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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Guest blog by Scott Trager, PMP Sometimes we need to go fast, sometimes we need to go slow. At times we need to back up so we can just keep moving forward. At Bloomberg, I had the privilege to work with exceptional technology teams, automating global government data releases into news headlines and story fills. […]
It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to, cry if I want to, cry if I want to…you would cry too if it happened to you. Did you find yourself singing those lyrics in your head as opposed to just reading them? Many of us have heard that song, It’s My Party played […]
Every seventeen seconds, someone, somewhere in the world, is watching a TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Talk. If you have access to the Internet, it’s likely you’ve either heard of or watched one. In my first book, A Climb to the Top, I introduce the components of TED talks to help readers understand what makes those […]
As an author, speaker, and professor I’m frequently asked to be a guest on podcasts, panels and other events where individuals are looking to improve their leadership and communication abilities. Through the years I’ve compiled some of the more frequent questions that I am asked and thought I’d share my answers with you. I will […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
We can always improve our communication – always! Not all of us will be required to give formal speeches on a stage with hundreds of people. However, each day you give a series of mini-speeches to audiences ranging in size, of matters differing in importance. You don’t need to be a keynote speaker to need […]
At this title, you might be wondering how I know what it takes to make the close. But, having spent fourteen years in sales and marketing at Bloomberg, as well as serving in a few different leadership roles in business development, I can tell you effectively leading is being an effective salesperson. In sales, you […]
I have a list of must-read book recommendations ready to give anyone who asks. On that list is a book that I give to every client and student. What could possibly be so important that everyone I work with must have it? A book focused on identifying strengths. So often we are overcome with everything […]
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, […]
An article in Nature Neuroscience led by Benedetto De Martino, a cognitive neuroscientist in the field of decision-making and neuroeconomics, states that the brain has direct links between knowing what you want and the ability to express it. His research demonstrated that the more confidence a person had in his or her ideas, the more […]
It’s okay to be human. In fact, it’s critical. Effective leadership, or the ability to truly speak the language of leading, requires vulnerability – the willingness to remove the mask of perfection. Those who are emotionally intelligent know that perfection or the expectation of perfection is unrealistic. Revealing vulnerabilities is an effective way to strip […]
The character John Keating, played by Robin Williams in the movie Dead Poets Society, is my role model. He encouraged his students to be authentic, innovative, and to find the courage to plot their own career paths. In my work with students and executives, my goal is to embody the timeless core values expressed by […]
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 […]
“Anything you can do, I can do better. I can do anything better than you…Anything you can be, I can be greater. Sooner or later I’m greater than you…” Many of us are familiar with these lyrics from Irving Berlin’s 1946 Broadway musical, Annie Get Your Gun. The song reminds me of incredible accomplishments achieved […]
Chuck Garcia