Here are seven things I have learned about life: 1. Life is about love . . . giving it, getting it, and living it. 2. We are all works in progress. 3. We are each beautifully and wonderfully made for a unique purpose. 4. We are hard-wired for connection, so “disconnecting” has negative emotional and…
Every day is Mother’s Day … at least for our moms. They have to be moms EVERY day! It’s a job that never ends. As children (and husbands) to moms, we can never fully appreciate the most important job in the world. I have been blessed with a mom who gave me, among many gifts,…
Here is an excerpt from Leadership Matters. It contains 31 daily insights to inspire extraordinary results. day 14: Impact Contrary to the lyrics from a classic rock song, one is not the loneliest number. But it is the most important number! Your thoughts, words, and actions are like individual notes that work in concert to create the…
As a youngster, I always thought Rose Colan, my beloved mother, originated the phrase, “This too shall pass.” She used it frequently to help me keep perspective during challenging times. Since then, I have learned that this saying appears in the works of Persian poets and in Jewish folklore from King Solomon ... quite a…
We work on a project for months hoping to get recognized after it is completed. What if recognizing our own growth during the project work was the real payoff? We jump on a plane to get somewhere. What if one of the best parts is the plane ride? We train for a competitive event. What if…
A leader is a beacon of hope. She is the first one in line to take actions to support her followers. She looks at the horizon to anticipate opportunities and obstacles so she can clear the path for her team. She is all about serving others. She exists to make individuals and teams their best.…
Singer and author Nick Cave is no stranger to darkness. Two of his sons have died. It’s an unimaginable pain. Nick has risen from the darkness to bring light to others through his The Red Hand Files, where he thoughtfully answers any questions his followers pose. Below is a sample of Nick’s articulate and compelling…
I have a family tradition of writing and reading letters to each family member for holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. The letter might contain encouragement, advice, a blessing, a reflection, or a story. Occasionally, I have written letters to my entire family (vs. an individual) on my own birthday. I thought I would share my…
I was recently reminded of the simple childhood prayers that my family and I said every night and before each meal. At bedtime, we would pray: Now the night has gone away, Jesus Savior hear me pray.Asking Thee to watch and keep and to send me quiet sleep.Jesus, Savior, wash away all that has gone…
Two young men were working their way through Stanford University in the late 1890s when, during one semester, their funds got desperately low. They came up with a plan: They would invite Ignacy Paderewski, the great Polish pianist, to give a performance. After paying the concert expenses, the two students would then use the profits…
