The other day on the drive home, Mike Ditka was being interviewed on the radio. He had some good quotes. Commenting on teams or players, he quoted Henry Ford and said, “If you believe you can do something or you can’t do something, you are right.” Such a simple statement, and yet so profound. People
Leadership Navigation: Resourcefulness vs. Process
I recently went on a long boat ride to the middle of nowhere. The ship was very well run. Because of the tight space, everything had a clear place. Everyone knew their jobs well. Whether pulling into port or fishing, the crew all knew what had to be done to run the process. They fixed
Attitude—It Affects Surgery Outcomes
A recent Mayo study reinforces what we have always believed. A person’s attitude and happiness really affect how quickly they recover. “The study, which looked at 431 colon cancer surgery patients, found that the 13% of patients who had quality-of-life scores below 50 on a 100-point scale were almost 3 times as likely to have
Life Lessons from an Australian Comedian
This Commencement Address was delivered at a school in Australia by a graduate of the school who is now a well-known comedian. I want to watch this with my kids at a later point in life when they can understand some of the nuances. For now, I share some of these lessons with you. Lessons
WAIT — “Why Am I Talking”
I was at my daughter’s school and there was speaker on child psychology. The emphasis was on the damage done to kids by over-parenting and over-managing their lives. It was very interesting. They asked adults about their favorite childhood memory. Only 20% named something involving a parent. It was usually about when they accomplished something
ALS Association, Don’t Waste this Opportunity
I have a different perspective on charitable organizations than most. My first job at 13 years old was cold calling for charities. I would sit in a smoke-filled room dialing lists (phone book, past donors) for hours. I hadn’t hit puberty yet so most prospects would call me ma’am. I got more donations when they
Smiles and Hugs Matter
This is the heartwarming story of a young man who started his own restaurant. That, in and of itself, is a nice accomplishment. Tim is his name. However, what makes the story truly amazing and touching, though, is that Tim has Down’s syndrome. Watching the joy he brings to serving his customers is an inspiration.