Knee deep in my first book one thing that I can assure anyone interested in writing their own is that there is no right way to do it. I’m reminded of the old saying, when it comes to love there are no rules. Certainly there are those things that have worked for other people, but that doesn’t mean they will work for you. That goes for love and the book.

You may start a book, take a job somewhere in the middle of the process, and finish it 20 years later and that’s ok. Some people will say that is a shame. It isn’t. Or you may be crank it out in a window of 6 weeks. Some people will say that is too fast. It’s not.

The universal truth that I have found is that regardless you need to keep writing. Even if it isn’t on the book. Keep writing. The more you write, the easier it will get, the more you believe you can do it, and the more you will grow in the ability to convey to others your thoughts and ideas. When it is time for that book, the more it will be exactly what you want.

Does not the same go for love and loving?

It’s easy to be a contrarian and studies have repeatedly shown that even incompetent dissenters (those that the group recognizes as clueless) can have a large impact on breaking the spell of group conformity. Because of this, dissenters competent or incompetent can play critical roles in business, organization, family meetings, or even classroom situations. Continue Reading

Seth Godin recently posed an interesting question on his blog essentially asking the question “how much is enough?” It’s a question that we are all forced to answer at times when it comes to our time, our money, our resources. When someone’s ‘enough ceiling’ for a specific area, like giving to a charity, is essentially a floor, meaning 0, giving may not register as a worth while activity. There is no need, you’ve already done enough. Anything is too much. On the other hand when we see people start to give to the needy, we often see that desire grows over time, because no amount of giving seems to be enough. The saying, “the sky is the limit” is universally popular for a reason.

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Without a doubt one of the great figures in American history was Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln’s formal education lasted only about 18 months, with most of his learning being self-taught. Perhaps it was this commitment to education, no matter what the circumstances, that inspired Lincoln to write the letter you are about to read. The letter is sent to a boy named George, who was a friend of Lincoln’s son Robert. Both Robert and George had failed their entrance exams to get into Harvard University. The letter has become well-known, and for good reason. It illustrates the values of perseverance and conviction that are so important to the achievement of any goal.

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Now, I’ve never been the movie type. Having said that I have nothing against movies, and in fact enjoy them when I do take the time to sit down and watch one. I’ve always preferred, however, heading down to the local lake or going to the gym if I actually have 2 hours free. Having said that, I can watch obscure Olympic sports that I’ve never seen before and get passionate about them like I’ve been a fan my whole life. So why no dice on the Academy Awards? Honestly, I think it’s because I could never take it seriously. Continue Reading

Learning to dance has been one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. In addition to meeting incredible people, having an absolute blast, and not having to go to the bar to meet people, the learning process is filled with valuable lessons that can be transferred to all aspects of your life. In this post I’ve written up 5 reasons why guys should reconsider their wives’, girlfriend’s, or friend’s pleas to get out and start dancing.
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