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The Value of Exploration and "Small Bets"

I really like this quote from James Clear, author of the book Atomic Habits: “When nothing is working, explore and make a lot of small bets. After something starts working, double down on what works best. When that stops working, explore and make a lot of small bets again.” Three

A Word About "Assumptions"

"The assumptions you make determine the course you take." Always test your assumptions, lest they lead you down the wrong path.

Bridge Differences

The differences between us are not nearly as great as the distance before us.  Let’s travel that distance together. A quote related to this idea was shared with me by a coworker: "If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, walk

A Thought to Defy Perfectionism

"Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack . . . in everything That’s how the light gets in" Leonard Cohen, “Anthem”

What it Means to Live Your Life in Crescendo

*crescendo (n.) "a gradual increasing in force or loudness," 1776 as a musical term, from Italian crescendo "increasing," from Latin crescendo, ablative of gerund of crescere "to increase, grow" (from PIE root *ker- (2) "to grow"). Figurative use is from 1785. As

Don't Put Off Your Life

"You do get to a certain point in life where you have to realitically, I think, understand that the days are getting shorter. And you can't put things off, thinking you'll get to them someday. If you really want to do them, you better do

The "Steinbeck Principle"

I really appreciate this quote, attributed to John Steinbeck, Nobel Prize-winning author of the The Grapes of Wrath: "When I face the desolate impossibility of writing 500 pages, a sick sense of failure falls on me and I know I can never do it. Then, gradually, I write one

Just Start . . .

Motion Builds Momentum Sir Issac Newton stated, as his first law of motion, that a body that is already in motion tends to stay in motion. Well known author Steven Pressfield in his book, “The War of Art,” said the following about writers, but equally applies to any of us

A Reminder That You Can Only Do What You Know How to Do at the Time You Know How to Do It

“l did then what I knew how to do, now that I know better, I do better.” Maya Angelou

Small Actions - Big Results

“Interestingly, simple and ordinary experiences often provide the most important learning opportunities we ever have.”           David A Bednar, Religious Leader and Educator We should not discount small and simple learning experiences, or their subtle power to gradually shape and change us. Small actions can lead to big results, especially over

A Reminder That It’s Easier to Take Life One Step at a Time

Here’s my extension of a favorite quote I first heard from business leader Art Williams: Mile by mile is often a trial Even “yard by yard” can be “hard,” But “inch by inch is a cinch!”

This Definition of Success at First Surprised Me

Here is a very useful, if somewhat paradoxical definition of success: “Success isn’t the absence of failure, but going from the failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm.”* I am a person who does not enjoy failing. In fact, I really hate to fail at anything (in this,

Crafting Your Identity

Envisioning—Who you would like to become. Reframing Your Story—That you tell about yourself. Building New Habits—To validate who you are becoming. These can be steps in developing, improving, creating and crafting your desired identity. Dream---Decide---Do See---Hear---Act

“Done is Better Than Good”

“Done is better that good,” a quote from author Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, Big Magic, really threw me for a loop when I first read it. I had heard another version of this idea before, namely, “Done is better that perfect.” I could at least get my mind around the

Spiritual Creation Proceeds Physical Creation

When it comes to planing (or better yet, crafting*) you future day, week, month, year, or even your life, to be truly successful, you need to create it spiritually (in others words, have a vision of what you want to do, accomplish, or create) before you create it physically (or

Living Creatively, Even with Constraints

Part of living creatively has to do with the idea that as we begin to blossom, as we begin to unfold, as we begin to try to develop ourselves, we always hit up against obstacles, constraints, frustrations,  and roadblocks that get in the way, that limit us.   Part of the

How Limitations Can Actually Help Us

Strange as it may sound our limitations are our liberations—meaning, that when we must work against the constraints that are placed upon us, we become stronger, develop more flexibility, become more creative and inventive and ultimately freer because we have an increased capacity, competency and skill to deal with

Don’t Let This Get in the Way of Your Dreams

One of the main obstacles to people finding their ideal work is fear. One of the things I have learned in working with clients is that they usually have a better sense of what they really want to do work-wise than they let on. They may simply be fearful that

What Does "Work" Really Mean?

What first comes to mind when you hear the word, “Work?” I can’t say for sure if this is true of everyone, but in our current cultural we often think of work as negative, as something to be avoided, maybe even a “four-letter word” connected with something at best

Career Development as Art

I recently came across an article* describing what economist Lawrence Katz referred to as the rise of “artisanal careers.”  The notion to me is an appealing one. While the main point of the article is to emphasize that people will be more likely to be successful in the future if

Ideas on the Concept of "Gifts"

For a several years now, I have been thinking about ideas related to how we might understand the concept of “gifts”--or in other words, those abilities and talents we possess that we can use for our own benefit, and the benefit of others: * Gifts are things we both receive

A Quick Thought About Using Our Talents

When we engage in activities we enjoy doing and use the personal talents and strengths we most delight in using, it tends to renew our strength rather than take it away, particularly if it follows doing things that have otherwise drained us. It is a way of renewing our energy

What I Like About Ben Platt’s Tony Awards Quote

Ben Platt, star of the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen, said this, as he accepted the award for the Best Actor in a Musical award at the Tony Awards in June 2017:  “Don’t waste any time trying to be like anybody but yourself, because the things that make you

What Your Life Stories Can Teach You

The field of career and life counseling and development was founded just a little over 100 years ago. For most of that time the field has used a method called trait and factor theory to help people to determine what career they should pursue, or what course they should follow

Why the Name "LifesWork"

I chose the name LifesWork for my consulting/coaching practice because I wanted the name to reflect my focus on helping people in finding their ideal work, and also to reflect how it is important to recognize that you work is an integral part of your whole life.  I also