Rob started telling me about the cool stuff he was producing at work. His team is building things that would cost millions to buy. I was impressed with what his team accomplished. I asked him his secret. His team saw problems. They created solutions. Rob's job was easy. Just say "Yes." No one told them to do it. They just did it. Rob let them. More than that... he encouraged them. Rob didn't try to manage his people (or their tasks). He led his people and their … [Read more...]
How do you know if it’s too late?
March 4, 2013 by
To ... Take more risks. Begin to exercise. Eat healthier. Spend a night together with your family. Have a beer with a friend. Ask her out. Say I'm sorry. Say I love you. Buy her flowers. Cook him a steak. Buy him flowers. Cook her a steak. Manage your boss. Manage your boss's boss. Write a thank you note. Quit your job. Start a business. Say hello to strangers. Throw clay to make a lopsided bowl. Sing karaoke. Eat something you don't recognize. Skydive. Start a blog. … [Read more...]
Want This Year to Be Easier? Read This.
January 3, 2013 by
We scurried out of the house. We just scored an hour with Jen's parents watching the girls. A huge sigh of relief for both of us. It was in the 30s outside. I said, "Let's walk." Jen said, "It's too cold. I'll need to get a hat and gloves if we walk." I shrugged it off. We hopped in the car and started driving. I got to the light. I realized how silly the objection of getting a hat and gloves was. Walking 20 feet to get hat and gloves wouldn't have been a … [Read more...]
Is this the most powerful wealth multiplier?
December 27, 2012 by
It's been a long time since I let my fingers feel the keyboard. Not including emails, status reports and other organizational pink slime ... my fingers haven't roamed freely in a while. The longer my fingers went without furling words into the world, the more reasons I came with for why they could not do so. Standard stuff ... not enough time, no space for peaceful thought, not the right time, etc. All the excuses were bullshit. They always are. Don't believe me - let's … [Read more...]
Are You a Time-aholic?
October 19, 2012 by
Hi. My name is Eric. And I'm a time-aholic. I have a time problem. I abuse time. Afterwards, I stumble through a time hangover, blacked out wondering what I did for the last few hours. It's easy to let time slip away when you haven't identified how you want to invest it. It's hard to know how you want to invest it if you don't have investment goals. Our investment goals define how we invest our money. If we're retiring soon, we might work to preserve what we have with a … [Read more...]
Have you taken this secret vow?
October 5, 2012 by
I pulled into traffic on northbound 75. I felt my phone vibrate as I took my place in a lane. I reached for my phone. Looked at the message. I started responding immediately. Did the text require an immediate response? No. Was it worth endangering myself and others? No. Was the topic remotely urgent? No. Then why did I let the distraction take over? A - Because I could. B- Because the transaction would be immediate. C- Because rules and consequences don't apply to me. D- … [Read more...]
Are you in the Rabbit Hole?
September 6, 2012 by
Mobile devices. Text messages. Email. Unintentional side conversations. Web research that turns into an Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole. It's no wonder it's easy to get lost doing nothing (results) while doing something (activity). It's easier than ever to live walking in circles day after day. We call each step progress. Yet the steps lead to nowhere. Then we mount the excuses for why we're not getting anywhere. Too busy. Too much to do. Too tired. Not enough time. … [Read more...]
Is it time to wake-up or go to sleep?
August 2, 2012 by
I wandered the kitchen lethargically. My face was long. Jen asked what was wrong. "I'm exhausted." It was dinner time. I was starving and didn't feel like cooking. I avoided starting a meal for 10 minutes as I wallowed in my tiredness and "don't wanna-ness." Two hours later, Jen said she was exhausted and ready for bed. I told her I was wide awake. She was perplexed, "Two hours ago, you were telling me how tired you were." I said, "I was tired. I woke-up when I cooked … [Read more...]
Do you want to be “One and done”?
July 16, 2012 by
I plugged the cable in. No sound. Nothing. Then I tried another cable. Again. Nothing. Thirty people were sitting around. Waiting. I took someone else's guitar. Plugged it in. It worked. I threw the strap around my neck. And stepped up to the microphone. 3 and half minutes flew by in the blink of an eternity. I got through the song. Barely. I was planning on singing two. I changed my mind. I strummed the last chord. Looked at the MC. And said, "That's good enough. … [Read more...]
Do you prefer it fast or slow?
June 30, 2012 by
To ask or not to ask? The prospect you won't call because she might reject you? You're rejecting them already with your avoidance. The girl you won't ask out. The book you won't start. The investor you won't pitch. Etc. Etc. Etc. One rejection is explicit and fast. The other is quiet and slow. One frees you to move on to what's next. The other keeps you circling a drain. Do you prefer it fast or slow? Related articles 4 Reasons You Can't Execute(inc.com) Do … [Read more...]
