Knick-Knack, Paddy Whack, Give Yourself a Break!

There's a great lyric from the movie "Once" that goes like this: "... you have suffered enough and warred with yourself. It's time that you won." If you're up to something, your own business, raising kids or just about any...

I still remember my grade school days of the '60s at Our Holy Redeemer Catholic school in Freeport, Long Island, when a girl would pay a little attention to one of us boys, how the rest of the boys would taunt us with the sing-song, "She liiiiiikes you" or break...

There are plenty of articles right now about New Year's resolutions and some are written by me or quote me as a source. But, since you're taking the time to read this, I want to give you something more substantial, something that will help you more...

James Ammons, FAMU president, surprised by a CNN reporter, responding to questions about the 'alleged hazing death' of FAMU student Robert Champion pretty much 'failed the test' of leadership when interviewed. If you were watching the report, aired several times today, and left the facts of this and other pending...

Once upon a time ... That's not only how fairy tales begin, it's how some people manage employees and the results are often less than 'happily ever after.'

As a matter of fact, I've watched it happen several times this week as I've been out observing at client facilities and...

In the same way that one of my recent articles was about "strategic quitting," or clearing the clutter out of your calendar, this article is about strategic firing and hiring, or restructuring your business and/or personal "personnel" to better serve your highest possible you.

As a culture coach,...

My recent post, What the Heck is Corporate Culture, has been keeping me busy in online forums I frequent. Lots of coaches, trainers, business owners and employees weighed in on the topic and the replies ranged from off the cuff wisecracks to thoughtful and insightful contributions to the...

"We know what training is, but what the heck is 'culture'?" Those words were spoken by the new owners of the company I had spent 10 years helping to build from a small regional player to the recognized national industry leader. These corporate leaders were referring of course to my...

So far I've listed 5 Signs They're Probably NOT a Coach and 5 Tips for Hiring a Coach; now I'll get to working successfully with a coach.

Taking the bull by the horns here, I'll tell you how most people listen: they listen and judge,...

Done well, coaching can provide performance breakthroughs in any endeavor and open up a world of possibility for those engaged with the right coach. Done poorly, it's advice given by someone who thinks they 'know better' than you; a concept that makes professional coaches heave a collective sigh of disgust.

As more and more people seek to run their own businesses, find their way through difficult financial situations and, in general, have the best life they can manage, many have turned to professional coaches for guidance and support. Coaches can help people and institutions grow past the limits they've set...

Most people misunderstand Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. They see Hamlet as indecisive, melancholy and afraid to take action. They see it as a play where the suicidal lead character walks around not doing anything while people around him suffer and die. If we pay the price of a...

Today I was reminded of an acting class I was in about 20 years ago. During an improv set in an art gallery, a fellow actor pronounced Manet as "Man-eht." He said (and truly believed), "In America you pronounce French names differently." I not only pointed out the correct pronunciation,...

As an Executive Business Coach, I'm pretty lucky to coach some really amazing companies to their next performance levels. That means I'm constantly surrounded by highly creative, driven, and successful people. The people I meet are never boring and it's often hard to sort out the really GREAT ideas from...

Stop fooling yourself: if you didn't do it this year, you won't do it next year. New Year's resolutions don't work, and if you continue to believe in them, then you're setting yourself up for a loss.

I'm not trying to discourage you, by the way; in fact, I'd...

As a business coach I talk to a broad spectrum of potential clients. My "sweet spot" is family-owned businesses in generational transition (parents retiring and sons/daughters taking over) but I also make room in my practice for entrepreneurs. I love the possibility of a start-up and applaud those who can...

When I was a kid I was the 13th born out of 14 natural children of two parents. I get a lot of 'oohs' and 'ahs' for that, even though I didn't do anything about it but be born.

Still, I did survive it, and that's not always easy. My...

A big problem I've run into lately during coaching conversations is an addiction we pretty much all share: the addiction to being right.

What this particular addiction does is to convince you that it feels good to know more, be better than or to be right more...

Part of my practice as a coach is encouraging people I work with to actively give. By that I mean it's not enough to have a generous heart, you've got to get it in your bones, your feet and your hands. I love to hear about how people are getting...

What would it be like to have a really powerful week this week and every week? How could that happen? Well for one, you'd need to be able to "plan for chaos."