As has happened to me many times before, this year I found myself inspired by a eulogy delivered by a friend upon the passing of one of his parents. Every funeral I attend leaves me a better person because of something I learn about the deceased, and their life well…
I first became aware of the climate crisis in 2006 when I saw the movie “An Inconvenient Truth”. The movie depressed me. My usual coping mechanisms failed. It took me over a year to overcome those feelings. I read everything I could about technology being developed to deal with the…
At least once a year, an event in the speaker series at 92Y in Manhattan catches my eye. I’ve seen several of my favorite writers, including Malcom Gladwell (three times) and Michael Lewis. This year, I saw Arthur Brooks in conversation with Simon Sinek. I have become a fan of…
Another September 11 is upon us. I publish posts on Wednesdays and with September 11 on a Wednesday this year I looked back to see what I had written in the past on this subject. I started this blog in late 2011 and found two posts: 2012 and 2013. The…
Last year, I published a piece about leaders being followers—following a cause bigger than themselves. A reader wrote to me with some of his leadership experiences: Another thing when I think of a leader is someone who empowers and assists others to live up to their potential. During my career, this…
This year, my wife and I celebrated our 30th anniversary. Around the same time, I read a blog post called “8 Traits of a Happy Marriage, According to a Couples Therapist.” I agree with all eight of the defining characteristics of long-lasting, happy marriages. I am particularly drawn to these…
My friend Ed sent me the following note after we had gotten together and talked about the way we each have a drive to make a difference; to make the world a better place. I recently spoke at an event and closed with this… In the end: What will matter…
“Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood” is the fifth of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, one of the all-time, best-selling, personal development books. We often jump to conclusions and make assumptions with incomplete information. When we do that—when we fail to seek to understand someone…
I heard someone recently say great leaders are not leaders—they are followers. They are following a cause greater than themselves. People came to hear Martin Luther King, Jr. speak not because of him but because of themselves; because of something inside which told them what type of country they wanted…
Pride Month has just come to an end, and I was thinking about the way LGBTQ issues have been in the news in a big way over the last few years. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2015 for equal rights for those in same-sex marriages. The fight for transgender…
I've written many times: helping others is one of the greatest happiness strategies. A recent way I have been helping others is by donating my voice to people who live with voicelessness. My involvement with this activity started when I read an article about VocaliD, a for-profit company. It seems…
After I republished my post Kindness & the Common Good in my monthly newsletter, a reader sent me this note I want to share with you: Thank you for this email (newsletter)! I have a constant, inner conversation with myself where I try to be mindful of the point of…