Since it is Memorial Day weekend and many of you will be spending time with family and friends, I thought you would enjoy a lesson that you can put into practice this weekend. For those of you who follow my daily lessons, some of these points will be timely reminders.

One of the themes I keep coming back to is how you can best stand out from the crowd. I just find that so few people make the extra effort to do so. In Stand Out From the Crowd I shared how people’s respect grows for those who return calls and emails in a timely manner and finish their responsibilities on time….read more

Leaders are easily identified during the best of times but it’s the tough times that really breed and define great leaders. Look around. How many people do you see who are stepping up their game and navigating the challenging circumstances?  If you are like me, there aren’t many.

Today we are smack in the midst of a leadership drought. This economic downturn has exposed everyone’s warts. It has separated the real leaders from those who thought they were leaders.

Economic difficulties need not mean that we lower our standards for leadership. If anything, we should raise our sights. This is your opportunity to take control of your future, build your self-worth and increase your market value….read more

Have you ever wondered if you really have what it takes to succeed in achieving your goals?  Are you where you thought you would be at this time in your life?  In today’s lesson I am going to highlight one of the key attributes that differentiate those who succeed in the things they pursue from those who fail.

As I have watched and studied thousands of want-to-be entrepreneurs over my career, I have learned a lot about what it really takes to succeed at a high level.  While there are many things that go into achieving great success, there is one common attribute I’ve seen in 100% of the people who gone on to attain greatness…read more

What is your emotional state when you get defensive? Does your stress level rise?  Does your body tense up a little?  Do you tend to go into combative mode?

When you get defensive do you feel more open to the views of others or do you close up like a clam?  Are you more likely to say things you regret or do you have respectful conversation?  Is your mind more or less creative?

It’s very difficult to be objective and see the other person’s point of view when we are in a defensive state.  Our emotions cause us to become less effective in our interactions and decision-making and more at risk of offending and alienating people…read more

One of the little things I learned years ago was to use discretion in what I share with people. While being honest is always paramount, there are times when you need to use good judgment in what you share.  This is especially true if it has the potential to hurt feelings and damage relationships. It’s not always necessary to “tell all.”

I can think of 1001 situations that require us to give a reason for our actions. Perhaps it’s an appointment cancellation or rescheduling, the return of merchandise or the need to take a day off…read more

Recently I attended a party and overheard a guy trying to guess a young lady’s age. I knew trouble was brewing because I have known this gal for years and knew she looked younger than she really was. The guy guessed she was 16 years old.

When she told him she was 23, he looked “shocked” which didn’t help the situation at all. He then stuck his foot further into his mouth (probably all the way down his throat) and said, “You look so young. I bet you get carded everywhere you go.” She responded and said, “I don’t drink.” Oops!…read more

Six months ago if someone were to ask me about my greatest weakness I would have said that I had the tendency to say things I later regretted.  In some cases I was trying to be funny.  In others I just said the first thing that came to my mind or I felt I needed to contribute something to the conversation. And sometimes I did not have my ego in check.

A problem of mine for many years, it was one of those weaknesses that I just couldn’t seem to overcome despite my best efforts.  While I haven’t yet conquered the problem, I have made some great progress over the last six months…read more

When was the last time you forgot to do something that was expected of you?  How did it make you feel? Are you concerned about the impression you made?

Responsible people do what’s expected of them without being reminded.  How do they accomplish this? Do they have a great memory? Maybe, but they don’t rely on it. In today’s over-scheduled world, counting on your memory to remember your responsibilities is never a good strategy.

When you make the decision to take pride in doing what is expected of you and NEVER again need to be reminded of a responsibility, you’ll experience a greater sense of satisfaction and success. Here are some of the specific benefits you will enjoy…read more