When “self” is something we can curate by posting the right things on our social media page, we can forget about the hard work that it takes to accomplish anything. The mantra subtly changes from “you can be anything you want to be” to “you can look like you’re anything you want to look like”.…

Your passion, whether for a person or mission, will be praised only for while its flames are dancing. Heroic acts of love and self-sacrifice will be applauded, but these feats will eventually fizzle out like the brightest of campfires. No, the true strength of your passion will be proven the next morning, long after the…

Nearly every advertising message tell us about the things we do not yet have, but probably need, things that will make us more happy about life. Most of the photos on our Instas and Snapchats remind us that our friends are having much more fun this weekend that we (because all we’re up to is…

In his speech this morning to the Live2Lead audience, Simon Sinek outlined the difference between finite and infinite games (an idea Seth Godin has also talked about, and was originally introduced by James P. Carse). A finite game has agreed-upon rules, fixed boundaries, players, goals, and an end. A basketball game always ends, and it’s…

We all have our doubts, but they’re usually stuffed away somewhere, ignored, and we’re ashamed that they’re there in the first place. Doubts in our culture are seen as weakness, particularly if you’re a leader. Leaders are looked upon to keep a strong face and produce answers and clarity amidst an ever-changing landscape. But is…

Years ago, when I was first making my way out of school and into the wide world of real life, I asked an older man I respected about what I should do with my life. Maybe his gray hair made him look how I imagined God to look, but somehow I thought he knew what…

Louis CK had this great bit on Conan a couple years ago about the magic of flight and WiFi and how we all feel more entitled than ever before in history. You should watch it again: We’re all quite aware of our #firstworldproblems, but it’s helpful to acknowledge how small they really are sometimes. A…

How do you find fresh ideas? Sometimes we need a change of scenery to think in new ways, and resort to travel or seeking exotic experiences. Many times, though, fresh ideas are hiding right under our noses. In his TED talk, Adam Grant offers some great tips on uncovering the ideas that are closer than…

While chopping wood with some friends today (as you do on a lazy Sunday afternoon), one friend shared a piece of advice for a good chop, which was: Focus on what you want to hit. Which is kind of obvious, really. If you play baseball or golf, you’ll undoubtedly hear someone advising another player to…