I almost never have a problem falling asleep. But, when I wake up in the middle of the night (which happens more, the older I get), I often have had a hard time falling back to sleep. I know the reason—too much on my mind. As soon as I start…
Just over two years ago, after seeing the movie Fruitvale Station, and coincidentally, around the same time, reading the book The New Jim Crow, I wrote a blog post about the importance of seeing the humanity in people, and how that relates to being a leader. ("Be a Leader" is one of the Six…
I received quite a few notes after a recent newsletter article about feeling overwhelmed by the many “rules” about staying healthy, especially healthy eating rules. There are many rules, and there seem to be more each day. It can certainly feel daunting. If you review the “rules” carefully, they don’t…
I often tell the story of my experience, soon after college in the 1980s, searching for an apartment in NYC. I was eager to move out of my parents' house and into NYC for all of the reasons that readily come to mind (the easier commute to my NYC job,…
The following is excerpted from one of my most popular newsletter pieces along with some of the wonderful feedback I received. I was recently telling someone about the trip Marcie and I took to Europe 30 years ago with backpacks after college. When there was a week remaining before Marcie…
This is a guest post by Louis Savalli. Every day is the same. From the moment you drag yourself out of bed, you’re devoting your time to taking care of other things and people. Whether it’s your kids, spouse, colleagues, customers, your house, or your car – you barely get…
When my kids were little, I used to get sick several times a year. The kids were getting exposed to colds and other viruses at school and hadn’t built up immunities yet. They would catch the cold and bring it home. We tried to follow good hygiene rules (hand-washing, etc.)…
Many years ago, my wife (Marcie) and I were presented with the idea of hiring a personal chef. It sounded like an odd idea—like something for the super-rich. But, we did some research, calling around to various places (this was before Google had become our go-to). We found a chef…
This is a guest post by Bethany Rosselit. Bethany blogs at Online Life Coaching, where she offers tips, e-courses, and individual e-mail, chat, and Skype sessions to help people simplify their lives, overcome their fears, and achieve their dreams. For the first 10 years of my marriage, I thought had…
This is going to be one of the shortest posts I’ve ever written. I recently wrote about experiences vs. stuff, as I’ve done before. I then read something reinforcing the experiences vs. stuff concept and wanted to share it. Look at the pictures on the walls of your house, your…
I recently read about a study published by a San Francisco State associate professor of psychology showing the value of experiences over things. I’ve written a few times about investing in experiences vs. “stuff” and it was interesting to see a study endorsing that route to a happier life. People…
Over and over I talk about making changes that stick because it’s something most people want. (During speaking engagements, when I ask if anyone makes New Year’s resolutions, nearly everyone raises their hands.) My method is one you’ve heard me talk about here many times: take big changes, break them…