The mature human being goes about doing what needs to be done regardless of whether that person feels great or terrible. Knowing that you are the kind of person with that kind of self-control brings all the satisfaction and confidence you will ever need. Even on days when the satisfaction and confidence just arent there, you can get the job done anyway. David K. Reynolds I consider Dr. Reynolds a Mentor even though weve never met. Given that he splits his time between the USA and Japan and that I lived in... Read More

"Don't take the wrong side of an argument just because your opponent has taken the right side." Baltasar Gracian A recent business meeting facilitator asked us to share what we were reading. I mentioned I was re-reading Gracians The Art of Worldly Wisdom, a book gifted to me twenty years ago by Mentor and friend Dr. John Jones. The book was written over three hundred years ago based on this Jesuit scholars study of leaders and their attempts to combine ethical behavior with worldly effectiveness. Increasingly, I see the... Read More

Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity." Aristotle Of course we return to my oft repeated counsel from Will R ogers: Never ask a barber if you need a haircut! Im a strong believer in life-long education, learning and growth. If you ask me if you should explore another opportunity to learn, Ill always say yes and then hopefully offer one of our products or services! If your bet is that the future includes only bright moments economically and socially, then further education is, in fact, an... Read More

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. -Mark Twain Reports of deathbed confessions or just plain common sense inform us that theres substantial regret many of feel about opportunities ignored, resisted or even consciously passed by. Our capability as human beings to invent a multitude of reasons for behaviors that... Read More

One isnt born with courage. One develops it by doing small courageous thingsin the way that if one sets out to pick up a 100-pound bag of rice, one would be advised to start with a five-pound bag, then 10 pounds, then 20 pounds, and so forth, until one builds up enough muscle to lift the 100-pound bag. Its the same way with courage. You do small courageous things that require some mental and spiritual exertion. -Maya Angelou Working with participants in seminars and with executives in my coaching practice reveals a common... Read More

If you don't get what you want, you suffer; if you get what you don't want, you suffer; even when you get exactly what you want, you still suffer because you can't hold on to it forever. Your mind is your predicament. It wants to be free of change. Free of pain, free of the obligations of life and death. But change is a law, and no amount of pretending will alter that reality. -Dan Millman I often resonate with the work of gymnast, college professor, Aikido Master,... Read More

Number One of The Eight Power Principles for Extraordinary Success By Robert White We often use New Years resolutions as a motivator to make needed changes however they often transform into just another source of guilt. Ive got a radical proposal: give yourself the gift of renewal and along with that, a new personal toolbox, a set of behaviors that, when practiced, will bring you a level of success most people only dream of. It is clear that many people live life somewhat reactively, looking only to past experiences to... Read More

never imagined it was possible, and if it were possible, I could have never imagined that Id get through my embarrassment to share this with you, but here goes: This article was inspired by a can of Coke. Im serious, a can of Coke. A few years ago Cokes holiday packaging had three simple words prominently displayed: LIVE GIVE LOVE Now I have no idea exactly what Cokes intent is, beyond, Im sure, selling lots of their product. I do have my own interpretation and, with a small nod to humility, will share that perspective as if... Read More

To make knowledge productive we will have to learn to see both the forest and the tree. We will have to learn to connect. -Peter Drucker While it is arrogant I suppose to edit the esteemed Dr. Drucker, Id change the word connect to integrate. Perhaps like you Im going through a process of reviewing my past year and planning/goal setting for 2014. When you review your year, I strongly suggest your attention be on what you accomplished as opposed to goals you may have not met or partially met.... Read More

This response by Robert White was to a question from a graduate and staff member, Do circumstances justify breaking an agreement, especially ones that could not have been predicted when an agreement was made? When, if ever, is it alright to break agreements? The context for this discussion of agreements, or regarding many other concepts used in our coaching and training, is formed by the following: We deliberately exaggerate and amplify all concepts for presentation in seminars . Our intent is to interrupt patterns, beliefs and... Read More