A Random Act of Kindness Reveals…
Everything Wrong with Me Today’s message is not merely a confession but also a cautionary tale. Usually, I would not drag someone else down with me, but “Sam” was my able accomplice and indicates I am not alone in my compulsions. Sam and I were bike riding when we noticed a car stranded on the […]
Warning: Sensitive Subject Matter
The Groundwork I hope you trust me enough to hear (read) me out. It is the other subject besides politics you are not supposed to talk about. Defensive reactions and fear of intruding upon or offending others make it an uncomfortable topic. However, I would be almost disingenuous if I omitted a subject significant to […]
Love, Hate, Both?
Examples Abound It is the White guy who truthfully has Black friends but jokes about Blacks being unable to swim. It is my bible study classmate who announced that he hates White people. While I have doubts about his honesty, there must be some truth to his words. It was the Nazi party leaders who […]
Give and Get
What about a mentee’s responsibility to the relationship, and what do mentors get out of it? Expectations Mentees should carefully consider the guidance provided or revealed, use what they believe is valuable, and discard the remainder. Mentors do not expect to be followed like an orchestra leader but will lose interest if you do not […]
Stories from the Field
Chip off the Old Block While refraining from supplying the answer, cajoling our mentees to think and act like we do (or should) is an alluring temptation. Besides the error of your ways, emulation is rarely productive. Recently, Bob Sr. lamented that Bob Jr. was not approaching his college search correctly. If it were up […]
What is Needed?
Today, we will further distinguish mentorship from subject matter experts doling out advice. Most frequently, an answer is unnecessary, inaccurate, or the question does not address the correct issue. No Spoon-Feeding Mentees, resist the temptation to implore, “Just give me the answer!” Mentors mostly employ the Socratic Method, asking questions to stimulate critical thinking and […]
The Invaluable Relationship
Stating the Case At some point, you have undoubtedly benefitted from a frank conversation with a trusted confidant, which leads to breakthrough growth. While you may have incredible affection for that person and share incredibly intimate details of your life, that person is likely not a therapist, life coach, family member, or friend. They are […]
Halftime
We are halfway through the year, and too many of us have made inadequate progress toward our goals. Previously, we have examined enemies of accomplishment, such as fear, discipline, and competing priorities. Today, we address overcoming other impediments. Failure to Launch It is time to start if you have not thought about your goals since […]
Mirror Mirror on the Wall…
Who Is the Fairest One of All? The issue is not possessing the Evil Queen’s vanity but our negative internal voice. Too often, we talk to ourselves more critically than we would ever speak to someone else. Of course, the parents who said, “You will never amount to anything,” the schoolyard bullies who teased you […]
The Invisible Ceiling
Cause Rather than proudly don a (non-Hawthorne) Scarlet A, I shamefully cloaked myself with the lamentable Crimson S. Admittedly, today’s message is a little more “Why and How-To” than my usual messages due to my prior unhealthy relationship with the issue. Scarcity and abundance exist in every situation; our perspective decides which prevails and directs […]