The Blog

"Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." - George Bernard Shaw

You're a lousy listener. So am I. It's a human thing. We're just not programmed to tune in and understand someone else's perspective or experience.

You and I are telling ourselves stories; stories about who we ...

When is the "right" time to step into possibility, develop excellence, and start making a difference in an endeavor you're building?

Most often we decide it's "later." We convince ourselves that we need to learn more, think about it, get our ducks in a row, or wait for the "right" moment.

The thin...

We live in a time of abundance. Everything you want to have can be delivered to your device or door instantly. Anything you want to share can be delivered the moment you think it or make it.

And yet...

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

But when should you or shouldn't you?

In The Ma...

I was about to turn 50. I was a husband, father, teacher, and musician. In each of those endeavors, I was doing well enough by anyone's standards.

And yet...

I knew I could do more. I believed I could do better. I was ready to do both more and better in all my endeavors.

But how?

I began by look...

The history of music, Western music at least, is the story of growing more and more comfortable with dissonance. Over time, our ability to embrace, appreciate, and dance with this tension has increased.

Listen to a Gregorian chant and then tune in to composition by Ornette Coleman and you'll get a ...

For those that endeavor, the conventional wisdom is "go big or go home." Following this advice is precisely why so few enterprises ever get started or off the ground. Instead of "swinging for the fences" and then quitting when you "strike out," why not strategically "settle" for "base hits?" Why not...

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"Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn

Books are my go-to source for inspiration and information in my endeavors. ...

At the heart of any endeavor is the idea that you enhance your life most through work that enhances the lives of others. Some know what their next project is and who it's for. Others are seeking both an enterprise and an audience for it.

Whichever group you align with, there's always room to endeav...

"One’s ultimate aim is to do all in one’s power to shoot straight, and the same applies with our ultimate goal." - Cicero

What is the goal of the archer who steps onto the field, notches her arrow, draws it back, and takes aim at the target?

Most assume that the goal of the archer is to hit th...

It's commencement season. One period of life ends, another begins. How are you helping the "graduates" in your life to step into possibility and potential?

Most of us work for a living and we spend a chunk of our lives doing that work. Yet most of us don't much get advice or guidance about choosing...

It’s spring in Southwestern Virginia. Time to make some important decisions about what flowers to plant in the beds around our small home, annuals or perennials?

Here’s the thing. Annuals bloom only once, but they’re brighter, showier, cheaper, and require less care than perennials.

Perennials on ...

I find a to-do list  a seductive way to hide from the real work I need to do. What about you?

Too often my to-do list is full of non-essential tasks  like "organize my top desk drawer." Just as often, my to-do list is made up of outright distractions or tasks that get done automatically and don't r...