I'm reading the new biography of Leonardo DaVinci by Walter Isaacson. Fascinating! I'm learning about the Renaissance, and Italian politics in the 1400s, and the interesting ways art impacted warfare and power. It was a perfect environment for a man like Leonardo. I've discovered that he was driven by curiosity! He wanted to know how [...]
Have you ever walked into your office and been jumped by the bookkeeper? "What's this check for? I can't read your writing. And Jimmy hasn't filled out his time card all week." When you aren't in financial manager mode, these questions can feel like an ambush. Have you ever interrupted your bookkeeper with [...]
My latest, favorite topic is getting stuff DONE. Leadership involves inspiration, information and implementation. Inspiration comes from asking and answering the big questions: What do I want? Why? It involves thought and journaling and meditation. Information, well, that's usually available isn't it? Leadership involves shifting through information and deciding which voices to heed and [...]
I've been asking this question of my seminar attendees recently, "What one thing did you do in the past year that made all the difference in your life?" One fellow shared that he committed to a sugar-free diet and lost 52 pounds. He looked great and he said he felt so much better. "When I was [...]
Are you feeling overwhelmed? I am. I'm cutting everything too close. My life has too little "margin". Richard A. Swenson, M.D., wrote a book about this...called, naturally, Margin. He talks about emotional and time margin, as well as financial margin. If someone or something comes up that you need or want to address...do you have the resources? [...]
In this country, in these times, we have access to everything we need to be healthy, wealthy and wise. So…what’s getting in the way? Maybe you are. The stumbling blocks on the road to success are of your own creation. I’ve listed the most common ones below. Recognize any of them? Wishing and wanting. Do [...]
Recently, Mike Rowe, the Dirty Jobs Dude, was a guest on Bill Maher’s HBO show Real Time. He was talking about his latest adventure, Profoundly Disconnected, a program to help connect those looking for great careers with real, albeit sometimes dirty, jobs. I was on the edge of my couch! I love dirty jobs! I cheered [...]
“I would willingly stand at street corners, hat in hand, begging passersby to drop their unused minutes into it." ~Bernard Berenson Our most precious commodity is time. You can always make more money. You only have so much time. In order to be successful in business, you must account for your time: the time you spend [...]
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, a predictable wave is washing over the Northeast. People are helping each other clean up, clear out and rebuild. The worst brings out the best in us, and acts of kindness are popping up all over. Kindness smooths the way for families to get back on their feet. Kindness [...]
Contractors are notorious for shortchanging themselves. They often don’t charge enough per hour. Or, put enough hours in the Job. How about you? Do you know if your prices are right? Do you know if you are properly bidding your Jobs? The bottom line is the bottom line. Hurray for you…if you are making all [...]
