In every creative endeavor there is moment just before the victorious culmination where you are called to rise up out of the old state and into the new state. It is the moment, you could say, where you finally release all disbelief that the new state is actually achievable. The niggling doubts that we as …
Category: Observations on Life
Effective Follow Up
Yesterday we examined the importance of effective follow up in the living of life. Today I would like to examine specific steps that can make you more efficient in all that you do. The art of superb follow up begins with the ability to “tie down” the critical information gathered or next steps garnered after …
Tying It Down
One of the biggest sources of wasted effort lies neither in poor preparation nor bungled execution, but in the failure to follow up. I have watched many good efforts turn to naught for lack of seeing the process all the way through, either deliberately or by accident. It is quite sad when it happens, especially …
Sprezzatura
I remember the first time I entered a large stadium for a sporting event as if it were yesterday. Walking down the interior corridor after passing the concession stands, the smell of nachos, popcorn and hot dogs mixed with earthy air made thick by the countless gallons of beer and packs of cigarettes consumed by …
Improvement and Innovation
I came across an interesting article about Finland's educational system that I feel compelled to share with you today. Forty years ago Finland was facing a double crisis. It's economy and educational system were performing poorly and the leadership at the time took a bold series of steps to improve the prospects for the future. …
Head, Heart, Hand
"A heart to resolve, a head to contrive and a hand to execute." ~ Edward Gibbon This lovely phrase is the basis upon which mountains are moved. Whatever your intent, when your heart, head and hand are unified in purpose and functioning in harmony, the likelihood that you will achieve your aims improves significantly. Internal …
Courage and Resolution
"How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them." ~ Benjamin Franklin Of all the words that come to mind in relation to personal faults, I can't imagine that "ownership" would top the list in the minds of most people. The majority, I imagine, would claim …
Of Sound Mind and Body
It seems to me that it is becoming increasingly difficult to be of sound mind and body in the world we've created for ourselves. We surround ourselves with all types of toxic substances - plastics, VOCs, chemicals and impurities - all the while increasingly isolating ourselves form the experience of the great outdoors. More often …
Flexibility and Control
My Pilates instructor shared an interesting video with me after attending the recent Atlanta MANIA fitness tradeshow. The video featured Chuck Wolf, M.S., an exercise physiologist who developed an interesting fitness training modality called "Flexibility Highways," who expanded on the basic point that: "Mobilizing muscles and joints without incorporating a stabilizing movement pattern can actually …
Step it up a Notch
Step it up a Notch I had an interesting conversation with an associate today about the need to inspire others to move out of their comfort zones and into a greater, fuller expression of themselves. As with so many conversations or events that catch my eye or interest, my thoughts on the matter have evolved …
Gregory Hake 