In 1909, an American businessman became disoriented in a dense London fog. As he stood under a street light trying to find his way, a boy emerged out of the mist and asked if he could be of help. “You certainly can,” replied the American. He shared the business he was trying to find and […]
The Story of One Good Turn Read More »
The artist who aims at perfection in everything achieves it in nothing. – Eugène Delacroix I’ve been giving the label “Good Enough” a hard time for the past few days on this blog. And rightly so, for in any grand endeavor it’s the silent temptress, wooing us to abandon the greatness to which we aspire. But
When is Good Enough Truly Good Enough? Read More »
The Boy Scouts of America are celebrating their 100-year anniversary this year. A few months ago I shared the story of how it started. Right now my nephew is enjoying the last day of the National Scout Jamboree along with tens of thousands of other teenage boys. Watching the arena show over the internet Saturday
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Sometimes little things have big effects. Years ago a friend of mine, after leaving the Army, became the manager of a large retail chain store with 300 employees and a slew of issues. After interviewing a good portion of her workforce, Tracey was overwhelmed with the sheer volume of problems that surfaced. Unsure where to begin,
First Things First Read More »
Life can come at you hard. Ever feel like you give, give, give, but never get your own tank filled? Ever felt completely lost after a big life change, unsure what to do next? Ever wondered how—or if—you should adjust your plans when the unexpected happens? Like most people, at some point in my life I’ve
Weathering the Storms Read More »
In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists. – Eric Hoffer In 1827, Sir Edward Parry embarked a bold and innovative expedition to reach the North Pole. He converted his boats into sledges when they hit polar ice and his
Ask the Tough Questions Read More »
We tend to find what we’re looking for. A google search for “trust yourself” returns an avalanche of advice extolling the life-changing virtues of unconditional self-trust. However, a google search for “overconfidence” returns countless cautionary tales of how our cognitive biases are marching us blissfully to our doom. So which is it? Do I trust myself no matter what
Should You Trust Yourself? Read More »
Would you take investment advice from Warren Buffett? How about tennis tips from Serena Williams? Feedback on your horror novel from Stephen King? Of course you would. Why? Turns out, it’s not just because they’re good at what they do. There are many talented investors, athletes, and authors out there. Why then would you almost unequivocally trust these
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Two days before Christmas 1944, the US Army was falling back through southeast Belgium. The German Army was pressing through the Ardennes Forest in a last-ditch effort to turn the tide of the Second World War. On that frigid evening, the commander of a retreating American tank destroyer spotted a lone US soldier, armed with
Looking for a Safe Place? Read More »
“The missions ran on trust…because the astronauts who sat in those heavy metal eggcups jammed on the top of rockets trusted those of us on the ground. That trust tied the entire team into a common effort.” – Gene Kranz, NASA Flight Director for Gemini & Apollo programs Last week we explored why focusing on
