As they waited to be called into the courtroom, two men were discussing their jury duty assignments. Both were teachers. Juror #1 relayed how glad he was that he was able to get a substitute and didn’t have to ask the assistant principal to stand in. Juror #2 complained, “The assistant principal at my school couldn’t run my class if she wanted to. She doesn’t even have her teaching credentials!”

Juror #1 sensed that he was about to get an earful so he quickly asked, “Do you by any chance work at Lakeview High School?” Juror #2 said that he did. Juror #1 replied, “You must be talking about Elaine. She’s my wife.”

Talk about an awkward situation! Like Juror #2, too few people realize that what they say and do can offend people and will likely have a ripple effect on their lives. It may be for a week, or it may be for a lifetime…read more

Each of us has our own rulebook. Our rulebooks contain the rules from which we each live our lives and see the world. It includes everything from how we want the toilet paper to unfold on the roller to the things we do when no one is watching. It is the book that governs how we make decisions and influences every part of our lives.

Taking the Rules Test

The truth about all of our rulebooks is they contain things that break the law, go against our religions and violate others trust.  Now before you get all excited thinking “You’re wrong, Todd. I’m not guilty.” Consider these questions…read more

Will you allow me to rant for one post? Today, I opened an email and read this headline, “12 Easy Ways to MAKE MILLIONS for Your Business THIS YEAR (and spend next to nothing to do it!)”

The worst part is that this email was not a spam message. It came from a company that has been in business 50 years. Of all the people and organizations who should know success does not come over night, they should know. The fact is they do know, but they have lowered their integrity to a level where the almighty buck is more important than their corporate integrity…read more

Author: Jessica Smith (Todd’s Daughter-in-law)

When you look into the mirror, what do you see?

In the classic Disney movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the evil queen possessed a magical mirror that would answer any question she had. This queen was very vain and would often ask: “Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?”

Most of you know the story. For years the mirror would answer: “You, my Queen, are the fairest of them all,” One day it responded that the queen was fair but Snow White was the fairest of them all.

Now this mirror based its response on outer beauty, but as we all know, beauty is only skin deep. What is on the inside of a person is where true beauty lies…read more

Coach John Wooden, arguably the most successful college basketball coach, died last Friday at the age of 99. Under his leadership, U.C.L.A. won 10 NCAA championships in 12 years, 7 back-to-back national titles and 88 consecutive games. In 1973, he was the first person to be honored by the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. Known as the Wizard of Westwood, Wooden preferred to be called “coach.”

Wooden’s death has sparked a flurry of articles and blog posts paying tribute to the giant for his accomplishments and teachings both on and off the basketball court. Many of his guiding principles have been the subject of my lessons here on Little Things Matter and one is particularly consistent with the overall theme. “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” I thought it only fitting then that today’s post be dedicated to the memory of John Wooden…read more

Apologizing is not as simple as saying “I’m sorry.” Truly thoughtful apologies repair and rebuild relationships but thoughtless or insincere apologies may do more harm than good.

Think of the last time you apologized for something you said or did. What words did you speak?  Were they heartfelt and honest? Did your voice tone and body language send the same or a different message than your words?  Were excuses and justifications mixed in with your apology?…read more