Beginning in 2014, many of you probably read my blog regarding having a checkup for you and, if you have one, your business. This does not involve the doctor, but it does involve all the other professionals in your personal...more
The people you associate with help determine your future. They matter when people think of you, so choosing wisely is important. Depending on your position, you may or may not be able to choose co-workers, but you can choose...more
We’re just past Thanksgiving 2024. It has been another busy, fast, and crazy year. In thinking about writing about being thankful or gratitude, I can’t say it better than I have before, so here is my annual blog for the week...more
Maintaining optimism isn’t just about wearing rose-colored glasses. It’s about you recognizing opportunities where others see obstacles. This mindset allows you to think strategically, thereby inspiring your team and...more
True greatness is based on our ability to unleash the potential of those around us. To do this you have to shift your focus from personal accomplishments to enabling others’ success. If you do so, your actions will have an...more
I generally do not rerun prior posts but with the current state of things, the general negativity that seems to be hanging in the air, and coarseness in dealing with others, this post from 2018 came to mind. It applied then....more
Every day is a good day to think about and set goals. These can be short or long-term goals. Many people write New Year’s Resolutions and view that as the time to set goals or challenges. A lot of those same people are the...more
Fulton J. Sheen said, “Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius.” While harsh, this observation rings particularly true in competitive workplace environments, where success often breeds resentment among colleagues....more
Your business has a culture whether it is conscious or not. My firm has a defined culture we call the JW Way. It is a mission statement consisting of twenty-seven fundamentals that the owners and employees strive to live by...more
This past weekend I was reading something and saw the phrase “be the change you want to see.” I’ve heard it before and have written about the benefits of change. It struck me as I believe change and trying new things is the...more
You grow or stay stagnant. My point is that you either are taking action to improve yourself and your business or you are not. This is like being all talk and taking no action or being fully engaged. Action matters and there...more
Management is about execution. More specifically, management is about executing the visions of your company’s leadership. Managers work in the present while leaders work in the future. Managers of people need to focus on how...more
We all have stress. I picture an empty room where challenges keep coming at me from straight in front of me, the top left corner, the middle right corner, or wherever. You get the idea. The point is that challenges keep...more
Success comes from constantly assessing the results from actions you take and adjusting, depending on what is or is not working. If something you’re doing is not successful, you need to change it or try something new. The...more
You may not think it, but it is good to be the dumbest person in the room. Knowing and acknowledging it to others lets you learn. This allows you an opportunity to learn what otherwise would be lost. The room may be full of...more
Recently I was speaking with a young attorney who was lamenting the workload and hours the partners at his firm expected of him and talking about his time at night and on the weekends being his time, not theirs. This struck...more
Each of us is a part of a group in relation to our work. You are a part of the company where you work. And you are probably part of smaller formal groups comprised of you and co-workers, as well as part of other...more
If you compare your life with others, especially those you believe to be more successful or happier than you are, you will be unhappy in your life. Teddy Roosevelt said “Comparison is the thief of joy” more than a century ago...more
Poor time management limits success more than people realize it does. The people you work for, whether bosses or clients, will notice if you show up late or miss a deadline. When you do, it reflects poorly on you and your...more
Many people sugarcoat what they say to save another’s feelings. I think this is because most people shy away from potentially confrontational conversations or don’t know how to effectively communicate something negative or...more
Inspiration can hit you anytime. When it does, you know it instantly. Many times, the timing is inconvenient. When this happens, you have to take steps to not lose that inspiration. It happens to me frequently and at...more
Many attorneys (and I assume others) have this somewhat canned response when someone asks them how it’s going. It’s generally some version of “It’s another day” or “Different day, same stuff.” The message being communicated...more
My dad died last week. As I wrote that statement, I’m still in disbelief that it happened. Where I’m sitting now is so different than where I was a week ago. My dad was in the hospital supposedly on the road to recovery and I...more
What are you doing right now? Are you focusing on reading these words, or do you have an eye on your email, texts, social media, or maybe all of them? Or are you on the phone? We all think we can do this and do it well, but...more
Failure is an important part of success. Hockey great Wayne Gretzky said, “You’ll always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” How true. This statement recognizes that people are seriously afraid to fail. Similarly, people...more