“I would have written you a shorter letter if I had more time” is the modern-day translation of a quote from 17th century mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal. It captures perfectly two of the most important disciplines of writing: precision and brevity. Rambling, muddled, and lengthy writing is painful to read. It’s frustrating and confusing. It …
Category: The Sunday Snippet – good ideas to help you prosper
Everything is figureoutable
Ever feel stuck and scared? Having trouble getting started? Not sure what to do next? All pretty normal and natural feelings, especially now during a global pandemic, but the key is to shake those feelings fast. Marie Forleo is the author of Everything is Figureoutable. She writes and speaks about a variety of leadership, entrepreneurship, and …
And: the power of thinking in combinations and win-win
It was F. Scott Fitzgerald who said, “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.” This is exactly what the best leaders – and their organizations – are able to do. And it is the …
Ambitions: How to lean in if you’re already all in
All moms are working moms. Period. Whether they’re working inside the home or outside the home, they’re working. Hard. It’s dawn to dusk, and then some. It’s changing gears constantly, from household tasks, to professional responsibilities, to emotional maintenance. A few years ago I gave Sheryl Sandberg’s book “Lean In” to my wife, Sarah Jane, thinking she …
Momentum powers motivation: how to cultivate it
Being stuck is the worst. No one likes to be part of an endless project with no goal line in sight. It’s a sure path to burnout, and a waste of time, money, energy and emotion. Momentum, on the other hand, motivates. It drives you. It excites you. Progress, forward motion – quick wins – …
Trust
Without trust, nothing in society would work. We go out in public among strangers because we trust we won’t be attacked. We give a loan, not because of a promissory note, but because we trust the person to repay it based on their word (and past behavior.) We travel in planes because we trust pilots …
Asking
Do you ever have trouble asking for what you want? “The ask” may be one of the most important, yet most unpolished skills of our professional and interpersonal relationships. John Baker is the author of the book “The Asking Formula” and has developed a whole curriculum on how to ask for things persuasively and effectively. Baker maintains …
Renewal
No matter where you are on the spectrum of faith, it’s Easter Sunday and Passover, times of hope, rebirth and renewal – both seasonally and spiritually. In 2013, columnist David Brooks was going through his own self-imposed, self-isolation that he fully admits was his own fault. He’d given in to the common lies that society …
Fine
It’s like a reflex. You ask someone “How are you?” and they answer “Fine, and you?” It’s a greeting, really, not meant to be a dialogue or a real question and real answer. It’s a courteous habit. But what if you sense someone really isn’t fine? Now more than ever, being an emotionally supportive spouse, …
Framing
How we perceive our options – framing – especially in a time of adversity, can make all the difference in staying productive and positive. It’s especially important when trying to find possibilities and opportunities in uncertainty, rather than retreating in panic. Framing – or re-framing – a challenge can make it easier to deal with. …