The Blog

Can you figure out how to play your game by playing someone else's?

When I first started to learn to play jazz guitar, several teachers told me that to become a better improviser, I had to transpose and learn solos from other great guitarists.

It was bullsh*t advice.

Sure, they could play an endl...

Seneca was a well-known (some would say “notorious”) businessman, political advisor, and writer who lived during Nero’s rule of the Roman empire.

He even served as an advisor to Nero before the emperor sentenced him to die by slitting his own wrists.

But that’s a story for another time.

What’s pe...

Decisions matter. They matter a lot.

Why?

First, every decision to do something is also a decision not to do many other things.

Second, deciding not to do something is a decision and works exactly the same as above.

Third, a bad decision can end your ability to make any future decisions.

So, ho...

To play your game is to define the difference only you and craft it into a meaningful endeavor done with and for people you care about so you can live your legacy.

However, while you pursue what you want on your terms without compromising on the content of your character, there are a few ground rul...

Are you winning the game of life based on the rules you learned in school and on the job but not feeling the thrill of victory?

You’re not alone.

Many begin feeling lost and empty in midlife despite following the rules of the game of life established by society.

Although, you can recognize the fa...

What are mistakes, really?

The etymology is clear.* The prefix mis- (meaning “badly” or “wrongly”), changes take (meaning “grasp”) to “grasp badly or wrongly.”

In other words, we didn’t get what we tried to grasp when we made a mistake.

But why do we conflate mistakes with failure?

That seems th...

Play your game all in and full out.

That’s my mantra.

But what does that mean (and where does it come from)?

I was assigned the Bhagavad Gita in a 7th-grade world religions class.

I loved the story but didn’t fully understand all the references.

For instance, I remember asking my teacher, “What...

Ever had your feelings hurt or been frustrated by something that was said or done to you?

Have you ever hurt someone else’s feelings or frustrated them because what you said or did was misunderstood?

Why is that?

There’s a gap between the intention of your thoughts, words, and deeds and the impac...

Too many well-meaning difference-makers heed the gospel of grit and grind.

This is dangerous.

Following these false prophets only increases the likelihood of burnout or blowing yourself up.

If you’re working toward a worthwhile goal, some rigor is required.

But here’s what the preachers of hustl...

Increasing your peak performance frequency and consistency is a recipe for disaster.

Achieving a new “personal best” daily can only lead to burnout or blowing yourself up.

For instance, elite marathon runners don’t train by trying to beat their previous day’s time day after day. If they did, they’...