The Necessity of Door-Building

It’s college graduation season. There are going to be many commencement speakers giving advice and ideas to fresh-faced 20-somethings about to go to go out in the “real world.” I want to challenge you to imagine that you’re graduating too. What would you say to yourself if you were transitioning from one phase to another?…

The best way to persuade people is with your ears – by listening to them. – Dean Rusk There’s a difference between persuasion and coercion. If you persuade, you are either helping someone see a different point of view or to act when they would not have otherwise. To persuade you need trust. Trust is…

Be generous with kindly words, especially about those who are absent. – Goethe If you want to earn the trust and respect of those around you, be careful what you say about those who are absent. When you find ways to (truthfully and accurately) praise those who are not there, you build trust and gain…

When you “quit,” you decide something isn’t worth continuing. Sometimes it makes sense to quit; to stop something that either wasn’t worth starting (but you only know that now) or isn’t worth continuing. Even if you have invested time, energy and money in something, sometimes it’s better to cut your losses and stop. *  *  * Giving…

No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself. – Emerson When Emerson talks about “ultimate success” I believe he’s speaking of the combination of deciding what you truly want and giving the creation of that your absolute, level best. The only one who can keep you from that is yourself. There’s two, main,…

I don’t believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing. – Ronald Reagan This is more than a clever turn-of-phrase. It’s a truth that we need to face, and embrace. Life marches on, with…