Sometimes it's the bigger picture we need for absolute clarity — I think again of the story about my wife and me as we look out at our garden one morning. She comments on some weeds that she needs to tackle. She also talks about the plants she has to cut back. I see the beauty of the bigger picture —…

How to disarm someone’s resistance when coming to them with a new proposal — Aikido is a modern Japanese martial art. It works by defending yourself from your opponent by redirecting their movement flow to protect them from injury at the same time. A similar concept works with resistance in a business setting. As you exert your influence on others, sooner or later, you…

Exploring a better way to think about the clutter in your life — Marie Kondo is the world-renowned expert on de-cluttering our lives. Even if you haven't seen one of her TV specials or read her books, you may have attempted to clean out your closet using her KonMari method. You've heard of the method where you take an item, hold it, see…

There are some strategies to make us more aware and better deal with them — Recently, my manager and company VP, Angela, asked one of our summer interns, “Do you know who I report to?” The intern thought about it for a moment and said, “Isn’t your boss that older man with gray hair? The guy who you were walking around with at the planetarium?” …

By understanding this, you can overcome your weaknesses and seek out roles that play to your strengths — When you think leader, what comes to mind? Somebody confident and assertive, or quiet and self-deprecating? Maybe it's a combination of these. Not all leaders are cut from the same cloth. For instance, somebody who maintains complete control might be perfect for a complex, sprawling organization — but the same…

How the truth can serve us better in the end — "In the end, everything will be okay. If it's not okay, it's not yet the end. ~Fernando Sabino, translated from Portuguese." I ran 2 miles today. To some people, that might sound like a huge challenge. To others, it's simply a warm-up exercise for a long-distance haul and is no…

It’s not easy being mindful with simple daily tasks, but if we do it more, the benefits are worth the effort — I got home late from work last night. It was about 8:45, and a favorite dinner was waiting for me. My family ordered from a Mexican place we like and had the food delivered. My plate of carne asada (flank steak) with a modest side of rice and beans was…

When the proper support is available, ADHD is a powerful asset that propels individuals toward success and fulfillment — I’ve never been officially diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Based on the traits and my behavior profile commonly associated with ADHD, I have little doubt that it qualifies me to be subject to the condition. I was disruptive in class. I had poor grades and couldn’t focus. I was…

The real brawl is not against your adversary — I enjoy all kinds of movies — adventure, sci-fi, action, silly comedies. I even like a sappy love story on occasion. I enjoyed Titanic, Dirty Dancing, and The Princess Bride, and I thought The Notebook was a good movie too. If you're not a fan of love stories or have…