I just ran across an excellent quote from one of my favorite authors, C.S. Lewis: "God allows . . . disappointment to occur on the threshold of every human endeavor.  It occurs when the boy who has been enchanted in the nursery by Stories from the Odyssey buckles down to really learning Greek.  It occurs…

Every great leader knows the feeling of being caught up in the momentum of a great cause.  True leaders live for those moments and exert every ounce of their ability to push things along toward their ultimate vison.  For a leader, there is perhaps nothing more exhilarating than having one's efforts lead to results that are…

There is an abundance of sayings that address the concept of beginning something.  "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step," and "starting is more than half of finishing," are just two that come immediately to mind.  But it seems to me that finishing is more important than starting. Let me explain. …

My name is OBSTACLES, and for you English speakers it’s Greek, so it’s pronounced “Ob-stock-a-leez.” I am your worst enemy.  It is my pleasure and privilege to haunt your every move toward self-improvement and success. I have many weapons I can use against you.  And I am so confident that they are superior to your…

Frederick F. Reichheld, contributor to the Harvard Business Review and author of several books, defines The Loyalty Effect as "The full range of economic and human benefits that accrue to leaders who treat their customers, operators, and employees in a manner worthy of their loyalty."  Reichheld’s premise about loyalty might seem obvious at first.  Of…

  Marcus Luttrell, the U.S. Navy SEAL that was the lone survivor of Operation Redwing in Afghanistan, in which just four Navy SEALS held off and/or killed a large group of Taliban fighters, wrote about the difficulty of the SEAL program training.  At one critical point in the gruelling routine, in which all but the…

It's when the chips are down that true leaders rise to the surface.  In struggle, confusion, and challenge, real leaders take stock of the situation and lead others through the chaos.  For some reason, the others are happy to follow.  The substance between the leader and those who voluntarily follow his or her direction is…

One of my favorite things is to create something new.  There is a satisfaction in conceiving something in one's mind and then working to bring it to reality.  For me it could be a book, an article on this blog, a business activity, home designs, or a drawing.  I think this is true for most…

I read a book recently that really got me thinking (always a good thing).  It taught the lesson of giving value to others beyond the level expected.  The concept is "under promise and over deliver."  What a great place the world would be if everybody, in every transaction, placed chief concern on adding the most…

One of the concepts many individuals associated with LIFE get excited about is something called the "Media War."  I have heard wonderful stories about how the CDs, books, DVDs, audio and video clips, pamphlets, and events have changed people's lives, given them new perspectives, and taught them things they never knew before. The concept of…