Norman Vincent Peale published The Power of Positive Thinking in 1952. But it’s only more recently that we’re learning about the destructive power of negative thinking. A few years ago, an author cornered me at a publishing conference to complain about his agent, gripe about his publicist, and grumble about his publisher. It was beyond […]
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When You’re Just Too Tired to Make the Right Call
When do you make your best decisions, at the end of a day crammed with meetings and calls? Or early in the morning after a day of rest? My Twitter stream was filled last week with teachers and professors grading papers—and by that I mean teachers and professors complaining about grading papers. It’s hard work, […]
Why The Best Reading App Available Today Is Not What You Think
This is going to sound crazy. After all, I run an online content business. But the best reading app for comprehension, emotional engagement, and more is … paper. Whether we go back to the ancient Egyptians or the Chinese, there’s nothing new about paper. What is new is the understanding that reading on paper is […]
What to Do When You’re Afraid to Commit
When we think of the fear of commitment, we usually picture a guy who’s been dating a girl since forever and won’t get off the dime, right? But there’s another kind of commitment phobia we need to address. Forget about relationships. Think instead about deadlines, deliverables, benchmarks, and budgets. How willing are you to make […]
3 Surprising Reasons Every Entrepreneur Needs Regular Exercise
Exercise used to be the last thing on my mind. Now it’s a regular part of my life, and I can’t imagine missing the benefits—especially as an entrepreneur. Most adults don’t get the regular exercise they need, according to the CDC. As a high-achiever, I totally get it. Carving out time to run or strength […]
What You Do Right Before Bed Determines How Productive and Focused You’ll Be Tomorrow
I have written and talked a lot about how the right morning routine can set you up for a productive day. The same is true for nighttime rituals. The right activities before you sleep can set you up for success the next day. I used to have the worst time getting to sleep at night. […]
Don’t Hire People Unless the Batteries Are Included
Some gadgets come with batteries and some don’t. If I told you it’s the same with people, what kind would you like to work with: those with or without batteries? I picked up this metaphor from an episode of Dan Sullivan’s 10XTalk Podcast. Dan said he basically divides everyone into one of two categories: Those […]
How to Defeat the Terrible Tyranny of Tiny Tasks
My wife, Gail, recently purchased a DVD set of The Jetsons. Remember that? The cartoon imagined what life would be like in the future: robots, flying cars, and other conveniences—like minimal work hours. But it hasn’t panned out like that, has it? Believe it or not, since the 1930s economists and others predicted a future […]
Why You Don’t Need a Huge Platform to Get Published—And What it Really Takes Instead
These days everyone knows that you need a platform to get published. But if you’re like a lot of people I meet, you’re overwhelmed, short on time, and not sure where to begin. It feels impossible. But what if I told you it’s easier than you think? Part of our problem is that we blow […]
How Entrepreneurs Can Succeed at Work Without Blowing Up Their Marriages
If I had a dollar for every time people asked my wife, Gail, how she lives with an entrepreneur, I wouldn’t have to be one. Scratch that. I would probably figure out how to get more people to ask the question. (Sorry, I can’t help myself!) Being an entrepreneur is part of who I am. […]