At the deepest level, I hate losing. But recently, I had a surprising revelation. Over the past few months, I’ve been in the midst of some serious ping pong (yes, ping pong) tournaments at my work. Picture what you would expect from an office ping pong tournament. Now triple the intensity – that’s what I’ve …
Perfection. It’s an admirable goal. But we often miss the risk that is inherent in this pursuit. We miss the dangers of the facade of perfection. Back in high school, I was fortunate to have some public successes. And because of that, I would occasionally be referred to as “Mr. Perfect”, or something similar. I knew …
When legendary comedian Steve Martin was asked what advice he would give to aspiring comedians, his response was simple. “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” Notice what he didn’t include. There’s nothing about; Waiting for the world to present you with an opportunity. Finding coaches/teachers/bosses who will treat you special. Relying on anything external …
Where does humility come from? First, it might be worth defining humility. Admittedly, there are many working definitions out there, but for simplicity we’ll use: “A modest view of one’s importance.” Through the years, I’ve been consistently told that I came across as being extremely humble. As I was doing well academically and helping to …
One of the most impactful things I’ve done over the last few years has been taking on a gratitude practice. It started with a seemingly simple, insignificant process. Using the Five Minute Journal, I would write down three things that I was grateful for each morning. Quick and easy. Some days, coming up with three things …
The moments that define our lives are often those times when we’re most uncomfortable – stressful situations at home, key plays on the sports field, placement tests, public speaking, etc. Naturally, these situations are difficult. There’s a lot at stake, and our body responds to that. But those of us who can put aside this …
In Super Bowl XLIX, the Seattle Seahawks were driving late in the game, with an opportunity to all but guarantee victory with a touchdown. But on second down and goal with 26 seconds left, Russell Wilson threw a pass that was intercepted by Malcolm Butler, sealing the victory for the New England Patriots. In a …
Goal setting is a powerful tool for achievement, but it isn’t the ultimate solution. Some situations are perfectly suited for goal setting. Typically, these are times when there is a clearly defined vision of success, and when the path towards achieving that vision is relatively straightforward. For example, academic goals for high school students make …
Discipline is at the heart of excellence. Whether it’s athletics, academics, business, medicine, law, etc. – world class performers across the board have the discipline to put in the work when times get tough. They focus on what matters most rather than what they want at any given moment. As Lou Holtz puts it: “Without …
A few weeks ago, a straggly group of individuals walked into a gas station while I was pumping gas. They seemed to be a family walking from their nearby home, but I’m not really sure. All I know is that they looked like they had had a long day. As they were walking by, I …