You can’t be ambitious without taking action. And you can’t really live a fulfilled life without aspiring to be someone, to grow constantly. You want to appreciate your life, to earn your life, and not have to ask yourself, ‘Is that all there is?’ 

Sometimes the things that keep us from creating our own life is the way we were taught, or the way we were raised. We default to those learned characteristics, which can lead us into assuming we’re not capable of change. 

This exercise is for people who intellectually understand the Every Breath Paradigm I’ve spoken about, but who haven’t developed the muscle memory that makes it natural and instinctive in their lives. They aren’t capable, yet, of creating a psychological wall between their previous and  current selves so that the distinction is their new credo.

It’s easier to see our problems in others than to see them in ourselves. Often when I become self-righteous or angry about some perceived injustice, I realize that the deeper issue is often not with them but in me.

I love my job! The only tough part of my profession is that I travel constantly. On American Airlines alone, I have over 11 million...

When it comes to self-reflection, asking yourself active questions rather than passive questions changes the focus of your answers – and empowers you to make changes you wouldn’t otherwise consider!

I'm often asked a question. “How did you get into this field? What led you to be in this leadership development or coaching world,...

We often know what we should do—eat better, exercise, focus more, follow through—but we don’t do it. And it’s not because we’re bad...

If we’re lucky, every once in a while, something or someone comes along and unexpectedly opens our eyes to our faults and helps us strip...

Over my decades as a coach, I’ve identified six considerations for success. These are motivation, understanding, confidence, support, the...

What is the purpose of living an earned life? One answer I admire comes from Peter Drucker, who said, “Our mission in life is to make a...

Happiness coaching is popular because many of us still, despite our best wishes, fall prey to the lure of the siren call of our consumer culture: “I’ll be happy when….”  As I mentioned, some of my high-achieving clients find it hard to grasp the concept of my Every Breath Paradigm since their goals are so different from genuine fulfillment. These clients are always either looking forward or backward — the present moment doesn’t come into it. 

I do something along the same line. Whenever possible, I avoid making choices. If you were to look into my closet at home, you’d find a rack of more than fifty green polo shirts. On another rack, you’d see twenty-seven identical pairs of khaki pants. On the floor would be a half dozen pairs of brown leather loafers, in variable conditions, depending on how long I’ve been wearing them. 

As you read this article, think about your own behavior. How many times does your own “need to be me” get in the way of building positive relationships with the important people in your life? How many times have you rationalized away inappropriate behavior by saying, “That’s just the way I am!”

Do you love what you do? And does it matter to you? If the answer is yes, you’re already succeeding. If not, it’s time to make a change.

Success isn’t just about working hard in your current role—it’s about preparing for what’s next. If you want to advance, make sure you’re investing in your career, not just your job.

In Buddhist philosophy, the Monkey Mind describes a restless, unfocused state where thoughts jump from one idea to another—just like a monkey swinging from vine to vine.

One of the most important qualities of a great leader is the ability to control their words—especially when angry. It’s easy in theory: Don’t speak when you’re out of control. But in practice? It’s much harder.

Achieve for the sake of achieving. If something is important to you, go for it. Strive, grow, accomplish. Be happy for the sake of being happy. Don’t assume achievement will bring happiness—it won’t.

Once we get over whining because ‘life isn’t fair’ – we can become more effective at influencing others, making a positive difference!