Category Archives: Personal Development

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5 Ways To Grow A Little Each Day

As you lead others in your organization, you pull them along your growth trajectory. That means you need to be growing as well. 

I love what poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said:

The purpose of that apple tree is to grow a little new wood each year. That is what I plan to do.

He saw the purpose of the tree as to grow every year. I see the purpose of a leader as to grow a little every day (along with the myriad of other purposes and needs of a leader). 

Your growth matters. You need to take it seriously. It will not only help you but those you lead.

So…

How do you grow a little every day? I’ve got five ways you can do this.  Read more...

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Have You Decided What The New Year Will Look Like?

It’s nearing the end of the year. There are only 27 more days until we ring in 2025. How did we get here so quickly?
It doesn’t matter in the end. But what matters is what you’re planning for this coming year.

Why does it matter? Because the way you plan for the new year will be the way the new year goes.

Have You Decided What The New Year Will Look Like?

Our lives are a compilation of the choices we make.

We can choose to drink the 40oz beer with the guys. Pack on the calories with the beer, deal with the hangover tomorrow morning, and feel horrible about what we might have done. Or we can choose to abstain and have a flavored water instead. The next day, we remember everything we did. There’s no hangover. We still had a great time with our friends.  Read more...

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Coach K’s Two Ways To Build Trust

Coach Mike Krzyzewski was the American basketball coach for Duke University from 1980 to 2022. His time as a coach led to many victories and awards. These include:

  • 5 national titles
  • 13 Final Fours
  • 15 ACC tournament championships
  • 13 ACC regular season titles
  • 1,202 victories

His record says a lot about what he accomplished and did with the young men he coached over 40 years. In fact, he currently holds the distinction of being the all-time winningest coach in DI men’s basketball history. 

Wow!

To be honest, I’m not a huge basketball fan. I don’t watch it on TV unless I’m at a restaurant and a game is playing on their TV sets. It’s not something I enjoy.

However, learning about Coach K (how people refer to Mike Krzyzewski) has been eye-opening. His class Values-Driven Leadership on MasterClass is one I’d recommend leaders to watch and learn from.  Read more...

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Small Changes Inspire Big Changes

We live in an older home, which means there are many things that could go wrong. One of those things happened recently.

Our almost 40-year-old kitchen sink began to link. It was an ugly shade of white and cream. It looked like something out of Better Home And Gardens magazine from the 1950’s. 

We put up with it because it was there. It didn’t require us to do anything. It just semi-worked (did I mention one side of the sink would leak if we weren’t careful?). 

As the sink continued to deteriorate, enough was enough. Pamela and I discussed getting a new sink to replace the sink that was falling apart. It took us a while to settle on a new sink, but we finally did.

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5 Ways To Change Your Mindset

When our mindset isn’t right, our attitudes tend to follow. Or maybe you notice your commitment levels go down.

Whatever happens, our mindset tends to lead the way.

If I’m honest, I feel like I’ve been in a funk lately. There’s a lack of desire to do the things I want to, I struggle to get my training runs in, and more. I just feel blah.

Have you ever been there? If you’re breathing, I know you have been. 

My mental funk got me thinking… What does it take to change your mindset? How can I get my mind in a place where I actually want to do what needs to be done? 

I’ve come to the conclusion there are actions you can take that will shift your mindset and get you on the right track.  Read more...