I remember being told by a former girlfriend a long time ago that I needed to “show up” for her. Usually, this occurred when she was not pleased with me for some reason, and, a couple of times, due to her frustration, her plea was accompanied by a piercing expletive that decorum prevents me from…
For most of my life, the primary driving forces behind my decisions were stress, anxiety, or fear. Needless to say, that is not a recipe for a peaceful journey or existence. We are at our best and healthiest when we are in a state of calm. We see situations and relationships with clarity. We lead,…
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. – Aristotle When we hear someone is excellent at what they do, we often overlook the time and energy they have invested in mastering their craft. For instance, usually when watching professional golfers on TV hit amazing golf shots, we…
To become a master at any skill, it takes the total effort of your heart, mind and soul working together in tandem. ― Maurice Young I don’t play chess, but if I did, I wouldn’t want to face a chess player who was a Master, let alone a Grand Master. Just the title “Master” tells…
The quality of a man’s life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence regardless of his chosen field of endeavor – Vince Lombardi I love this quote because it applies to everything we do, whether in business or life. It’s a mindset that is not hopeful, wishful or wanting but rather it’s a…
Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right. – Henry Ford This quote pretty much sums up everything you need to know about confidence. While knowledge and preparation are necessary ingredients to having confidence, belief is the flame needed to cook those ingredients into something desirable. Without belief, you will not be able to…
You can’t steal second base and keep one foot on first. – Frederick B. Wilson Negotiating or asking for what you really want often requires courage. Whenever courage is the topic it necessarily requires a discussion about fear and doubt, as these two culprits consistently challenge our ability to act courageously. Often we hear courage…
Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. — Dalai Lama Compassionate communication is necessary in dealing with challenging personalities. In the context of selling and negotiating, there are times when you will need to “weather the storm” of inappropriate attitudes and energy that comes your way, e.g., the…
Self-Control is strength. Right thought is mastery. Calmness is power. — James Allen Being calm is a position of strength. It is a quality of leadership. When the heat is on and the pressure mounting, who would you rather want in control of the situation…the person who is stressful and anxious or the one who…