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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Moving mountains is typically seen as an impossible feat – which is why we talk of needing faith or a great belief from within in order to move the “proverbial mountains” of life. The same could be said for climbing and conquering those massive “mountains” that we encounter. It’s this faith and belief that propels […]
Every mannerism you make communicates something. And you’re being judged for it. How you’re standing, how you’re dressed, your eye contact, etc. – you are being judged. In fact, my own research suggests that people make decisions about you in the first seven seconds they see you. A little overwhelming if you think about it […]
I’ve previously addressed the difference between a leader and a boss – take a peek at that article and then asked yourself, which one am I? Most of us want to be leaders who others admire, trust and want to follow; we ourselves want to work for leaders that we trust, admire and want to […]
Have you ever stopped to think about how the body has been created or formed? Two eyes, two ears, two arms, two legs – with most other significant parts of the body (e.g. nose, organs, etc.) placed in the middle. It helps the body to balance – imagine if our bodies were naturally lopsided or […]
On September 11th, 2001, I lost a lot of friends in the horrendous terrorist attack on the World Trade Center buildings in New York City. It was a tough time to conquer for those who knew individuals lost, the families affected, and a nation grieving the tragedy. It was this event and the result of […]
I’m often asked when I’m invited for interviews or podcasts how I got to where I am today. Like all of us, there are a number of driving factors and influences that guide us throughout our lives. However, I frequently think of my father, who was a professor of linguistics. He had the unique ability to […]
Early on in my career, as I looked up to the executives and people I admired, I found myself asking, “what is it about these individuals that I admire so much?” What I came to conclude, and what became the birth of what I do today, is there was something I couldn’t define – it […]
I’ve previously addressed the keys to achieving success and having a mindset of success. When it comes to becoming a successful communicator, there are three fundamental steps to consider. All too often, communication is something that people engage in all day, every day, but they don’t think to improve upon it. It’s interesting that for […]
It is so easy to be offended. There are so many reasons each and every day to be offended, irritated, frustrated, perturbed…to be affected by the people, things, and scenarios around us. Our natural tendency is to impulsively respond negatively to a negative situation. What if however, you didn’t let the environment have so much power […]
The idea of effective leadership is bound to differ from one individual to another – each basing their description on personal experiences and expectations. However, I’d argue there are ten aspects to being a truly great leader. How do you think you do in each of these areas? Communication: This one area alone is such […]
You’ve heard me essentially say it, your EQ is more important than your IQ. It’s true. Your ability to be aware of not only yourself but those around you is absolutely critical to your success. While one’s intelligence quotient (IQ) can only predict 1-20% of their success in a job, their emotional quotient (EQ) will […]
You’ve no doubt heard, used, and even applied this maxim to yourself or those around you. Fake it until you make it…or rather, actually become it. There are plenty of studies that back up the notion that there is a lot of power in visualizing the achievement of goals that require strengths or skills we […]
I was recently invited to be a guest on the All Things Risk podcast with Ben Cattaneo where he made an analogy that I quite liked and could identify with given my mountaineering background. When discussing the unknowns of life and our careers, he likened our experiences to exploring a cavern with several nooks, crannies, […]
At this point in the summer, many of the gardening efforts made in the spring are coming to fruition – hopefully. Just as I hope you are enjoying fresh carrots, beets, tomatoes and all number of other vegetables and fruits, you can enjoy the “fruits” of thoughtful planning, preparation, and cultivation for personal improvement. My […]
What does it mean to truly overcome your fear? In a previous post, I introduced the incredible accomplishments of Yuichiro Miura, the oldest man to summit Mount Everest three times. During a press conference announcing his admission into the Guinness Book of World Records, Miura asked, “what would you do, what would you attempt if […]
Chuck Garcia