One Dozen Out-of-the-Box Ideas to Inspire Romance

“My heart is ever at your service.” - William Shakespeare

Often the times the gifts we give from the heart are the ones cherished the most.

Mary Beth and I made a pact several years ago not to exchange token or cliché gifts on special days like birthdays, our wedding anniversary or Mother’s and Father’s Day. Gifts like a dozen of roses (although I do surprise her from time-to-time with flowers on days that have no particular meaning), after-shave or a box of candy are considered bad form.

Instead we attempt to provide gifts that will touch the other’s heart and soul. We try to go a little deeper to let the other know how much we cherish their presence in our life.

Here are one dozen out-of-the-box gift ideas to help you think differently about what to give on the days your want to inspire romance and let your partner know how much they mean to you: Read more

How to Be a Complete and Utter Failure in Life, Work and Everything

“If we don’t change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are going.” - Chinese proverb

Steven McDermott, author of How to be a Complete and Utter Failure in Life, Work and Everything, begins his book with a warning about his self-unimprovement guide: “The quickest, most concise, most complete guide to complete and utter failure ever written. This book will help you flop at leadership, communication, teamwork, customer service and more. You’ll find dozens of techniques guaranteed to help you fail and disappoint everyone in your life.”

McDermott true purpose with such an absurd statement is to get the readers of this book to begin thinking differently. Too often we get locked into a prescribed way of what we “think” we need to be successful and happy.

We fall into the bad habit of not thinking clearly about what success really means to us. With no written goals or game plan in hand, we continue to struggle and act surprised when success is never realized. Remember, the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same things over and over, but expecting different results. Read more

What’s Holding You Back?

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.” – Marianne Williamson

You have great potential inside of you. I have great potential inside of me, too. The thought of realizing this potential can be paralyzing and it can be frightening. There have been many times when my fear has held me back and kept me from experiencing the happiness or success I wanted.

Fear can keep us stuck in a place where we believe we are not good enough. Fear can keep us from realizing our dreams and it can keep us from creating the life we want.

Fear can also hold us back.

When I was a boy I loved to play baseball. My family lived in a rural setting which did not provide Little League or youth baseball opportunities. Instead, I would play catch with my father or pretend I was playing in a big league game complete with line-up cards I would fill out for both teams (I always batted third and played first base for the winning team) and a uniform I got from a Sears catalog. Read more