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Why I’m Proud of Olympic Speed Skater Chris Witty
By accident–actually happy circumstance–of birth, I have the incredible privilege of calling Chris Witty, Olympic Gold Medal speedskating champion, cousin. I’ve enjoyed many years of watching Chris skate, first at the outdoor cinder-sprinkled oval at Wisconsin’s State Fair Park and years later at the wonderful Pettit Center, a world-class training facility. I watched her rumble […]
Continue ReadingThe Practice of Listening. Slow Down, Be Quiet
Here’s counter-culture advice in our high-speed, instant-message, do-it-now culture. Slow down. Be Quiet. I met with a woman yesterday who was intent on selling her company’s services to me and I was amazed at how quickly she spoke and how little she heard of what I wanted. Although I wanted to tell her to shut […]
Continue ReadingA New Year Can Mean a Fresh Start For You
By now you’re back at work after holiday celebrations. Perhaps you took some time to reflect over the break. Maybe you summarized for yourself what worked and what didn’t in 2014. Chances are you made a few mental notes about what you’d like to change in 2015. Resolutions are a traditional feature of a New […]
Continue ReadingOn the importance of perspective and the truth that you find
This first business day after Thanksgiving, I’m struck as I often am, by the importance of perspective and the truth that you find what you’re looking for. Some people are upbeat about the holiday just past and the things they are grateful for. Others have little interest in talking about what’s good when there is […]
Continue ReadingThe Wisdom of Corrective “pruning” in Life
I had the grueling experience over the weekend of chopping back a wild tree that was crowding my garage and whose branches draped across the roof all summer, scraping up a storm. As I labored and cursed the wicked thing, I couldn’t help but think how much easier it would have been for the previous […]
Continue ReadingOn the nature of urgency in your life
I’ve been having very specific conversations with people about how they make decisions and I’ve been struck by the emphasis on speed. Speed is good, I’m told, because it conveys a sense of urgency. Urgency is critical to success! Speed builds momentum and engages people’s enthusiasm. Speed is proof that decision makers know what they’re […]
Continue ReadingHow to feel confident when company morale is low
I hear this one all the time. “How am I supposed to feel confident when… my boss rips on me all the time? morale around here is terrible? nobody pays any attention to what I do or say? everything I do is somehow wrong?” The question itself makes me crazy for two reasons–focus and power. […]
Continue ReadingThe Effects of Confidence on Diversity and Gender
A friend sent two articles to me recently that highlighted diversity and gender issues. One criticized white University of Chicago students for hanging out in “gangsta gear,” drinking beer, and acting like they thought they were cool. Seems to me that’s pretty harmless college age messing around, but enough people thought it was in poor […]
Continue ReadingWhat to do after you’ve said something stupid
We’ve all done it. Said something stupid. The question then becomes, “Now what?” Should I keep quiet and hope no one heard me? Should I change the subject? Should I leave the room? All are options. I said something stupid a short while ago, but none of those options work for me. Why? I said […]
Continue ReadingExisting ways of thinking are not good enough
Though not an early adopter by any stretch of the imagination, I’m looking forward to using this medium to talk about confidence–backbone–what it is, the skills that build it, and what it can accomplish in the world. I’ll also deal with things that are not confidence, though sometimes they masquerade as such. Things like ignorance, […]
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