Hey – it’s Friday! And if you’ve had anything like the week that I’ve had – which doesn’t actually mean that it was bad, just crazy busy – you’re probably ready to draw this week to a close and head into the weekend. Or, to put it another way, you might just be ready to shake this week off. And speaking of shaking it off – and having a really good laugh on a Friday afternoon – if you haven’t seen this dashcamera video of a Dover policeman singing to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off.” Four minutes of unbelievable good humor. I’ll be honest: I’ve been...

I’ve written a short series of “Leadership Pitfalls” over the last six months, but decided that this one might be better classified as “Life Pitfalls,” because while it certainly is something leaders fall prey to, I think it’s also something to which we are all prone and can sap much of the vitality of the lives we’ve been given as gifts. And this “life pitfall” is quite simple: confusing keeping busy with leading a meaningful life. Actually, I’d go even further and say that we can also confuse getting things done with leading a meaningful life, or even achieving goals and living a well-lived life. This last one is hard...

Sometimes, you just need to kick back a little and take time to smile. And that’s what this video is about. No deep reflection – or shallow reflections either, for that matter – no symbolism, no ulterior motive, just a little fun. A year or two ago I posted a video by Anton Hecht, an artist and indie filmmaker in Britain who, among many things, specializes in what I would describe as “community art” – making art and film by engaging community members in, for instance, playing the paino in a bus station or playing the harmonica in the cause of civic wellness. Anton got in touch to say thank you and since...

On any given day, if you ask me whether I want you to tell me what to order for dinner (or wear, or how to get to work, etc.) or whether I want to choose for myself, I’ll of course say I want the freedom of choice. And you probably would, too. One of the unquestioned assumptions of our modern world is that choice is good. Choice, in fact, is essential to happiness. After all, choice equates freedom, ability, authority, power, possibility. Lack of choice is therefore equated with oppression, depravity, powerlessness, and monotony. Choice is good…always…period. Or is it? In this very engaging TED Talk, Swarthmore psychologist Barry...

Along the lines of paying attention…I saw this saying on a picture in a high school counselor’s office recently and it, well, just resonated with me: Pay attention to your thoughts, because they become your words. Pay attention to your words, because they become your actions. Pay attention to your actions, because they become your habits. Pay attention to your habits, because they become your character. Pay attention to your character, because it becomes your destiny. I’m not sure why I’m putting it in the “parenting” section. Maybe it’s just because I saw it in our son’s high school guidance counselor’s office while we...