Never exchange five minutes of discomfort for two weeks of work and a year of resentment. Everywhere I go and speak, people talk to me about their schedules. They tell me they’ve never been busier. They’re overwhelmed and out of balance. Part of the problem is caused by their inability to say “No.” When people ask them to do something, …
The Three Benefits of Taking More Risks
You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. When I was a student years ago, one of my college professors told us about a study that examined the way living beings react to change. Researchers placed four tubes on the floor, side by side, with a hunk of cheese placed in the …
It's Better To Look Stupid Than To Be Stupid
Asking stupid questions is always better than correcting stupid mistakes. I spent fifteen years as a university professor, and I’ve spent the last fifteen years as a professional speaker in several hundred organizations. One thing I’ve noticed in both environments is people’s reluctance to ask questions. No one wants to give the impression of not knowing something. That’s sad, but …
Learn to Say No – And Get What You Really Want Out Of Life
The man who works from 8 to 8 every day will both be very successful and fondly remembered by his widow’s next husband. Why do so many smart business people work too hard, live too fast, and then feel strongly ambivalent about their success? It’s simple. They’ve never taken the time to figure out what they really, really want, and …