider “at the top” of your game? If you do, you’ll participate as if it’s the ninth inning and the game is close. The intensity and passion you will summon will be different than if you perceive yourself winning or losing by a lot. Many times, when you’re at…
If you’ve heard the saying “absence makes the heart grow fonder,” you might apply it to being away from your loved ones and teammates as your longing for them increases while you’re away. However, there are situations where this phrase does not always apply. When you’re absent, physically, mentally, or emotionally from teammates at work, it can work in your…
How do we appreciate people? With Valentine’s day being today, it’s a great question to ask. Regardless of our manufactured holidays, most of us offer love and appreciation in the same way we’d like to receive it, which often doesn’t work. Gary Chapman’s work, The Five Love Languages helps us do better and his work with Dr. Paul White helps…
Excellence is always an option. Sometimes, it’s evasive and when life is overfull, excellence seems harder to reach given the time constraints. I don’t do well doing things halfway. In fact, I have so many ideas about what’s possible and how great something can be, it becomes hard for me to settle. I’m learning how to manage that as excellent…
“Practice makes perfect.” Have you heard the phrase? Of course you have…and it’s wrong. Practice makes permanent. You need a coach, mentor, advisor, leader, or friend who will help you see what you’re repeatedly doing (often unconsciously) in order to correct the habits that are in the way of your success. It’s likely you’ve practiced them a lot. Don’t allow…
Confidence isn’t something you wait for – it’s something you build. And it’s built through action. Too many leaders hold themselves back, waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect level of preparation before they take the next step. But the truth is, no one feels fully ready for their biggest opportunities. The difference between those who move forward and…
When everything feels urgent, it’s easy to react instead of lead. But leadership isn’t about doing more—it’s about making better decisions. Clarity cuts through chaos, allowing you to focus on what truly matters instead of getting lost in the whirlwind of competing priorities. If you find yourself constantly putting out fires, it’s time to step back and reassess. Are you…