Looking to the past to find ways to make it through the present. — The pressures facing society in ancient cultures meant that uncertainty shadowed their every step. In their unpredictable time, they looked for leadership in the teachings of their day. The teachings they clung to can give us, like it did them, two touch-points of security on our travels in uncertain times…

Insights into the characteristics of leaders and companies that last. — There are companies that last and many more that don’t. You want to be in the former category. There are leaders who survive and many more that don’t. Again, you want to be in the former category. So how do you know if you will? You have to do the…

The place and power of good friends — Writing is a terrifying experience. In a moment, with the simple click of a button, you’re innermost thoughts become exposed to the world. Immediately, you become vulnerable to the grand murderer of creativity: needless critique. This thought alone keeps many from ever putting fingers to keys or pen to paper…

The powerful difference between escaping hardships and coping with them. — Life is hard. It throws us knuckleballs and forces us to respond. Most of the time we are ready. Sometimes, we aren’t. How do you know if you’re handling things the right way when the path gets difficult. Simple. Do this: Rise above the chaos and confusion for a moment…

A brief reflection in the middle of heavy times. — The scene is iconic. Rolling hills leading up to snow-peaked mountains. The mist is crawling through the evergreen valleys. And up ahead on the trail, danger is about to strike. A group of hikers strolls along at a leisure pace and one of them slips. They slide down the side…

How I’m using new words to take me to new worlds. — You might be more creative than you think. And you can be more creative than you are. Thankfully, we can grow our creative ability. And we need to because if we aren’t, we’re selling ourselves short and coming up empty. The Need For Creativity The world forces us to troubleshoot in a moment. It…

How to keep going when life throws you off — I was a towering 5’2” as I strolled to the batter’s box. To say I was “underdeveloped” entering high school is an understatement. I was short and slim. But I could play baseball. Now, I wasn’t great. But I knew the rules and made the roster of my freshmen team…