There is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so. William Shakespeare 1564 – 1616 In his book, Influence: Science and Practice, Robert Cialdini tells a story about a young girl away at college. She writes a letter to her parents, first apologizing for not having written sooner. She … [ Continue Reading ]
Weekly Lessons
Two simple questions to predict success or failure
It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. Mahatma Gandhi 1869 – 1948 Do you believe it’s possible to accurately predict success or failure by asking two simple questions? Before you … [ Continue Reading ]
Is talent a blessing or a curse?
Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work. Stephen King 1947 – Have you ever looked at someone you considered successful and secretly wished you’d been born with their talent? Have you ever silently cursed your parents … [ Continue Reading ]
The surprising power of expectations
Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you are probably right. Henry Ford 1863 – 1947 In the mid-1970s, Jim Fannin, a personal coach for many high profile athletes, did an experiment involving young children. He assembled over two hundred children aged four or five to … [ Continue Reading ]
What’s more important, the right answer or the right question?
Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers. Tony Robbins 1960 – In school, we were taught that we needed to know the right answer. (Thankfully, it was usually in the back of the book.) As we grew up and embarked on our careers, we … [ Continue Reading ]
Do you want to be heard?
Tone is often the most important part of a conversation — and listening is so much more important than what you say. Hoda Kotb 1964 – Do you want to be heard? That question may sound silly; most people would say the whole reason for speaking is to be heard. … [ Continue Reading ]
What did you mean?
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same? Richard Lederer 1938 – English is a very rich language, but often, the way we say things can be misinterpreted, leading to confusion and unintended consequences. There’s a well known case in the British judicial system that illustrates … [ Continue Reading ]
Are you a risk taker?
Iron rusts from disuse; stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind. Leonardo da Vinci 1452 – 1519 How would you answer the question, “Are you a risk taker?” If you’re like most people, you probably want … [ Continue Reading ]
Is your progress towards your goals too slow?
Do not fear going slowly; only fear standing still. Chinese Proverb Do you ever get frustrated because you’re doing all the right things to reach your goals, but your progress seems stuck at a snail’s pace? Around 550 B.C., Aesop offered some relevant advice in the fable about the Tortoise … [ Continue Reading ]
Is your optimism hindering your success?
Man, alone, has the power to transform his thoughts into physical reality; man, alone, can dream and make his dreams come true. Napoleon Hill 1883 – 1970 You don’t need to do much research to find that optimistic people live longer, enjoy a healthier life and generally fare much better … [ Continue Reading ]