Precedent Setting Perceptions

Here’s a phrase that you often hear from leaders: “We have to be careful about setting precedents.” Interestingly, these comments are nearly always directed at what the leader perceives as “negative” precedents. Most recently, I’ve heard this phrase several times as companies are discussing whether they’re going to allow employees […]

Are You Willing to Know?

Most of us struggle in some way in our lives, and we often ask this question to ourselves: “Why do I do this?” The “this” is some behavior that you know is unhealthy or keeping you from what you desire, but you regularly repeat it. While we often ask this […]

What’s Your Microaggression Awareness?

Here’s one definition from Derald Wing Sue in the book Microaggressions in Everyday Life: “The constant and continuing reality of slights, insults, invalidations and indignities visited upon marginalized groups by well-intentioned, moral and decent family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, students, teachers, clerks, waiters and waitresses, employers, health care professionals and […]

Beware Your First Answers

When it comes to asking questions of ourselves or about situations (often related to assessing risks), we need to be very aware of our first answer and even answers. The problem with our first answers is two-fold. First, our first answers (especially around risks or obstacles) are typically the biggest […]

Isolate the “But”

You know what I’m talking about … the infamous and dangerous word “but.” There are two versions of “but” that we love to use. First, is the “but” that virtually negates everything we said before it: I don’t want to complain, but … I don’t want to sound negative, but … I love your […]

They’re Your Buttons

Recently, someone asked me how they could prevent people from pushing their buttons. More specifically, they asked me “How can I choose not to react when people attempt to push my buttons?” It’s a great question and she asked me to write more about this, so here I am. The […]

Little Things Matter

Let me set the scene – I’m flying to Cleveland on a late flight (which was delayed), and I landed at Hopkins Airport at 12:30 AM. I had to be on-site with a client at 8:00 AM the next morning, and I still had to pick up my rental car, […]

Leap Year

According to the calendar, 2020 is a leap year but calendars can be deceiving and limited. For me, 2019 has been a leap year in so many ways. I leapt in 2019 by writing my next book – Just One Step: The Journey to Your Unstoppable You (due out in November). I […]