Last year I became a Dad for the first time. As any parent can attest to (and as any non-parent can probably imagine), childbirth is an intense experience. Not only does it involve bringing a new, tiny human into the world, but it can also involve making high-stakes, time-critical decisions in an unfamiliar, high-pressure environment.

In the heat of the moment, logic can go out of the window and emotions can take over. And that can lead to some bad decision-making in the delivery suite. …

“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself — and you are the easiest person to fool.” — Richard Feynman

How well do you know your own mind, understand your behavior, or trust your decision-making? Based on my experience of working as an executive coach and mentor over the last couple of years, I’m going to guess not as much as you think you do.

We all like to believe that we make rational decisions and have a good grasp of why we behave the way we do. It certainly feels that way. …

If we only get one shot at life, we better make the most of it. To realize our potential and accomplish what matters most to us, we must develop our general competence and formulate a functional approach to living.

By cultivating a toolbox of practical skills, principles, and personal qualities, we can equip ourselves to deal with whatever life may throw at us. I call this toolbox “personal effectiveness.” Do this well, and we can navigate our way through life smiling and clutching whatever prize we hold most dear.

Leveling up in the game of life

Imagine life is a video game, and you are the lead…

In times of stress (hello and good riddance 2020!) self-care is more important than ever. But when we are feeling strung out or overwhelmed, it is easy to forget how to look after yourself. Once we find ourselves in that place where we have let our healthy habits lapse and we are not living our best life, it is time to put the brakes on and get back to basics. With that in mind, here’s a timely reminder of the core principles of self-care.

I’m a big believer that the best way to get good results in almost any domain…

Happiness is a universal human goal. And, while most of us are cheerful some — if not most — of the time, our happiness is not something we necessarily feel in control of. Sure, we may know some shortcuts, like eating ice-cream and watching Netflix, but that type of happiness is shallow and shortlived. It’s fun for a while, but we know it’s not the secret to long-lasting satisfaction and contentment.

It seems weird that many of us don’t have a clear idea of how to achieve something as important as long-term happiness.

Society likes to sell us on the…

Time management isn’t something that needs overthinking. There are a few basic principles you can follow to squeeze more value out of your time. Here are some simple nuts and bolts you can use to get more done today.

The keys to effective use of time are:

• Clarity of objective. It’s easier to hit your target if you know what you’re shooting for. SMART goals help a lot.
• Task prioritization; knowing what to focus on and when. If you’re unsure, use an Eisenhower matrix.
• Doing the work. Once you’ve figured out what to do, show up and do it. Consistently.

…

Baseball legend Yogi Berra is as famous for his witticisms and non-sequiturs as he is for his Major League Baseball achievements. That’s no meant feat considering, as a ten-time champion, he still holds the player record for the highest number of World Series wins.

While many of his famous quips appear to be little more than funny, off-the-cuff remarks, some contain timeless wisdom, serving as valuable life-lessons in the form of memorable one-liners.

Here are ten insightful yogi-isms that capture profound ideas with charm and humor, which you can apply to your life with positive effect:

1. “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.”

Clarity is super-important. Especially…

“No,” is such a small word, yet it is one of the most powerful in the English language. It punches way above its weight. Many of us struggle to articulate it at critical moments, even when we are screaming silently inside ourselves to say it.

Why does this small word hold so much power?

Because “yes” is a positive, agreeable term, we often view “no” as a negative word, so we find it harder to express. But, like most things in life, it’s not that simple. Yes and no aren’t true opposites. They are two sides of the same coin…