The Lesson

Leadership.

6 stories about leadership.

Personal Growth

Most of our biggest challenges are too overwhelming if we try to tackle them all at once. But almost anything becomes possible when we simply focus on taking one more step.

Sometimes You Have to Take the Stairs

Every year my nephew, Lemuel, calls with the same invitation. “Uncle Michael, are you coming to Seattle for the stair climb?” I know…

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Running

We often discover our greatest supply only after making a greater demand on ourselves. Don’t let your first limit become your final destination.

The Other Side of Supply and Demand

This morning, somewhere around mile three of my run, I found myself back in an economics classroom. Funny how that happens. When you’re…

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Storytelling

When you tell a personal story, make someone else the hero.

I Never Stood Alone

Over the years I’ve attended countless meetings, conferences, workshops, and speeches. Somewhere along the way—I’m not even sure where…

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Speaking

The day I started calling myself a speaker wasn't the day my career changed. It was the day my thinking changed. Everything else followed.

The Day I Gave Myself Permission to Speak

During my run this morning, I found myself wondering when I actually became a speaker. It wasn't when I won my first Toastmasters contest.…

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Business

People judge you by what they see, not by what you intend.

The View from the Other Side

I thought I was the perfect employee. I took my breaks exactly on time, ate lunch exactly on time, and went home exactly at five o'clock. I…

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Wisdom

Discipline is far more dependable than motivation — extraordinary lives are built by ordinary habits repeated with extraordinary faithfulness.

The Quiet Power of Discipline

Every morning at six o''clock, my alarm clock and I have the same little disagreement. The alarm says, "Time to get up." My body says, "I…

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