Posted: November 19, 2025 | Categories: Leadership, Self-Improvement, Uncategorized

It may not surprise you to hear that an estimated 60% of workers do not enjoy their job. When I think of that, it makes me sad. It also reminds me that we are all unique individuals right down to every cell in our bodies. It is quite likely that every day there is an opportunity to use one of our gifts. The problem is sometimes we can get lazy and we say, “I don’t see my name on it.”

Many decades ago, Brian Tracy, professional trainer and author, identified these criteria to help us uncover and cultivate our special talents. Here are his key points:

8 Ways for you to identify and determine your special talent and what you are uniquely suited to do:

1. You will always be the best at something that you love to do. If you could afford it, you would do it without pay. It brings out the very best in you, and you get a tremendous amount of satisfaction and enjoyment when you are engaged in that particular work.
2. You do it well. You seem to have a natural ability to perform in that area.
3. This talent has been responsible for most of your success and happiness in life up to now. From an early age, it is something you enjoyed to do and you got the greatest rewards and compliments from other people.
4. It is something that was easy for you to learn, and easy to do. In fact, it was so easy to do, you forgot when and how you learned it. You just found yourself doing it easy and well one day.
5. It holds your attention. It absorbs you and fascinates you. You like to read about it, talk about it, and learn about it. It seems to attract you like a moth to a flame.
6. You love to learn about it, and become better at it all your life. You have a deep inner desire to really excel in this particular area.
7. When you do what you are ideally suited to do, time stands still. You can often work in your area of special talent for long periods without eating or sleeping hour after hour because you get so involved in it.
8. You really admire and respect other people who are good at what you are most suited to do. You want to be like them and be around them, and emulate them in every way.

If you can take time to answer these questions, this should lead you to the things you do naturally well, and enjoy doing. Find a way to weave your strengths into your work. Then go through the same exercise with those who report to you.

Posted: October 17, 2025 | Categories: Leadership, Management, Presentation skills, Self-Improvement

 “Hope for the best…prepare for the worst” – Chris Bradford

A prominent leader was once asked what the most important advice he could give someone to have a successful career. He replied, “Prepare relentlessly”

Have you ever found yourself getting jittery about an upcoming presentation or event?  If you are, my question to you is: “How prepared are you?”

Several years ago, I experienced a cheap lesson in the value of being over-prepared.  I was scheduled to facilitate some training at the headquarters of a major corporation.  I had put together a PowerPoint presentation and I was assured by the event coordinator that all I needed to do was bring the presentation downloaded on a thumb drive.  As a backup, I decided to bring my laptop.  It is a good thing that I did!  When we began setting up for the session, the tech set-up person ran into some difficulties.  The system would not work.  He began to panic.  I didn’t.  Instead I pulled out my laptop and it saved the day.  The session went smoothly, and I felt good about it afterwards.

When you are anticipating a future event, here are two questions I have:

1. What are you concerned or stressed about?
2. What can you do about it?

Answering that second question can lead to some additional research or rehearsal.  I will leave you one of my favorite quotes from Dale Carnegie:

“When you go through life unprepared,, you won’t go alone…FEAR will be your constant companion”

Posted: September 23, 2025 | Categories: Leadership, Self-Improvement, Team Building

Think of a time when you were working or interacting with someone and they “snapped” at you.  It was unexpected, and it took you off guard.  You may have reacted by saying or doing something that you would later regret.  Instead of reacting, I think there is a better way to respond in such a situation.

When I was in my 30’s, I was reading an article on Roy Rogers, the most popular TV cowboy of the early 50’s.  Roy had a full career and a wonderful life.  People loved working for him.  He and his wife Dale treated everyone like family.  His kindness was legendary.  To illustrate, one day he was talking to a team member, and they were getting tense and frustrated.  Instead of reacting, Roy paused with a loving sparkle in his eye and said, “Let’s take a walk”.  They did, and Roy just listened.  It should come as no surprise that his team member was struggling with something personal, and it was showing up in their demeanor.  Roy Rogers knew the value of taking a pause and listening to understand.  No wonder his team was so loyal!

Whether at home or at work, we will all have days when something is “eating” us.  It may relate to a challenge with a relationship, finances, or even health.  Whatever the issue, we need to not let it affect our work.  When another is showing irritation or frustration, we may want to take a Roy Rogers time out and get in sync with the other person.  If we do, we will be taking a step towards a more positive and productive team.

Posted: August 12, 2025 | Categories: Leadership, Management, Self-Improvement, Team Building

“Whatever you can do or dream…begin it!  Boldness has genuius, power, and magic in it” 

-Goethe

Last week I was talking to one of my clients in healthcare.  He was so excited about his work that you could almost envision a glow around him.  Noting his ebullience, I asked him what gets him so fired up.  He answered, “I love my boss’s vision and I want to help him make it happen”  I know his boss very well, and what he said was true.

His boss, (we’ll call him Todd), has lived with a vision he’s loved for as long as he can remember.  It is related to healthcare for the elderly, and everything he does himself and with his team are driving that vision.  When we think of phenomena like Apple, Microsoft, or the Pyramids of Egypt, they all have one thing in common:  A big, powerful vision.  When a vision is in full force, we clearly see and fulfill our purpose, and our emotional drive is full throttle.

Surveys have shown that the majority of workers today don’t like their jobs.  If you ask anyone in this category what the vision of their company is, you would probably not get an exuberant response.  Conversely, when you ask someone who is embraced in and is totally engaged in their company’s vision, you will likely receive a lively response.  Be prepared to sit back and listen.  They would love to tell you all about it!

So what is the vision that is driving you?  Are you excited and clear about where you are going and determined to get there?  If you are, you are headed for a life you can look back on with a big “thumbs up”.

Posted: July 17, 2025 | Categories: Customer service, Leadership, Management, Sales, Self-Improvement

Nearly 40 years ago I was viewing a session on time management and I saw a demonstration I’ll never forget:  The speaker asked the audience of 80 people, “How many of you have been on time for every appointment you have had in the last year?”  Only three raised their hand.  Since that day all those years ago, I can count the number of times I have been late on one hand. Being on time is my non-negotiable standard.

Unfortunately, one of those “non-punctual” times happened this past weekend.  My wife and I were scheduled to visit our son and grandchildren.  We said we would be there between 9:30 – 10:00am.  We didn’t arrive until 10:15.  As a result our son had to reschedule some activities to compensate.

My son is 38, and this was my first time being late.  I knew he must be thinking it was my wife’s fault.  It wasn’t.  It was mine!  The reason was poor planning.  I made it very clear that it was my fault and I apologized for not respecting his time.  No excuses.  No blame. I suppose I could have brushed it off and said in a dispassionate tone, “Sorry I’m late”.  I couldn’t do that.  This was a big deal.  When we say we will be somewhere at a certain time, that is a commitment.  It is a promise.  It is our reputation.  It shows we respect the most valuable thing we have…our time.

I conclude with the speaker’s follow up question:  He asked the 3 “on-timers” who raised their hands how they did it.  They all had the same answer, and I’ll bet you know what it is:  LEAVE EARLY!  Be punctual.  Be a person who can be counted on.