Reid said, "I normally don't have a loss for words." I replied awkwardly, looking for something to say. "Today's a good day for no words." Reid was at the Peace Rally the night before. He drove out of the parking garage, where one of the snipers was setup, 25 minutes before the assault on the police and protesters began. It's the day after five police officers were killed in Dallas. My wife, Jen, and I were at the noon prayer vigil at Thanks-giving Square in downtown Dallas. This is … [Read more...]
4 Types of People, 2 Get Things Done – Which are you?
February 17, 2014 by
There were two girls climbing concrete ramps that run along the side of a set of stairs. They were 7 to 10 years old. One asks the mom to join her. The mom said, "No, that's for children." Doing silly things that might be a little dangerous, fun and/or make you stand out as a fool is for children? What's for adults? Being serious, fitting in, avoiding danger, risk or fun? I battle the urge to control my kids. I try not to tell them not to do things. Constantly, I see … [Read more...]
Tis the Season
December 24, 2013 by
Tis the season to ask big questions.... The depth of winter is upon us. The pendulum swings toward new life for the next 6 months. What new life will be born in you? What new life will you birth into this world? What fear will you face down? What wrong will you forgive? What unjustice will you stand up to? What life giving words or actions will you take toward a friend, an enemy, a stranger, a neighbor? These are life or death questions. Life or death answers, too. Which … [Read more...]
How Tired Are You, Really? 3 ways to know
December 11, 2013 by
On any given day of the week the alarm goes off. The alarm is either my phone or my kids. The first thought that floats on the cloudy surface of my mind is, "I'm so tired. I need a break". I haven't even started. Yet I need a break already? I go to the gym three days of the week. It's a group workout. I sign-up in advance. I groan when the alarm goes off. Then I roll out of bed. I have to be somewhere. Class starts at 6am. After my first set, I'm fired up. I get … [Read more...]
The Number 1 Reason You’ll Go Off Track
November 26, 2013 by
I headed for the airport. I kicked myself in the ass as I went. I didn't accomplish what I intended to at the conference. There were several people I intended on connecting with. Relationships I wanted to build. I didn't connect with any of them. A wasted trip. I could have put time on calendars, setup appointments. I could have written specific goals before going. I didn't. I just showed up. The conference had a set agenda that took two full days. No room for my plans. Without setting my own … [Read more...]
The Key To Going From Try to Do
October 28, 2013 by
Give someone 24 choices of jam... They'll taste a lot of them. They'll enjoy them. More often than not, they won't commit to them. They don't buy. 6 choices of jam and the commitment rate jumps. Many more buy with fewer choices We've bought into the lie that choice equals freedom. A diner offers a 12 page menu. You can choose from Hungarian goulash to spanikopitas to bagels and lox to burgers. It takes long to decide and you're likely to second guess your choice - - - … [Read more...]
The Rule of the Exception
October 18, 2013 by
I just wrote an email of encouragement to my wife, Jen. We started this habit 8 years ago. Once a week, on Wednesday, we email each other encouragement. There's enough encouragement to make a book. The encouragement is a great way for us to refocus on what we like about each other, love about each other and want for each other. It's a great way ... until that day that's too busy. Those times when I say to myself, I can't right now ... I'll get to it later. The days when I lay … [Read more...]
Are you qualified?
May 23, 2013 by
We are all in sales. Whether it's selling our idea of a great vacation to our wife or selling a Ford Pinto to a bizarre classic car enthusiast. We are all buying something, too. It can be your 3 year old's proposal to have a cookie before dinner or the ill-advised, 3,000 calorie loaded potato skins at Hooligans. Qualifying is the key to make the most of our time (and effort) for selling and buying. A key goal is to get to 'No' quickly. So you can know whether the prospect … [Read more...]
This Test Is Pass/Fail. Do You Pass This Test?
May 22, 2013 by
I've asked a lot people if they want a more significant and meaningful life. Every person I ask says 'Yes'. They may be lying. After all, it's a loaded question. Who really wants to tell someone, "Eh, I really don't give shit ... I'm good enough." Or they may be answering from the core of their soul. Looking at how people live tells me it might be somewhere in between. Or they just don't know how. At least not consistently. What about you? How do you qualify yourself? What … [Read more...]
Litmus Test: Are You Wasting Your Time?
May 9, 2013 by
We might be deluded in the U.S. We focus on being the best. At everything. And we ignore the results. We aim for exceptionalism ... being the outlier, the best, the far right of the bell curve. We practice exceptionalism ... choosing exceptions to avoid doing what would make us exceptional. Societies around the globe invest deeply in their leisure. The investment is the biggest we can make. Time. It ranges from the daily to the seasonal. Long walks with others, … [Read more...]
