A while back as I returned from a consulting engagement, I was late connecting with a flight because we took off late in Charlotte. For me, it seems to happen more often in Charlotte, but that is a story for another time. As I ran through the airport dodging slow-moving and fast-moving walkers, wheeling my roller bag and packing my backpack, I attempted to look at my phone to see if the flight was boarding. And I ran right into a gentleman. As I apologized and explained why I

Do you like crossword puzzles? On a blustery winter day in 1913 Arthur Wynne sat in his office at the New York World and wrestled with a problem. The Christmas edition of “fun,” the jokes and supplement section he managed, was being taken out of the newspaper and Wynne felt readers needed a new challenge. Inspired by some word form puzzles he was familiar with (because he immigrated into the US from Liverpool at age 19) and his familiarity with the Sator Square, he designed a

I saw a T-shirt this week that said, "I am a very patient person… As long as I get my way immediately.” In our culture today, people are used to getting things right away. Some people say that we live in a microwave society. In other words, we have been programmed for immediacy. People don’t like to wait. I hear it all the time in the consulting world. I get questions like, “How quickly can we make this happen?” Or statements like, “I need this to happen as soon as next quart

There are some people in today’s world who run so fast in building their lives, their families and their businesses that they don’t take the time to contemplate the reason why they are running so hard. I see it every day as I consult and coach leaders. There are others who are running away—whether through pleasure, medication, or numbness—so that they never take the time to confront that nagging feeling that there might be more. Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes pointed the

Often I will wander through a bookstore and browse through books. Last week, I came across a book that said: We spend 80% of our time eating and 20% exercising when it comes to our health. We spend 80% of our time on purposeful things and 20% on fun when it comes to our happiness. We spend 80% of our time doing and 20% dreaming when it comes to achievement. We spend 80 % being persistent and 20% on ideas when it comes to improving. We spend 80 % understanding and 20% on ideas

Most people want to be successful at something. I looked at the bookstore yesterday and found books on success formulas for work, marriage, raising children, sports, physical training and gaining wealth. And there are podcasts, conferences, blogs, social media and videos. Many of the training books and other sources focus in some way on things like money, work and investments of time or money. Most of the truly successful people who I have known have not limited themselves to

As I coach and consult with people all over this country, I hear a common thread. This world is loud and noisy. It is difficult to find any stillness. As busy as our lives are, it is difficult to even find time to go somewhere quiet with no distractions. And then, you ask, where would I have no distractions? Well, you might just take time for a hike in the woods. But I did that today and guess what I saw? People walking and hiking with their ear buds in or staring at their ph

After a recent presentation, I was asked by a member of the audience how AI would reshape the hiring practices of companies. As automation of tasks and management of huge amounts of data increases in prevalence, who will thrive? The workers that AI will never be able to replace are those who can create and use data to generate new ideas or ways of doing things. Not those who are just doing established tasks. The boundary between what a human can do and the machine contributio

There has been a recent rash of airplane and helicopter accidents in the news. In fact, there is a term that is used for such fear: aerophobia. Aerophobia is an extreme fear of flying in an airplane. People with aerophobia may be scared about different aspects of flying, such as takeoff, landing or getting locked in the plane. It is very common, affecting more than 25 million adults in the United States. Most people with aerophobia aren’t afraid of the plane crashing. Instead

A few weeks ago, I consulted with a client in a major city and stayed downtown, close to their office in a very nice hotel. When I entered the hotel, the desk clerk was on his phone, and I almost felt like I was interrupting him to get checked in and get to my room. As I went from the desk to the elevator, I noticed that everyone that I walked past had their noses in their phones. As I got on the elevator, everyone else in the elevator stared at their phone as we rode up to t

I heard something yesterday at a national meeting of professionals. To say that the statement bothered me is an understatement. I have heard it so many times as I am consulting with leaders, and it absolutely amazes me every time I hear it. I heard it again this week on two different coaching calls also. The statement is this: “Gen Y and Gen Z are lazy.” I have one word for that: Baloney. Gen Y and Gen Z are laser-focused on purpose, and they are unapologetic about work life

There has been a common thread with my clients this week. I heard from a client that has been tremendously successful in his numerous business ventures, but he feels that he has failed his family over the years because he was overly focused on business. He said, "I made it the primary focus of my life and basically ignored everything else." Another client told me tonight that he wished he could "do it all over again and do it differently." It reminded me of something we do as

Thanks to smartphones and the internet we are confronted on a daily basis with more information than any previous generation had to deal with. And it is not just information. It is opinion, hatred, divisiveness and suffering of the entire planet in minute detail and it is all served up on our daily feed. Add to this the pace that most of us require to live our daily lives. Honestly, I think most people are living their daily life along a spectrum from slightly rattled to comp

An umbrella is something under which we take refuge and find protection. It could be protection from the rain. It could be protection...

As I consult and coach executives, I see an issue that I wish was not so common. But it is! The issue is not being able to forget, move...

I spent some time this week sitting with my grandchildren and consulting with a client virtually. I listened to the news after putting...

As I mentor and coach executives, I see many of them running here and there, trying to find themselves. I have a friend who has gone from...

What if I asked you to come up with a million dollars by the end of the week for a business deal? Chances are you would tell me that I am...

Many of my young coaching clients are worried about Artificial Intelligence and are wondering what they can do to advance their careers....

Have you ever wondered why there is that dash between the numbers in your social security number, your phone number, your account number,...