More On Criticism
“If you haven’t got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me.” – Alice Roosevelt Longworth Im reading a newsletter on leadership that says since “no one likes to be told hes wrong,” the shrewd executive will do everything he can to make his criticism indirect. Ive…
READ MOREWhat I Learned About Leadership From Dance Lessons
Several years ago, I reluctantly agreed to take ballroom dance lessons. Im glad I did. When you begin a modern marriage (listen up, young ‘uns), you both go into it as partners. The arrangement you presume is that you are going to be in charge of some things and she…
READ MORELive The Second Half Of Your Life Better
I turned 50 this year. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. My body didn’t disintegrate. My mind still makes the roll call. It has been the occasion of some trifling contemplation. At 50, you are at the crest of your life. That means you can,…
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Chronic Takers – How to Get Them Out of Your Life
Source out the chronic takers in your life and work and take these steps to eliminate their negative impact on your own success and happiness.
READ MOREScheduling Stress Breaks
If you work as hard as I do, you will be forever on the verge of a nervous breakdown unless you do something about it. One of the best things you can do is schedule at least two (and preferably three or four) stress breaks every working day. A stress…
READ MOREMore on Trusting Employees
The piece I wrote about trusting employees (Message #274) — about the kind of safeguards you should effect against pilferage — provoked a lot of objections. KM, a corporate trainer and a good friend, took exception to my attack on academics. “That was such crap,” she said. “You have to…
READ MORELiving Rich: Fake It Till You Make It: How To Tour An Art Museum
Nothing will enrich your life as much as the appreciation of art. By art, I mean the fine arts — painting, sculpture, and all that — but also the crafts (woodworking, needlepoint, masonry, etc.) and sports. If you want to Live Rich, you have to — absolutely have to —…
READ MOREGood Manners Are Critical At Business-Related Social Functions
When you are attending a business dinner (or some other business-related social function) with your customers and colleagues, you have an opportunity to improve or degrade the opinion others have of you. Only a foolish person would ignore this fact. Here are a few recommendations, all based on very recent…
READ MOREDon’t Betray Your Partner/Boss
What do you do when someone who works for you walks into your office and says, “I have something I want to tell you, but you must promise you wont tell your partner/boss?” If you agree to listen, you have made a serious mistake. You have betrayed the fundamental relationship…
READ MOREHow To Make Your Children and Employees Expect More But Produce Less
In response to Message #188 (“You Want to Be a Success? Dont Underestimate the Importance of Education”), ES wrote, “Your ETR is EXACTLY what I’ve been saying for years. Unfortunately, I was one of the people who helped create this unfortunate mess — I was a teacher in the early…
READ MOREHow to Encourage Loyalty
In business, if not in all of life, there is no more important virtue than loyalty. Courage and conviction are critical to making progress by yourself, but the moment you enter into any kind of collaborative effort — and virtually all businesses are collaborative — you are in a world…
READ MORESometimes It’s Smart To Shoot For Second Place
It may sometimes seem like I’m always pushing you in the direction of becoming No.1 — of being your own boss and having your own business. And I won’t deny that I spend a lot of time talking about the advantages of entrepreneurship and equity. But some people are better…
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