Think of at least one major accomplishment in your life that has really made you proud of yourself. Now, think of the initial commitment you made when you got started. On a scale of 1-10, how committed were you? Were you very committed or simply desiring something? There’s a vast difference between the two. When you simply desire something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you’re committed, you accept no excuses, only results.

A commitment is a binding pledge that obligates you to assume a position or carry out a course of action. Making a commitment to what you do—whether in your personal life or your professional life—is one of the most fundamental principles of success…read more

Beginning in the days of World War II and for decades, famed radio broadcaster Paul Harvey shared The Rest of the Story with millions of Americans. After presenting news stories on a variety of factual subjects, he surprised listeners each time with a true ‘twist’ at the very end and concluded with his signature sign off, “And now you know… the rest of the story.”

Although Paul Harvey died in 2009, I can’t help but think of his influence on today’s lesson. There are always two sides to every story, and it benefits us to make sure we know and understand both sides before making a judgment or rendering an opinion.

Whether it’s your best friend complaining about his or her spouse, a co-worker complaining about another employee, or a newspaper columnist writing a political story, just remember, there are always two sides to every story…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

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

One of my core beliefs is that you can achieve anything that is important to you if you will focus on the little things that matter. So if getting a new job is important to you, simply look for the little things that will help you land that job.

I must admit that I am turned off when people complain about not having a job but don’t do the things required to get one. I feel the same way when people whine about their current job but don’t take the necessary steps to get a better one…read more

Throughout my career I can recall countless periods of time when I was overwhelmed and stressed out. As I reflect back on many of these periods, they were during seasons of great growth in my career.

While sustained stress is not good for you, if you are not experiencing any stress at all, it’s likely you’re not growing. Think about it. Being comfortable never leads to growth.

In this lesson I will share with you the process I go through when I am stressed out and overwhelmed…read more