Jen's whispered, "C'mon. It's time to feed the babies." All I want for Christmas is for my babies to sleep through the night. I've told so many people that my Christmas present would be the twins sleeping through the night. These were typical responses: "Keep dreaming...." "My babies are a year old. They still don't sleep through the night." "That's not going to happen." "Good luck with that..." Not encouraging words. They're actually the complete opposite. The people … [Read more...]
Are you choking on an elephant?
December 23, 2011 by
I want to change the world. That's a problem. "Change the world" is one big elephant. It doesn't give many good places to start. In fact, it's haltingly paralyzing. As a goal it is insurmountably overwhelming. Have you ever looked up to a role model and said to yourself, "I want to be like him (or her)."? Maybe you want to be the next Seth Godin, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, John Lennon, Martin Luther King, Sarah Palin, etc. There's just one problem. You can't. They already … [Read more...]
I got away with murder.
December 21, 2011 by
I got away with murder when I was younger. I didn't have set chores to get an allowance. I didn't have to study to do well in school. I didn't do my homework on time. And often times didn't do it all. I turned assignments in late. I cut school. I was late regularly. I still graduated in the top 10 percent of my class. I wish I could say I wrote my own rules. That would be a lie. It would imply structure that didn't exist. I just didn't follow the existing rules. I'm 40 now. … [Read more...]
What do you NOT have to do?
December 19, 2011 by
I was buzzing around the house completing one task after another. My goal? Order. The arrival of the twins was met by an intense need for order. Some could call it OCD. I was working in double time. And I am doing things I don't want to do. I like order. I don't like doing the things that create it. So these are things I have to do. I need the order to have my mind clear to produce. I'd rather watch the Colbert Report. Steve Colbert will take me further from what I need. I get … [Read more...]
What do you HAVE to do?
December 16, 2011 by
A friend of mine had a rough week recently. Here was the week in no particular order: Lost parent Made arrangements for funeral Drove 4+ hours to the funeral Went through/packed the parent's things Drove 4+ hours back Co-conducted a 4 day intensive seminar Visited with clients Decorated/furnished new business offices Shut down/moved her old business office That's a hell of week. I'm sure there are details I missed. I had dinner and beer with them last night. At some … [Read more...]
Paint yourself into a corner
October 13, 2011 by
Sam has a really cool product. He plans on selling it via the Internet. He has one big problem. He keeps pushing his launch date. The Internet is virtual. As much as we want it to be real, it is not. We can't touch it. We can't feel it. We can't walk inside it's doors. The virtuality of the Internet (and other technology related products) poses a problem. Our brains don't respond to problems that they believe are imaginary. This is why arbitrary deadlines can blow up in our faces. … [Read more...]
Is it time for a little perspective?
October 3, 2011 by
The ladies read their visions to the person sitting next to them. We talked about the visions they wrote and spoke. One of the women said that she had a hard time believing that she could make her vision a reality. I asked the group a question. Who heard a vision that they think the person reading it could make happen? Every hand shot up. They were all afraid. They didn't think they could do what they dreamed. They were all confident that the person next to them could do it. What … [Read more...]
What are you waiting for?
September 9, 2011 by
Nothing can make you happy! This is a very positive and hopeful statement. Nothing can make you happy. It's possible. If you let it be. Most of us are waiting for someone or something to make us happy. I'll be happy when I get the raise, the business is profitable, my marriage is fun, my kids go to school, I get a promotion, I get married, I get a new car, we get the bigger house, I get pregnant, I lose 10 lbs ... We make being happy conditional upon receiving something else. How … [Read more...]
What bed are you sleeping in?
September 8, 2011 by
I got an email from a friend a few weeks ago. Leslie was looking for advice. She was trying to make a decision. The looming fear behind the decision was "What if it doesn't work or if I don't like it?" She didn't want to make a bed or lay in one ... because it might be the right one. Goldie Locks broke into a bear's house and tried 3 different bowls of porridge, 3 different size chairs and 3 different beds before she found the ones that were just right for her. What are you willing … [Read more...]
