Aristotle viewed friendship as ranking among the highest virtues. It was an essential element in a full, virtuous and worthwhile life. For Aristotle, there were three kinds of friendship:... more
No matter how you celebrate the holidays, or even which holidays you celebrate, chances are you know about Santa Claus. The jolly old elf brings merriment to the season, but he also teaches us many va... more
What's one of the hardest tasks in business today? It's not starting a business. It's not raising money. It's not even making a profit. According to The Wall Street Journal, it's firing an employee.... more
There is a fable about a little girl who was feeling particularly lonely and blue when she happened across a gorgeous butterfly trapped in the thorns of a blackberry bush. Taking great care not to tea... more
There is a fable about a little girl who was feeling particularly lonely and blue when she happened across a gorgeous butterfly trapped in the thorns of a blackberry bush. Taking great care not to tea... more
I began a second or third career as a motivational business speaker about 26 years ago. Several times a month, I have the privilege of speaking to a Fortune 1,000 company, offering business advice and... more
One of the most important traits of any person is the value system by which he or she lives. I wonder how many of us ever take the time to sit down and really think through the moral precepts that con... more
I love golf -- both playing and watching the pros -- so you can imagine my delight when my wife, Carol Ann, surprised me for my birthday with a trip to watch the Ryder Cup in Glasgow, Scotland, in lat... more
If you want to excel at anything in life, you need to be committed. If you only want to be good enough to get by, then a commitment to excellence is not necessary. If you are committed to a cause, you... more
I've been writing this nationally syndicated column for 21 years now, and it seems that the Mackay's Morals I create for each one really stick with the readers. Every three years, I dedicate a whole c... more
About a month ago my column featured useful lessons learned from animals. It certainly touched a nerve, as I received tremendous response from people who told me about what they had learned from their... more
One afternoon, a woman noticed two small boys on the front step of a house. They were in their school uniforms carrying their backpacks and, she assumed, were going home after school. They were on the... more
In a village long ago lived a young boy who loved nothing as much as competing in athletic contests. Because he was fit and strong, he usually triumphed, and he grew to love the adulation he received ... more
I've hired about 1,000 employees over the years. It's one of the joys of owning a business -- giving opportunities to people who want to work and succeed.... more
U.S. President Harry S. Truman once said, "A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties."... more
I recently came across a graduation speech by the valedictorian of a university law school. He began his remarks by acknowledging that he had difficulty deciding what "wisdom" to impart to his fellow ... more
In July of last year, I was in Israel being briefed in-depth by the cream of Israel's intelligence community and the entrepreneurial barons of its imposing high-tech establishment. The American-Israel... more
It's been said there are two times in life when you are truly alone: just before you die and just before you deliver a five-minute speech. Stage fright can be terrifying, but it needn't be paralyzing.... more
I recently received a cartoon from a friend that showed a psychiatrist having a session with her patient. She says, "You worry too much ... It doesn't do any good." And the patient answers, "It does f... more