Episode 012: Why I want a divorce…from perfection

Girl punching guy in the face

Hello, my name is Mark, and welcome the Perfection Support Group. I am married to Perfection. I’ve been married to Perfection for over 30 years, but I’ve come to realize that I have a problem. Perfection has not been the spouse that I thought she would be.

Episode 011: Why we really need a holiday from our screens

Girl on Mobile Device

If you look around any waiting room nowadays, you notice people doing one of several things, but mainly one: they are using some kind of screen (phone, tablet, computer, TV) to pass the time. While our electronic devices have become necessary for work, communication, connection, and re-creation, at what cost does it come? I believe we sacrifice something of ourselves on the altar of “keeping busy”. Here is what I think we gain when we turn off the screens in our life…

Episode 009: The toughest thing I’ve ever done as a parent

Child Crying - Oftentimes we have to allow our children to suffer and fall so they can learn life's lessons too

As a parent, one of the things I dread is seeing my children suffer in any way. Several years ago, I was out walking with my kids, my [then] 4-year-old daughter was running far ahead of us, and my [then] 2-year-old daughter lagged behind.

Episode 008: Letting go of power, opinion, and control

Man opening accordion

The self-actualized person is no longer worried about basic needs, but rather they are driven by their personal need to evolve and fulfill their life’s purpose or mission. Someone asked Abraham Maslow (The author of the “Hierarchy of Needs” theory / concept), “How do you if know if you are self-actualized?” Maslow responded with the following…

Episode 006: How to know if you are present, right here, right now

Kid Jumping

One of the most challenging things for someone like me is the ability to be in the present moment on a consistent basis. Often I focus on the mistakes of the past or terrorize ourselves over every future scenario. I blow through my to-do list at the expense of the things that matter most in my life – time and intentional engagement with my family, connecting with colleagues and teammates, and my own personal re-creation.

It is very challenging for me to “stop and smell the roses” because I derive such pleasure from getting things done. The problem with this is, at the end of my life, the thing I will regret most is not enjoying life more. So I stopped to think about those moments where I was actually present, and here are some of the common characteristics.

Episode 004: Email Common Sense 101, Writing the Perfect Email

Man at Computer with Book entitled, "An Old Captivity"

Most grown adults today think they know how to use email, yet how many times have you received an email that was too long, too short, too rude, didn’t get to the point, didn’t manage expectations, or didn’t make sense? To write an email that not only communicates well but makes you look smart and sophisticated, in this episode I recommend the following etiquette…

Episode 003: How I learned to like people…I didn’t like

Gift - Sometimes we are given difficult people as "gifts" to us, to show us where we need to grow

The Universe gives us unexpected gifts and they often come in the form of people we don’t like. Often those people show up in our lives to teach us or reveal something in ourselves.

Episode 001: The Grassroots Wisdoms

Dog in Grass

https://markabotros.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/S01_01_GrassrootsWisdom.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSWhen Leadership is done well, it produces great projects, great companies, great families, great communities, and even great nations. Every group, regardless of size, needs Leadership. H. Ross Perot, the recently deceased founder of EDS, built an empire through great leadership.    The foundation of Perot’s leadership philosophy is […]

10 Ways to Enjoy the Lulls in your Life

Rest is actually a natural and healthy part of life

Three Pandas Napping

I believe to have a happy and productive life we need to have work, play, and recovery – especially recovery. This post explores some ideas on how to make use of those times when we actually reach the end of our to-do list for the day and have a few minutes to spare. The nature […]

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