"Righteousness is easy in retrospect." ~Arthur Schlesinger Jr. How true is that?!? More often than not the right thing to do is the least popular thing to do. Politicians find themselves between a rock and a hard place on this point as reelection concerns are often pitted against the need to support unpopular but clearly …
Tag: character
What matters more than your talents.
Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, recently gave a graduation address at his alma mater, Princeton University. He made the case that our character is defined not by the gifts we're born with, but by the choices we make as we move through life. Each of us is endowed with a unique combination of …
Mastery, Practice and Subtlety
The French have a saying: "Qui trop embrasse, mal etreint" which means, "he who embraces too much, has a weak grasp." What does it take to move from being a "Jack of all trades, master of none" to being a master of all trades? While there is value in have a breadth of skills and knowledge, …
Character and Success by Theodore Roosevelt
In 1901 Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States at the age of 42, following the assassination of William McKinley. Using tactics that followed his famous slogan, "Speak softly and carry a big stick," Roosevelt negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War, a feat that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize. …
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Victory! Momentum, Character and You
Katie Spotz, a 22 year old from Ohio, recently rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean, setting new records in the process. The journey from Dakar, Senegal to Georgetown, Guyana took 70 days, 5 hours and 22 minutes. Yes, she rowed alone, in a small boat, across the Atlantic Ocean! (see: http://rowforwater.com/) Listen to Katie Couric's congratulatory report, and pay …
Parenthood, Character and You
"Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands." - Anne Frank There is nothing like parenthood. It is an opportunity to distill your central values and beliefs in preparation for passing the baton. Parenthood forces the question: …
Life Lessons Worth Spreading by Gregg Hake
If you find yourself "fighting fire with fire" or "seeking an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," I encourage you to remember this life lesson. Nothing generative can come from such an approach. In fact, such an approach constrains to a life of unrelenting tension, bitterness and regret.
Gregory Hake 