At his dojo, George Leonard would sometimes have his students practice a certain aikido technique.  Then, he would have them meditate for a few minutes.  Next, he would have them repeat the same technique as part of their meditation.  

The difference between the technique done before the meditation and after the meditation was readily apparent: the students movements were more natural, more flowing, less forced.

This week, we are looking … continue reading

“How strange it is that such a simple act – sitting motionless, calming the mind, and letting the heart turn toward realms beyond the ordinary – can have such transforming effects,” writes George Leonard in The Way of Aikido.  

This week we are looking at some of the key learnings from George’s book which apply to our lives beyond the aikido mat.  Today, we revisit the practice and power… continue reading

One week ago, rioters violently stormed the US Capitol in an effort to disrupt the process of democracy at work.  This week I shared with our associates at PCI a video of Senator Ben Sasse’s remarks following the violence during which five people died, including a Capitol Hill police officer.

Senator Sasse stated:  “That’s not who we are…  America is a union. There’s a lot that’s broken in this country … continue reading

During World War II as a fighter pilot in the southwest Pacific theater in the Philippines, George Leonard flew 21 low-to-the-ground strafing missions in 28 days.  Two of his 18 squadron mates were killed.  

To survive and prevail under such conditions required full attention for many hours at a time as the missions lasted upward of five hours.  “Still, there was something deeply satisfying in simply being so fully engaged,” … continue reading

George Leonard couldn’t believe it.

His agent was on the phone.  The publisher of his next book was turning it down.  Worse, they were demanding the immediate return of the money George had already been advanced.  All of which he already spent.

Two months earlier after reading the first installment of the book, George’s new editor had taken him to lunch and said, “It’s the most alive book I’ve read.  … continue reading

The numbers aren’t good.

In his book The Miracle Morning, Hal Elrod shares 95% of New Year’s resolutions fail.

Ouch.

This week we’ve been exploring Trent Hamm‘s ideas around “Developing a Real Plan for a Better Life.”  

What do we do after we create our powerful personal plan for 2021? 

How do we avoid becoming part of the 95% of people who fail to achieve their goals for … continue reading

How do we “develop a real plan for a better life?”

Trent Hamm tells us we start by selecting the areas of our lives on which we want to focus (step one), outline where we are currently (step two), where we want to be in five or ten years (step three), and brainstorm five to fifteen possible actions or projects that would move us from the current state to the … continue reading

This week we are exploring a goal-setting methodology from Trent Hamm called “Developing a Real Plan for a Better Life.”

Yesterday, we looked at step one: selecting the areas of our life we want to focus on.

Today, we turn to steps two, three, and four.  We start by blocking off some quiet time to do the necessary work.  

“While it’s great to give this process some off-the-cuff thoughts, the whole … continue reading

That’s the opportunity.  

How?  

By setting powerful 2021 goals and then achieving those goals through a simple process designed to optimize follow-through.

Over the past three years, I’ve utilized a goal-setting methodology from Trent Hamm titled: “Developing a Real Plan for a Better Life.”  Implementing Trent’s framework has resulted in:

o My family creating wonderful memories during the last year of my wife Julie’s life when she was fighting cancer… continue reading

“If you don’t know where you are going, you might not like were you end up,” David Bach tells us.

The calendar has flipped over.  It’s a new year.  

A chance to start again.

I’m a big, BIG believer in goal-setting.  Why?

Setting thoughtful objectives for the coming year can transform your life.

Reason #1: As soon as we become clear on a goal, our subconscious mind goes to work closing the … continue reading