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Like me, many Americans are awakened at night by anxiety: We’re worried about the future, whether we’ll have jobs tomorrow, whether our families are safe, how the debt and deficit will affect our country’s global competitiveness, and about the world that we’re leaving to our children. While health care, the deficit, nuclear proliferation, and unemployment are among the top issues of the day, trust between our leaders and the American people is surely the foremost issue of our times. How much time do politicians spend measuring their words, covering their behinds or plotting against the opposing party rather than doing the people’s work? It’s no wonder that their actions encourage cynicism, apathy, and anger among Americans. If we can’t trust    Read more…

Are you paid what you’re worth? Let’s see . . . you’ll probably compare the salary and benefits that you receive with the value that you provide to your organization. Right? Did you ever consider how much you learn every day? Huh? While money gets depleted over time, your experience remains with you for life. You’ll be able to leverage that know-how into a better position within your existing organization or offer it to your next employer. That being said, investing in yourself may be the best investment you’ll ever make. Period. And that begins with learning. The Investment of a Lifetime While the world has changed considerably over the last decade, many people equate learning with the formal education    Read more…

A note to liars, cheats, and other jerks So you cheated on your wife, got caught with your hand in the cookie jar, or got trapped in a lie. Don’t look surprised. You knew there was a chance that we’d find out. What were you thinking? Don’t tell us it was a lapse of judgment. Don’t tell us you didn’t mean it. And please don’t tell us that other people do the same thing. We’re not stupid. Your behavior wasn’t an oversight. It wasn’t an error. The fact is, you did it consciously. Please don’t insult us by trying to smooth our ruffled feathers or by doing some half-hearted damage control. It won’t work. You should have thought twice before    Read more…

Take 10 minutes and say thanks to a special person in your life. The teacher who inspired you to greatness . . . mentor who showed you the way . . . friend who remained by your side . . . spouse who makes everything worthwhile . . .   Dear Caron, There are many times that I wanted to write you this note, but I couldn’t find the right occasion or the proper words to tell you how much you mean to me. What do you say to someone who makes life worth living? You’re my best friend, confidante, and of course, my wife. I’m so grateful that you entered my life and that we made our shared commitment    Read more…

“Starting a business is no picnic. It consumes your entire life for the first few years.” “As a medical resident, I’ve been working 15 hours a day, 6 days a week, for a year. I’m exhausted.” “When you ‘hit the wall’ during a race, it’s really tough. Your head says go, but your body says no.” When you hear the words of a flourishing entrepreneur, an aspiring physician, a world-class athlete, or a celebrated musician, you’ll find that they’re likely to mention the hard work and personal sacrifices they endured in their relentless pursuit of success. They may talk about waking up each day at the crack of dawn and pushing themselves to their personal limit. You’ll forgive them if    Read more…

Today is the two-year anniversary of my blog. Thank you for your support and encouragement. In the past two years over 80,000 people from 161 countries have visited our site. From Bermuda to Ireland, from Hong Kong to Fiji, from Swaziland to New Zealand –– there was something for everyone.   Most Popular Posts The Power of a Positive Attitude Ways to Say You Care Are Role Models Becoming Extinct?   Most Popular Business Posts Counterfeit Leadership It’s Time for a New Style of Leadership Seeing the World Through Rose-Colored Glasses   Personal Favorites Living Life With a Purpose Dream No Small Dreams The Many Faces of Greed   I’d also like to take this time to thank five people    Read more…

If you’re a parent, it’s time to act like a parent. If you’re a leader, then lead. If you want to be treated as an adult, then act your age. If you’re a politician, remember you weren’t elected to merely show up; you have a job to do. And if you’re not happy with your standing in life, don’t fault others. Success and happiness begin and end with personal responsibility. Take Charge of Your Life Personal responsibility puts you in the driver’s seat to make the most out of your life. You have the freedom to choose the direction that you want to take, determine the choices that you’ll make, and decide how hard you’re willing to work to achieve    Read more…

We’re all confronted by countless choices each day. Some have minimal consequences, such as whether to have our ice cream in a cup or cone, while other decisions can be life changing. And while some of these choices may impact our lives today, other choices may not affect us for years to come. We are a product of the choices we make. Each decision helps to define who we are and how we’re different from one another. Unfortunately, some folks prefer to make their decisions in a haphazard fashion. They “shoot from the hip” or flip a coin rather than reviewing their options in a deliberate manner. Others make decisions in a vacuum without taking time to collect the facts    Read more…

“Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe The American Dream may mean something different to each of us. At its best, it affords each American the freedom and opportunity to pursue happiness according to one’s own priorities. At its worst, the American Dream can be squandered on hollow goals that offer little substance or satisfaction. For these reasons, when choosing your version of the American Dream, be realistic about your choices and bold in your actions. Some people define the American Dream as living “a better and richer life” where everyone should strive to live glamorously like characters in The Great Gatsby, where materialism and excess flourish.    Read more…

Remember your first date with that special someone? You spent hours combing through your wardrobe, fixing your hair, and making sure that the food and ambiance were perfect. You staged the “event” like a producer would a Broadway show. Ah yes, you may even have talked to the “big guy upstairs” to make sure that the weather would be glorious. The day finally approached . . . It was a HUGE success. (BIG sigh.) What was next? Anticipation (LOTS of it) . . . Your mind replayed every moment of the date more times than reruns of The Brady Bunch. “Did he have as good a time as I had?” “Should I call her now or would it be too    Read more…