Resolving conflicts has never been easy, but it feels like in a world where you can live in your own world that you never have to talk to someone who ever disagrees with you. Even debates are no longer really two people having a conversation to try to influence each other but rather each person talking to an audience to score points and "own" the...
Read MoreEthics are an interesting topic because they are based on so many situational factors. Before we discuss the one that is of particular interest in modern times, just a quick recap of the five factors that are necessary for ethical accountability: The Five Required Attributes for Human Ethical
Read MoreNote: Contentious topics are used for illustrative purposes only; I am not advocating for you to take any specific ethical position. "There are no solutions; there are only trade-offs," is a famous saying about economics and economic policy. It acknowledges the reality that there are benefits and drawbacks to anything in life. Small creatures are...
Read MoreThere is a great saying for anyone trying to get work done: "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." I say it all the time when trying to talk executives back from a perfect three-year plan to focusing more on a clear understanding of what you need to achieve and a plan that shows progress and value toward those outcomes over time vs. a...
Read MoreOne of my favorite memories studying psychology is when I was told about an experiment where the experimenters told people to imagine they had won something (e.g., tickets to a concert, a kiss from their favorite celebrity) and then asked them when they would like to receive it. It's such a fascinating thought experiment because everyone thinks...
Read MoreWhen I was growing up, I cannot tell you how many times I heard the "be willing to go above and beyond in everything you do" speech around everything from school work to employment to athletics. The idea is that if you work just a little harder than your competition every day, you will eventually be much, much further in your progress. My most...
Read MoreYou can't write a book called The Meaning of Life: A guide to finding your life's purpose and not have a strong opinion as to challenges with most philosophy, self-help, and personal growth books. Obviously, there are many, many takes on the question of what the point of it all is, and the overwhelming majority of them are honest and have...
Read MoreA popular movie trope is commonly known as the “pronoun game” where one or more characters refer to another character without naming them. This film technique is used mainly for two reasons: Mystery or confusion is the goal of such device, and it affects how the audience perceives current and future events. Often, the revelation is a big plot...
Read MoreIt is easy to get caught up in the doom and gloom that the 24-hour news cycle perpetuates. In addition, there is always the reality as any individual ages that death is the end of the line and can come at any time. So, of course that combination can cause many people to become pessimistic and believe that life is sad and painful. But, as pointed...
Read MoreAre you an idiot or a maniac? I know, that's a strange way to start a blog post. But, in all seriousness, it's an interesting dichotomy that shows the ethical continuum that we all use when making decisions and then passing judgment on others for theirs. Let's take a look at this through the lens of two famous stand-up jokes from popular
Read More