Long ago in a small village, there was a place known as the House of 1,000 Mirrors. A happy little dog learned of the house and decided to visit. When he arrived outside, he bounced up the front steps... more
The holidays are full of tradition and are a time to gather with family and friends. But no matter if you are a parent or a child, everyone recognizes the big guy in the red suit -- Santa Claus.... more
In Aesop’s fable “The Fox and the Crow,” a crow is eating a piece of cheese on a branch when it is approached by a fox who wants the cheese. The fox flatters the crow, calling it beautiful and asking ... more
In the classic golf comedy movie “Caddyshack,” Bill Murray plays Carl Spackler, the greenskeeper for the Bushwood Country Club. Carl talks to himself a lot as he tries to rid the club of an elusive go... more
An anthropologist proposed a game to some children. He placed a basket of fruit near a tree and told them that whoever got to the tree first could have all the fruit.... more
In a famous circus act, a juggler starts one plate spinning on a stick, then puts the stick on a slot on a table, starts another plate spinning on another stick, and then he gets a third one started. ... more
I stumbled across a quote recently by psychologist Angela Duckworth that really caught my eye. She said “Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.”... more
“I am seldom considered, though I do more to influence everything about you than virtually any one thing in your life. I often control the time you get up in the morning, the time you go to sleep, wha... more
Late one night, a young grocery store clerk locked the front door and began to clean up. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. An elderly woman was standing outside, tapping on the window.... more
Years ago, a Johns Hopkins professor gave a group of graduate students this assignment: Go to the poorest sections of the city. Take 200 boys, between the ages of 12 and 16, and investigate their back... more
One day, the employees of a very unusual company arrived at their office and saw a big sign on the main door that said: “Yesterday, the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed... more
As a writer and speaker, I look for the deeper meaning in the words I choose. It doesn’t matter how long the words are or how difficult to spell or pronounce or how familiar they are to my audiences. ... more
Once upon a time, there was a little dog who was unhappy with his life. As he lay in his backyard, he spotted a cat on top of a wall. “I wish I could climb walls like that cat!” he thought.... more
I recently came across this wonderful poem by Nancye Sims, “A Creed to Live By.” It captures life’s challenges in a very inspirational fashion, and I hope you learn as much from it as I have.... more
Comedy writer Robert Orben had an interesting take on customer service: “You go to a coin-operated store and wash and dry your clothes. Then you go to a filling station where you pump your own gas. An... more
Two sons worked for their father on the family's farm. The younger brother had for some years been given more responsibilities and rewards, and one day the older brother asked his father to explain wh... more
Watching a kids’ ballgame can provide a mini life lesson for observers. The takeaway also applies to business. Astute observers can learn a lot by watching kids play.... more
When someone cautions you to mind your Ps and Qs, they’re using an age-old expression to mind your manners, be on your best behavior and watch what you are doing. The precise origin is debatable, but ... more
I love to study creative and successful people, and who better than Warren Buffett, the multibillionaire from Omaha, Nebraska, and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.... more
A woman who lived far beyond eight decades had been in the habit of having a birthday party every year. Her friends and relatives always remembered her with little gifts, usually knickknacks for her h... more
The village blacksmith pumped the bellows to prepare his furnace fire, and placed a piece of iron into the intense heat until it reached an almost transparent state. He then removed the now pliable ir... more
Once, in a village, there were two friends who spent most of their time resting under a tree and thinking about what they should do with their lives.... more
You’re watching a professional golf tournament, and a player sinks a seemingly impossible shot. The announcer might attribute it to luck, but I beg to differ. That golfer has probably worked thousands... more
With the job market gradually coming back after a difficult pandemic, smart hiring is at the forefront. As a manager, you can’t do everything yourself, and you shouldn’t try. Managers must be able to ... more
Phil Mickelson recently became the oldest golfer to win one of the four major professional golf championships, by taking it one mental stroke at a time.... more