What if you really listened to understand? Now I mean, really listened to understand what that person is thinking and feeling and why.
Our society has moved to a dangerous part of history where we have powerful narratives and beliefs about how things need to be, and we get dogmatic and sink into what we believe as opposed to being very curious about why someone thinks differently.
We often believe that “our truth” is “the” truth.
Continue Reading »Everyone needs a mentor. In order to achieve any level of mastery, we have to find mentors in the areas where we need to grow in next. We need to find the kind of people who want to take us on. One thing to recognize as you’re choosing a mentor: don’t hang on forever. We are in that relationship for a period of time to learn a certain thing. And our goal should be to surpass the mentor—that’s the best gift we can give to a mentor.
Now if somebody chooses you as a mentor—first of all, what an honor. But don’t allow the feeling of honor to blunt your usefulness. Remember that the best mentors know how to be abruptly truthful with the mentee. Sometimes we get stuck, and we just need someone to slap us around a little bit—figuratively, of course—to help us understand that there’s something more for us.
Years ago, I had a mentor. And I said something to him. I don’t remember what it was, but I’ll never forget his response. He said, “I’m appalled by your thinking. That’s very pedestrian thinking. That’s not how you think. You need to think at a higher level.”
Continue Reading »What if you started today, and every day, by asking yourself this question: What kind of person would I like to be today? What one word would describe me? Well, that’s an interesting thought. Maybe you’re gonna say kind. Well, that would change the way you’d go about your day. Or maybe you’d be innovative. That would change the way you’d go about the day. Or maybe it’d be resourceful. I’ll just figure everything out. That too would shape the choices you made throughout the day.
Continue Reading »Don’t you love to put a long list of things together to begin the week or at the beginning of the day, so that you can check them off as you get things done?
Yes, there’s great joy in accomplishment.
Continue Reading »Did you ever do something kind of stupid?
And did you ever want to be forgiven as a result of that disaster?
Yeah, I think we’ve all been in that place, and so has everyone else.
When you work with other people, you have to know that they’re going to make mistakes.
They’re going to sometimes say things that hurt you.
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