Category Archives: PEOPLE

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Episode 015: How to find your purpose

Person looking out at the ocean

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“What is your purpose?” “What is the meaning of your life?” Have you ever thought about these questions for yourself? The concept of purpose is broad, transcendent, and certainly not something you bring up in casual conversation, but knowing our purpose is critical to our success in life. It gives us focus, meaning, and a prism to view our life through to determine whether we are focused on the right things or not. If you look around, the people with the deepest sense of purpose seem to do the best.

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Signs that you may be partying with Burnout

Like a candle burned out, our inner light can also feel extinguished

Let me tell you about Burnout. Burnout and I used to party a lot back in the day. He and I have shared legendary binges and hangovers together. I’ve always found that Burnout used to show up at my door at times when I have been out of balance for a very long time (e.g., going full force at work, or on some project without any reprieve or recovery) But when Burnout arrives, his idea of a party doesn’t include anything fun like games, dancing, or wine & cheese platters. No, his idea of a good party, involved many unhealthy behaviors…

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Episode 014: How to manage the micromanager

Martial Arts Legend Bruce Lee does his classic pre-battle face down

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In a previous episode, “Confessions of a Micromanager” I talked about what’s really going on inside the head of a micromanager – using myself as the case study.

In that episode, I talked about “the problem”, how micromanagers operate primarily from a place of insecurity, fear, or a lack of control or trust. In some cases, their behavior comes from extraordinarily high standards. In this post, we explore “the solutions” on how to effectively manage the micromanager so that while that manager is getting on everyone else’s nerves, you will have some peace and sanity.

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Episode 013: Confessions of a Micromanager

Fist around a flower

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Early in my career, I worked for a person who was the very dictionary definition of micromanagement. It was so bad working for them they actually gave me heart palpitations for months. Because of that experience, I swore I would never become a micromanager. Until about eight years ago…

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Episode 012: Why I want a divorce…from perfection

Girl punching guy in the face

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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.

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

Girl on Mobile Device

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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…

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Episode 010: How I learned to let go

Man Cliff Diving

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Have you ever been in a situation where you had an unproductive thought or emotion and could not let go, no matter how hard you tried? Several years ago, I was working with a talented colleague that didn’t have a good sense of time management…

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13 ways that you know it’s time to move on from your job

Exit Sign - Sometimes we need to exxit our jobs, but how do we know when it's the right time?

While I am an advocate for giving an employer a reasonable tenure (the standard is at least 2 years), I feel there are times when a situation can be so bad that we have no other option but to leave. I’ve seen this many times in my own career, and in other’s as well. How do you know when it’s time? Let’s explore some of the reasons why the “grass may actually be greener” somewhere else in the organization, or somewhere else entirely.

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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

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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.

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

Man opening accordion

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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…