Perhaps Dale Carnegie said it best: A smile costs nothing, but creates much. It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give. If you’re still mulling over your New Year’s Resolutions for 2020, let me suggest this one: Smile more often. Did you know that a smile requires fewer facial muscles than a frown?
We are often asked to name the people we admire most. But do you ever think about who we should admire? Over the course of my life, I’ve learned that people from all walks of life can inspire us.
A traditional Christmas carol tells us we should be “merry.” No matter what holiday you may be celebrating as 2019 winds down, the pressure of year-end deadlines, a loaded calendar of social events and the general “busyness” of this time of year, may have you feeling anything but merry. But before the clock strikes 12:01
Throughout our lives, all of us learn many valuable lessons. I know I have. My own career began in the United States Navy off the coast of Vietnam. I went on to run Junior Achievement in Tucson, San Jose and Southern California, and later the Los Angeles Zoo. I’ve had a few stumbles along the
“We choose to go to the moon this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” — President John F. Kennedy Neil Armstrong noticed something in the final minutes before the Apollo 11 moon landing. The intended landing site was at the center of a large crater,
Think back over your life for a moment. Who do you admire the most? Who has had the greatest influence on who you are today? Every year, the Gallup Organization comes out with their annual survey of the Most Admired Men and Women. We see the names of Presidents, First Ladies, business tycoons, media moguls
“The eyes of the world are upon you…I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle.” — General Dwight D. Eisenhower The eyes of the world were once again upon Normandy, France, recently, as leaders gathered to pay tribute to the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Also present were more than
Sometimes the best way to move forward, in business and in life, is to take a step back. Reflect on what’s really important. So go ahead, take a break. Enjoy that sabbatical, long weekend or afternoon stroll. You just might be amazed at the progress you’ll make.
One thing I would encourage all of you to do is tell stories. You know, we can stand up before our staff at an all-team meeting and read them the rules, tell them the announcements. We can gather people together at a sales conference and talk about features and benefits. We can go see a
I think I’ve told you before that my favorite group is the Eagles. My wife’s favorite group would be the Beatles and I’d have to say they’ve had some powerful songs over the years – songs that have stayed classic through the decades. One of the most meaningful songs in a simple way is “Yesterday”
Recently I traveled to California to record some videos for a company called Wisdom Capture. I encourage you to go to their website and learn more about them. They capture wisdom from key executives within corporations so it can be shared with employees, customers, and clients. It serves as a legacy of those lessons learned
Normally my blog starts off with some music. I will play a song that has been important in my life. Perhaps it’s a song that has moved me to be a better person. Or it might be a song that has motivated me to work at a higher level, taught me a lesson about issues
I’d like to thank everyone who listens to my blog each time I send it out. I love music. I love the power of lyrics and what music can do to you. It can take you to the next level. It can help you deal with discouragement, bring you closer to the person you love.
Many people are listening to old Aretha Franklin music this week. It’s powerful music by an amazing woman who demanded respect and received it. But some of her music isn’t quite as well known. I encourage you to listen to a few sound tracks. I was just listening to “Amazing Grace” which she sang at
That was Beyoncé singing “I Was Here.” I encourage you to listen to the song in its entirety. The music and the lyrics are amazing. She talks about making a difference, wanting to leave a mark, hoping that she will mean something to somebody. She wants to live and be loved. She wants to be
That’s “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang. We all need to celebrate the good times. We need to celebrate and come together. How many times do we forget to do that? Let me count the ways. When your sales staff hits their goal, do you celebrate? When your construction project is finished, do you party
No one has to guess who that group is. We all know it’s the Beach Boys, the band of the 60’s who sung about surfing and girls and hot rods. I usually talk about a song. Today, I’m going to talk about a group, and the power of the Beach Boys’ music. You see, as
Friends. That was “You’ve Got A Friend” by James Taylor. I just got back from a trip with some of my friends from many years ago. They are guys that I went to high school with who I stayed in touch with for a number of years, and then lost touch and reconnected with them
