You might have heard the phrase, “May her memory be for a blessing,” when people discuss Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s death. Molly Conway wrote a wonderful essay. I encourage you to read it. You also might like Rabbi Sacks’ essay about tshuvah, tfilla, and tzedaka. And, I hope you join me in mourning the loss of […]
How Will Your Memory Be For a Blessing? Read More »
I’ve been thinking about perfection these days. As a society, we seem to want it all. We want everything open. We don’t discriminate between schools and airplanes. And, several people have written to me, saying they want to be perfect in some or many areas of their lives. I wish I was perfect. Not only
How Much Imperfection Can We Live With? Read More »
As I write this, the US is in the midst of the race for the 2020 election. Yes, we call it the time leading up to the election a race. Interesting choice of words, isn’t it? Here’s what surprises me. Each of the major parties (and their candidates) sees and explains recent history differently. I
Does Your Truth Depend on Meaning? Read More »
We often talk about a few “bad apples” in teams, groups, or even society as a whole. We use the term “bad apples” because that metaphor helps us see that one bad apple can poison an entire container. Should we tolerate one bad apple? Are there other options to help us create a culture that
How Do We Create Culture? Read More »
Let’s assume you want to learn a new skill. I’ll choose fiction writing because I’m still learning. What do you do to master new skills? Here’s what I’ve done: Found successful people to learn from. Found a support system. Used deliberate practice with feedback to improve. I’ll take each of these. Learn from Successful People
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Here, in the US, we’re trying to open schools at all levels, play professional sports, and open as much of the economy as possible. We want it all. Now. And, we’re having problems. Some elementary, middle-grade, and high schools have closed because they have too many virus cases. Several universities only opened for a week
What Principles Do You Use for Value Decisions? Read More »
As I write this in August 2020, the schools are planning how to open in the fall. And, the various college sports are trying to decide how or if they will play. How do we decide to persevere or to change? Schools fulfill many vital roles in a child’s life. The younger the child, the
When Do We Decide to Persevere or Change? Read More »
In these COVID times, some people think they need to play zero-sum games. Those games are the ones where “I win, you lose.” While we might win short-term, we often all lose with zero-sum games. That’s because the game ends. However, there is another kind of game: infinite games. The point of infinite games is
Are You Playing a Finite or an Infinite Game? Read More »
In How Do You Manage Imposter Syndrome? one of the commenters asked how I take that first step. It depends. And, it depends—for me—on these things: I can think, not just react. The state of my emotional resilience so I can access my courage. The risk of taking that first step. How vulnerable I can
How Do You Find the Courage to Take the First Step? Read More »
What does courage mean to you? Merriam Webster says: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty Many people translate that to: “Blindly go into danger.” I don’t buy that blindly part. Courage is not fearlessness. Courage is what you can consider, in the face of your fear. If we break
What Does Courage Mean to You? Read More »