Here are 11 books that made a difference to me
Everyone has a list of books that have inspired them. I’d like to share a few of my favorites. Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman Martin Seligman is on my shortlist of people I’d most like to chat with over a cup of coffee. You’ll love reading about how optimists believe defeat is a temporary setback […]
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Are you complaining about something that happened a year ago?
A friend I hadn’t seen in awhile recounted a story about something that happened to him at work. The Dilbert-like story showcased a toxic relationship with a colleague and highlighted a dysfunctional work environment. My friend, let’s call him “Bob”, told the story with such gusto that I wondered if I was witnessing someone hyperventilate. This […]
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The trap of “all or nothing”: If it can’t be perfect, why bother?
Black or white. Good or bad. You’re perfect or you’re a loser. Is All or Nothing thinking your particular brand of self-sabotage? Is your mantra, If it can’t be done to perfection or the nth degree, then why bother? If you’re a perfectionist, the absolute of All or Nothing thinking is the air you breathe. Here’s […]
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Do you live in the land of lack?
Dearth. Deficit. Deprivation. Deficiency. There’s never enough. Enough time. Enough money. Enough connections. Enough knowledge. I’ve encountered this scarcity mentality a lot lately. In fact, oxymoron that it is: Some people seem to thrive on lacking something. They seem to have a surplus of deficiency. What’s your filter? It’s one thing to be aware of a gap […]
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I’ll be happy when I get married, have kids, lose 20 pounds
Are you waiting, waiting, waiting for your life to begin? Waiting to be happy when some magical set of circumstances occur and the planets align? I’ll be happy when I buy a house, renovate the kitchen, get new furniture for the living room. I’ll be happy when I get my business off the ground, have […]
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Are you missing what’s right in front of you?
The other day I was working with a client and we discovered an error in her revenue projections that sent her reeling. She’d looked at the same spreadsheets dozens of times, but suddenly the glaring miscalculation was recognized. Have you had a similar experience? Where you suddenly see something with fresh eyes and can’t believe […]
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Is a little healthy comparison OK?
Everyone says, “Don’t compare yourself to others.” Some say it’s a waste of time and energy—something about keeping up with the Joneses. Or bad for your self-esteem and confidence. Some say avoid comparison because while the grass over there may look greener, it may just be a nice green facade. But, I think it’s OK […]
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It’s time reduce, reuse and recycle how you think
Reduce, reuse, recycle. We’ve all heard that expression, right? The context is typically about thrift, being green, and simplifying. I came across that phrase in my reading the other day and saw it in a new light. The phrase can be applied to our thoughts just as easily as our physical possessions or consumption. Let’s see how this […]
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Sometimes you need not to think
Sometimes you need not to think. Did you read that right? Yes. Every possible angle It’s striking how often we fall prey to overthinking. To overanalyzing. To looking at a situation from every possible angle and still not making a decision. Sometimes all that thinking leads somewhere. Other times it’s just delaying the inevitable—the need […]
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It really does matter what we call things
It matters what we call things. The definitions we use. The labels we attach. The meaning we bestow. How we frame something. It matters. Shaping your reality While I appreciate the whimsy of the license plate, it points to a slippery slope about how we shape our reality with limiting beliefs. For instance, if you consistently tell […]
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Do you find yourself saying “I’m just not creative”?
I cringed when I viewed this brilliant video by Youngme Moon, which is an irreverent, but spot-on anti-creativity checklist. I encourage you to take a look and see if you’re guilty of any of the sad, but hilarious traits and mindsets Professor Moon describes. Anti-creativity checklist: 14 things to remember to do Pigeonhole yourself My personal favorite […]
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You’ll have some good ideas and some bad ideas
Are you faced with a challenging situation and it seems like there are only a couple possible solutions? Well, think again. There are almost always more possible solutions than you can count on both hands, but we often stop after the most obvious ones. As a result, we deprive ourselves of the creative problem-solving that […]
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Are you unwilling to get out of debt?
It’s amazing how often I hear someone say, “I can’t do that” when they really mean “I’m unwilling to do that.” Sound familiar? The potential list of “can’ts” is endless… Do you tell yourself “I can’t do that” when it comes to something outside your comfort zone? I can’t raise my fees. I can’t leave my […]
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Create a better future with these 11 strategies
Each day you’re faced with hundreds of choices—many of them seemingly inconsequential—that in reality make up your future. So the question becomes: Are your choices moving you toward living your best life or are they keeping you unhappy, stuck, and living small? It’s choice—not chance—that determines your destiny. —Jean Nidetch How perfectly that captures the […]
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