Fall down seven times, get up eight (and have a laugh along the way)" 

                                                 - Ancient Japanese proverb (with an addition by me)

I was recently reminded of a story I wrote about in my book, Black Belt Leadership several years ago.  

This story was initially intended to share a memorable personal story about parenthood.  However, after some reflection, I believe it can also serve us all as we explore our personal path of life-leadership and our in our quest to effectively, compassionately and courageously lead others.

When I first moved to Colorado several years ago, I decided to take up skiing for the first time.  Being an athlete and growing up in the Midwest, I had avoided skiing because of the potential of injury and lack of proximity to the ski resorts, but now the mountains were calling.

Being on skis for the first time, I was excited for a new physical challenge.  The excitement, however, was soon replaced by con...

“Leadership ………. is like a big door that swings.  But that big door of leadership swings on the small hinge of character.”

                                                                           - Admiral James Stavridis (Ret.)

Last week I shared with you part one of a two-part mini-series on leadership and the outstanding quote above by Admiral James Stavidis (Ret.)

In part one, we discussed the first 5 of nine attributes on character in leadership that I created as the acronym C.H.A.R.A.C.T.E.R.  These were:

C – Commitment to Serve, H – Honor Your Word, A – Attainment = Accomplishment + Becoming, R – Rise to the Occasion and A#2 – Admit and Own Your Mistakes and Move to Correct Them This week, we will continue with the remaining four “character” attributes of being a leader.

• C #2– Capability – The world of leadership places a strong emphasis (and with good reason) on accountability. Holding yourself or others accountable for their actions is seen a strong
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“Leadership ………. is like a big door that swings.  But that big door of leadership swings on the small hinge of character.”

                                                                                 - Admiral James Stavridis (Ret.)

A couple of years ago at this time, I was listening to an interview with Retired Admiral James Stavridis, who was out promoting his new book on leadership, Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character.   

I have to admit, I was half-listening to the interview while I was working out, when the admiral said something and made me immediately stop and go running for a pen and paper to write it down when he shared,

“Leadership is how we influence others.  It is like a big door that swings.  But that big door of leadership swings on the small hinge of character.”

These words have stayed with me over the last year, and in my opinion, are even more needed now than when I first heard them.  Since listening to this interview.  I h...

The biggest competition is myself. I am not looking to follow others or pull them down. I'm planning to test my own boundaries.”

                                                                   Rain, South Korean singer, songwriter

About 4 years into the owning of my martial arts studio, I experienced, what I felt at the time was a true business crisis. 

One evening, a friend and fellow martial arts instructor called me to tell me had a received a promotional fax (yes, this story happened a while ago) announcing the opening of a competitive martial arts school just a mile east of my school’s location. 

Not only was this a competitive school, but it was part of the largest, most successful martial arts school chain not only in Denver, but in the entire country.

During his call, fear, anxiety and worry flooded my mind. 

What was I to do?  I had worked so hard to bring my business to a point where it was finally experiencing success and was that all going to go away...

“You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.”

                                                                            - Carl Gustav Jung

Welcome to the final installment of our three-part series entitled, “The 3 C’s of Creating Breakthroughs.”

In our first segment, I discussed “C number one” which is to Clarify Your Vision. 

Last week I discussed the “Second C” of Creating Your Plan, which comprised of the following four elements. 

• Begin with the end in mind – then break it down
• Identifying who can hold you capable in breaking through
• What obstacles to you need to plan for? And…
• What celebration will you take part in when you achieve breakthrough?

If you would like to take a deeper dive into these and other principles to achieving breakthroughs, download my free report…

The Top Ten Big Ideas to Creating Breakthroughs

In part three of this series, we will explore the “final C”, Consistent Action.

I love the opening quote from Carl Jung...

A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

                                                          - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Welcome to part two of our three-part series entitled, “The 3 C’s of Creating Breakthroughs.”

In our first installment, I discussed “C number one” which is to Clarify Your Vision.  This was comprised of asking yourself and answering the following three questions…

• What do you REALLY want?
• What is your BIG WHY? And…..
• Who do you need to BE to create your breakthrough?

If you would like to take a deeper dive into these and other principles to achieving breakthroughs, download my free report…

The Top Ten Big Ideas to Creating Breakthroughs

In part two of this series, we will explore the “second C”, Creating a Plan.

As the opening quote so deftly states, “a goal without a plan is just a wish.”

While this may seem like a cute play on words, there is much wisdom in this statement in guiding us in our quest to breakthroughs in...

“Breaking through your self-imposed barriers (and they are self-imposed) is the greatest challenge you will ever face.  Face them you must.”

                                                                                      - Mary-Frances Winters

In my over four decades as a martial arts instructor, and now in my work as a speaker, life-coach and workshop facilitator, I have been honored to guide a multitude of students, clients and audience members through the journey of breaking through obstacles in their life.

These areas of breakthrough can appear in many forms, such as; the desire to release body weight, improving one’s physical health, healing relationships, overcoming financial difficulties or creating the business or career of their dreams.

In our minds, these challenges can seem to exist completely outside of us in the difficult circumstances we encounter.  We believe that if we just “fix” the outside, we will feel better on the inside.

However, I have come...

"People don’t buy because what you do is awesome. People buy because it makes them feel awesome."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        – Tara Gentile 

In 1995, I left my position as a corporate sales manager of a Fortune 100 company to follow my dream of owning a professional martial arts studio.  It was both the most exhilarating and terrifying time of my life. 

When I left, I took my decade of experience and success in a large corporate environment with me.  However, I soon learned that the world of entrepreneurship and small business was much different from my corporate experience in one key area - guarantee of compensation.  

In the corporate world, although my compensation was ultimately predicated on my performance, if I occasionally had a bad sales call or mish...

"I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened."

                                                                                                - Mark Twain

In his landmark book, The Worry Cure, Dr. Robert Leahy, after studying scores of subjects, determined 97% of the things we worry about either never happen or when they do, they are not as bad as we anticipated. 

Imagine how you would live your life if you knew this to be true.

Despite this fact, many of us still can be consumed by worry, preventing us from being in our most optimum state and/or taking the action necessary to live the empowered and prosperous lives we desire and deserve.  When we truly understand that worry is actually “imagination wasted”, our lives will transform.

Here are six strategies that can assist you in overcoming worry and transform you from being a worrier in your problems to a true warrior in life.

1. Slow down and breathe – One of the first phy
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"Luck is when preparation meets opportunity" 

                                                                          - Seneca

It is the fall of 1980; my high school football team is preparing to take on one of our arch-rivals.  Both teams are 6-0 and whoever wins the game is in the driver's seat for the conference championship - and we've got them at our home stadium.  

It's minutes before kickoff and my teammates and I are high up above the playing field in an area of the stadium called the team room. 

It is a small, dark and cramped room where all 45 of my teammates and I are quietly making our final mental preparations for the big game. 

It is so quiet you can hear a pin drop as players are either silently sitting or pensively pacing back and forth to insure, they have the mental edge - you can cut the tension with a knife.

Suddenly, our head coach enters the room and gives the most amazing pre-game speech ever delivered.  The room explodes in enthusias...