From the Author

Very few of us are born on third base. Generally, most of us have to work hard for what we want and what we get. But unlike insects and animals that are genetically programmed with successful ways to behave, the best ways for us to steer our journeys toward success are not instinctual. We can […]

Autonomy is an important aspect of life, although not for everyone. Some people can readily accept certain guardrails, rules, and requirements that limit their choices. Of course, we need some of these. As the old saw goes: “Your right to swing your fist ends at my jaw.” But many of us crave more autonomy: the

Breathe in, breathe out. Work hard, rest easy. Our world consists of many opposites that together form a whole. This simple truth is often lost on people who seek to maximize their productivity and success. But they’re making a big mistake, because your work and your life are more like a marathon than a sprint,

It’s an ironclad truth that you are bound to encounter surprises in your work and your life. Hopefully, many of them will be pleasant. But every once in a while, you’re going to encounter a difficulty, danger, obstacle, or antagonist that you simply cannot avoid en route to your goal. To deal effectively with any

Think back over the past few years of your life: How much has changed? How quickly? How much have you had to learn, and unlearn? How well have you kept up with the demands on you to change? Until very recently, life was fairly static. Children could follow in their parents’ footsteps and most if

Life sometimes throws you lemons. That’s why it’s helpful to know how to dodge the worst hits and make lemonade from the rest. Here are some personality traits that will be useful in your work and your life before, during, and after the inevitable fusillade of lemons comes your way: Fight Through Adversity Fighting for

Some of us are interested in rising through the ranks of established organizations in order to gain additional authority and responsibility within them. To that end, I’ve provided some solid career advancement advice here and here. Now I’d like to offer some more specific techniques. No two career paths will be identical, of course, but

One of the hardest lessons for some people to learn is the power of authenticity. At one end of the spectrum we find “Imposter Syndrome,” the almost unshakeable, usually unfounded feeling you are unworthy of respect and success you have legitimately earned. At the other end we find extreme narcissism, the equally unshakeable, equally unfounded

Have a wonderful day. Stay safe.

As a productive and successful person, there’s a good chance your career will accelerate and you’ll have opportunities to take on more responsibility and authority. If that’s the way you want to go, here are some suggestions on useful ways to speed your progress in that direction: (Note: I’m calling this piece “A Path” instead