My work in the business world, that has included helping companies survive crises of all sorts, has revealed eight dimensions that distinguish those who respond well to a crisis from those who don't. Your ability to reject the crisis mentality and cultivate an opportunity psychology depends on your developing these...

What do smoke signals, drums, books, the telegraph, telephone, fax, mobile phones, and the Internet have in common? They have incrementally enabled us to connect with more people and access more information in more rapid, easy, and less costly ways. Each advancement changed our lives in ways manifest and subtle,...

Few would argue against the idea that popular culture attempts to manipulate your children's needs and wants and motivate them to buy food, toys, clothing, electronics and other products. The danger comes when these items have no redeeming value, are unhealthy or send them the wrong messages.

Popular culture...

It's hard enough these days for parents to keep up with all of the latest technological developments. It's even harder to stay informed of the latest research on the effects of technology on our children. In our already incredibly busy lives, it's downright exhausting trying to stay abreast of what...

Our primitive brains, which have yet to catch up with the challenges of business life in the 21st century, will likely cause you to feel four emotions when faced with a crisis in your work, what I call the caveman crisis chain: fear, frustration, anger, and despair.

Which emotions...

I chose the metaphor of computer software with its evolving versions because it seemed to be relevant to children's development in so many ways. Because my ideas about the role of technology in our lives is not only about the meeting of children and technology, but also what seems like...

There is much talk these days about how America is in decline (think Roman Empire) because it has gotten complacent, lazy, and soft. Americans, it is argued, have lost their drive and their edge because life is just too easy for us; we are no longer hungry, literally or metaphorically....

Have you seen the late George Carlin's riff on "stuff"? If you haven't, it is brilliant and hilarious, and it exemplifies so much of what I believe about the over-filled, over-scheduled, over-thought, and over-wrought experiences that we now call life in 21st-century America. I don't know about you,...

The Power of Technology

Technology may be the most powerful force in the world today and, as the noted technology historian Melvin Kranzberg observes in his Six Laws of Technology, "Technology is neither good nor bad -- nor is it neutral." Technology isn't neutral because it does, clearly, have an...

If the stock market was a person -- gosh, if corporations can have the same rights as people, why can't the stock market have thoughts and feelings? -- he could be diagnosed with a wide range of psychiatric disorders (I don't mean to be sexist, but the majority of people...

My wife, Sarah, and I have two daughters, ages 7 and 5, and thankfully, we have very similar philosophies on how we want to raise our girls. This common ground has enabled us to provide a generally united and consistent front in the messages we send and, over all, how...

Routines are one of the most important aspects of sports that athletes can develop to improve their training and competitive performances. The fundamental value of routines is that they ensure total preparation in athletes' efforts. Routines enable athletes to be completely physically, technically, tactically, and mentally ready to perform their...

This is a question that all parents ask themselves... constantly. There are no easy answers and, realistically, there is probably not one single answer. The important thing for parents is to at least ask and try to answer the question for their own family.

My wife Sarah and I...

Yes, you heard me right. I asked whether you are capable of disconnecting... from your smartphone, PC, laptop, tablet, or mp3 player! I realize that is a shocking and perhaps heretical suggestion in a time when most people are connected 24/7. I'm not saying that you have to be thoroughly...

In a recent post I suggested that our survival instinct, which has served us so well for so long, may now be failing us. Why? because the reactions that arise as part of the fight-or-flight response are often no longer effective in a world that is far more...

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about what I thought was the worst possible emotion. There are certainly enough worthy aspirants, including hate, anger, and sadness. But I felt regret was the winner (or should I say loser), because its causes can't be undone -- it...

The human instinct to survive is our most powerful drive. Since animals climbed out of the primordial muck and our early ancestors rose from all fours to walk upright, evolution has been guided by its ability to help us survive and reproduce. Just about everything that humans have become --...

In my last post, I described the essential role that values play in the life you lead. I also showed how you can deconstruct values so you can really understand what values are driving your life.

But it is one thing to recognize what values you possess and to admit...

Mother's Day is on Sunday. Unfortunately, my own mother died some years ago, so I can't celebrate the day with her (though I owe her an immense debt of gratitude for all that she gave me). There is, however, another mother in my life that deserves to be honored. Namely,...

Your values form the foundation of your life. They dictate the choices you make and determine the direction that your life takes. Your values will influence your decisions related to your relationships, career, and other activities you engage in. Despite this importance, few people choose their values. Instead, they simply...