Category Archives: Personal Development

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What Would Your Mom Think Of That?

Integrity Still Matters

I recently read a story about long-distance runners Abel Mutai and Ivan Fernandez. It is heart-warming and a great reminder that integrity still matters.

Here’s what the Facebook story shared:

In a race, athlete Abel Mutai representing Kenya was just a few feet from the finish line, but he was confused with the signage & stopped thinking he had completed the race. The Spanish athlete, Ivan Fernandez was right behind him & realizing what was happening, he started shouting at the Kenyan for him to continue running, but Mutai didn’t know Spanish didn’t understand. Then the Spanish pushed him to victory. A journalist asked Ivan, “Why did you do that?”  Read more...

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Small Actions Build Big Confidence

Four years ago I installed a ceiling fan in my bedroom. I’d never tried anything like that before. I was scared and anxious.

When I was done installing the fan, I was beaming with pride. I’d installed a new fan and it worked! It’s always good when something like this works.

And then it happened.

A van and house on fire

Photo by Darn Armfield

One night while Pam and I were sleeping, we were woken up with a loud crack, pop, and flames! Yes, flames… They were shooting out of the ceiling fan I installed.

What does it take to become confident? One small step and then the next…

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I hopped out of bed. I ran to the light switch. And I flipped the switch quicker than I thought was possible.

The light and sound show subsided. It was over. Yet it wasn’t over.

Talk about a scary event.  Read more...

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Who Are You Surrounding Yourself With?

The people we surround ourselves with are a reflection of who we are. This isn’t intentional but it happens.

Jim Rohn said that we are the sum of the 5 people we surround ourselves with. As we interact with people, we begin to learn, grow, and become more like them.

It’s not a bad thing. Especially if you’re surrounding yourself with high performers.

Group of friends enjoying time together

Photo by Helena Lopes

These high performers will lift you up, much like a rising tide lifts all ships.

I truly believe this. It is good to surround yourself with people who are going in the same direction as you (this isn’t to say you shouldn’t interact with those you disagree with).

Today, I want to ask you, who are you surrounding yourself with? I’ll also share with you a few people I’ve spent a lot more time with this year (outside of my family).  Read more...

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Redefine Your Purpose

The online world is abuzz with talk about finding your purpose or living out your purpose. This is well and good. We need a purpose. We need something to drive us harder and farther than we would normally go.

But…

What if we have our definition of purpose wrong. In the online and leadership sphere, we often hear purpose as the reason behind what you do. It often relates to the things you do and how they impact you.

I think we’re wrong in thinking purpose is about the effect our work has in us. I recently read a quote from Jade Simmons. This is when it really resonated with me.

Redefine how you look at purpose. Re-understand your purpose. Your purpose is not the thing you do. It’s the thing that happens in others when you do what you do.

Wow! That’s powerful.  Read more...

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What’s Your Excuse?

We all have excuses. We blurt out a reason for why we’re less successful than we want to be. Or we excuse our poor behavior.

Excuses run rampant in our lives. It’s become an epidemic of massive proportions.

I was recently thinking about a few excuses I’ve used. My excuses include:

  • But I don’t have a compelling and challenging upbringing
  • But I was raised in a great home
  • But I don’t have the great immigrant story to tell
  • But I have never truly struggled for much in life
  • But I don’t have enough experience

Many of our excuses lack substance. Other excuses people use are:  Read more...

  • But I’m too young
  • But I’m too old
  • But I’m a white male
  • But I’m an African American male
  • But I was born an immigrant
  • But I’m not an immigrant