In the Buddhist teaching, Upajjhatthana Sutta, there are five remembrances for contemplation. The one I reflect on the most, by far, was best paraphrased by the late Thich Nhat Hanh: My Actions are my only true belongings. They are the…
Power, personal power specifically, is often defined as the ability to influence people and events. I don't disagree but the definition lacks a core. Power is not a veneer, it is not a lever or a conduit. What it is,…
When did you last feel like you communicated clearly and with authority? Was it easy or hard to find that moment in your mind? Did you succeed? The brain is a wondrous place but we aren't always adept at interpreting…
Do any conversations benefit from being conducted under pressure? Conversations can, and are, conducted under stress every day. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean they wouldn't be as, or more, productive without it. Our own physiology is at the heart of the…
When there is concerning public news (for example, a pandemic with uncertain ramifications in the offing) it is easy to either ignore it or go into a full spin. The fact is that sometimes we need to believe either that…
By the time human babies begin to speak, they are masters of adapting the sounds they hear into the electric signals that create them. They do this by listening, practicing, and gauging our response. It's pretty cool. In a recent…
Moving from one place to another. From a one-on-one meeting, to a conference room or call, presenting to a client, or stepping onto a larger stage. All of these are speaking situations with their own requirements, their own techniques and…
Resolve(v): To decide firmly on a course of action. End of year approaches and for many people that means making resolutions for the new year. In fact, anywhere from 40-45% of Americans will make New Years Resolutions at least once…
About 20 years ago, I participated in a blood drive. The process itself was uneventful. Afterward, I was led to a table where I was to eat a cookie and have some juice. That is where things got interesting. I…
