There are two things that we all have in common. First, we all want our relationships to be good. We want them to be strong and healthy, and beneficial for everyone involved. Second, we have all had relationships that fell far short of that. We don’t set out to wreck our relationships or to cause […]
It’s easy to forget about our relationships when they are doing well. When life is good, it’s easy to assume that our relationships will always go well. If we aren’t careful, we will take them for granted and stop doing the things that keep our relationships healthy and growing. Over the next few posts, I […]
Dwight D. Eisenhower was the Allied Commander in charge of launching the attacks of D-Day during World War II. His success in that invasion would ultimately lead to victory over the Axis forces of Nazi and Japanese soldiers. As much as we admire his courage, preparation, and clarity of thinking when we look back at […]
Most people have dreams about what they would like to accomplish or become in life. We all want to do something valuable with our time. But for many people the dream remains just a dream. They struggle to attain their goals and realize their full potential. The most common problem that blocks us from reaching […]
I have a favorite coffee shop in town that I go to when I get stuck in a creative rut. It’s an edgy place with great coffee. Sometimes a change of environment can make a huge difference in my thinking. I’m amazed when I go there at how all of the employees seem to be in […]
One of the greatest leadership books of all time is Jim Collins’ Good To Great. In the book Collins discusses a thought that he termed “The Stockdale Paradox”. The maxim was drawn from the life story of Admiral James Stockdale who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He endured severe torture and designed a system […]
I grew up in a small town in the mountains of western North Carolina. Every home town has its own unique set of rules that seem to be relatively constant throughout the area. In my hometown (and the south in general), we were taught to say, “I’m sorry”. If we had done something wrong, or […]
“Extremism is a powerful alliance of fear and certitude; complexity and humility are its natural foes.”[i] Girolamo Savonarola was a charismatic and engaging priest in the city of Florence during it’s Renaissance. His passionate preaching drew the attention and allegiance of countless in Florence and beyond. From his position of notoriety he spoke out […]
This is the final post in a series about small phrases that can make a big difference in your relationships. The last phrase may be the most difficult, and it is definitely the one that is used the least. These three words can make a huge difference for you at home, work, and with […]
As we continue our series of small phrases that pack amazing relational power, we look at a third simple statement, “I don’t know”. There are few things that feel more like failure than having to admit that we don’t know the answer or what to do next. So, most of us never admit it. We […]