“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” — Sir Edmund Hillary, First Person to Summit Mount Everest Nestled inside the high peaks of the Adirondack mountains, my producing partners and I recently taped a television pilot called A Climb to the TOP. When editing is complete, we will present this 45 minute episode to […]
Many of us have had a personal experience with disillusionment. Even small things can leave us wondering, “Was it worth it?” like being disappointed by a meal at an expensive restaurant, or being underwhelmed by a “dream vacation” at a tourist trap. But the most challenging run-ins with disillusionment are often connected to areas we’ve […]
We made it to 2021. Do we get a reward? Extra gold coins for completing “level 2020“? Many are entering the new year not entirely unscathed. Each month of this past year ushered in new challenges that seemed to get progressively worse. Between a 100-year pandemic, major economic repercussions, nation-wide social unrest, devastating natural disasters, […]
There’s been plenty to have an opinion about in 2020. We watched unprecedented disasters, calamities, social conflicts, and crises challenge leaders at all levels and in different areas of society. It’s a pretty good seat to offer judgment – as the onlooker. It’s the same phenomenon as each of us becoming a professional coach for […]
I have recently seen and heard numerous people fail to flippantly respond to the following question when asked, “How are you doing?” Before 2020, that question was a throw-away phrase to break the ice when starting a conversation. Unfortunately, many of us neither expected to hear anything substantial, nor offer anything substantial when asking or […]
What if you just asked for what you wanted? What if you pursued what it is that you are really passionate about? You might answer, “it’s not that simple.” Perhaps you are right – life isn’t simple. And, chances are, if you haven’t chased after this passion, there are likely a number of rational reasons […]
At the beginning of my consulting and coaching career, I dedicated a significant amount of time on the art of communication. In many cases, individuals struggle with the ability to speak in a public setting; as a result, addressing this skill tends to be an element of communication many focus on. However, as I coached […]
Mr. Abraham Lincoln is undoubtedly one of the most beloved presidents in the history of the United States. His leadership throughout the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation are but a few of the reasons. However, many who have learned about him and his rise to the nation’s top office know that it was not […]
More than a hundred years ago, the United States made high school education compulsory. A formal education system was designed to meet the economic demands of the industrial revolution. This was almost unprecedented, and it was a massive leap forward – driving a lot of economic change in the last 100 years. Fast forward to […]
When you’re younger you don’t think you need to do it. When you’re older, you wish you could do it better. Stretching can be likened to the “soft skills” of the physical fitness world. It often doesn’t get the proper attention from individuals as say, strength building or cardiovascular fitness. However, the lack of it […]
Have you ever heard a mentor, teacher, or trusted loved one say those words to you? It sounds a bit jarring coming from someone you think would want only the best for you. However, when pondered further, the sentiment is an encouraging one. “I am not judged by the number of times I fail, but […]
It’s no secret we’re in uncharted territory. The unknown is anxiety-inducing and can feel overwhelming as we try to adjust to changing requirements in our day-to-day lives. It’s happened before, perhaps not in this particular package, but natural disasters, terrorism, and unexpected circumstances have disrupted the norm and in some cases altered the course of […]
On a fateful day nearly 20 years ago, Michael O’Brien, CEO of Peloton Executive Coaching, asked himself a chilling question: “Is this what it feels like to die?” Michael was a successful businessman and father who had spent years being the “Superman” to everyone in every aspect of his life. Business had brought him to […]
One hot day in August 2015, I walked into an elevator and something unexpected happened. I was in Houston, TX at the Texas Medical Center. When I entered one of the many elevators at the large medical complex, I was faced with a woman holding a bag containing a bulky load. Inside the bag, she […]
In 384 B.C., a man named Aristotle spoke of what it meant to be smart. He said, the beginning of all wisdom is knowing yourself. In 60 A.D., a Roman philosopher named Seneca continually asked himself three questions: first, what bad habit did I cure today? Second, what temptation did I resist? And third, in […]
I’m excited. Granted, it is an exciting time of year, especially here in New York City. Streets are packed with people hustling and bustling from corporate meetings, Broadway shows, dinner engagements, holiday sight-seeing and seasonal shopping throughout every part of Manhattan. New York City during the holidays is electric. People are out together. And while […]
Think about the things, relationships, accomplishments that have meant or mean the most to you. Did they come easy? Were they just given to you without work, sacrifice, or emotional investment? Chances are the things that you are most proud of and care most about have been difficult, challenging, or hard to achieve. Easy doesn’t […]
I’ve had several humbling experiences throughout my life that have changed the course of where I was headed. I can think of many examples both in my mountaineering adventures and in the unexpected circumstances presented to me throughout my career where I found myself unsure and seemingly unprepared. One such event happened on a fateful […]
If it is, you wouldn’t be alone. Many people know that public speaking is one of the greatest fears people can experience. However, we don’t all find ourselves being required to give speeches. As leaders however, we are required to communicate…effectively. That’s hard. It’s stressful. And while you might not be speaking in front of […]
There’s a medieval French phrase, “Rome ne fu[t] pas faite toute en un jour” from the collection Li Proverbe au Villian published around 1190; we all know it as “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” The phrase speaks to the idea that big things don’t happen immediately – it takes time. If you’ve ever visited […]
Chuck Garcia