I have read several books on habits and leadership, and there is a powerful statement about habits that comes from my favorite author, John C. Maxwell. John Maxwell said: “Ultimately, people do not decide their future; they decide their habits and their habits decide their future.” I have experienced this phenomenon. For years I have…
My favourite author, John C. Maxwell, wrote a book called “Success is a Choice”. One of the main things that this idea brings to mind is that success is often one step beyond your comfort zone, and that making excuses in life will send you down the wrong path in life. Also, I have learned…
As a member of Toastmasters International, I have served in different club and district leadership roles over the years. Serving in these volunteer leadership roles has given me something meaningful to do with my time outside of work. It has also helped to shape and develop my leadership skills. Being a leader for Toastmasters has…
John Maxwell, one of my favorite leadership authors, once said, “The secret of your success is found in your daily agenda.” It’s a simple idea, but a powerful one. Success isn’t built in a single breakthrough moment; it’s built in the small, intentional actions you choose to take each day. Your daily agenda is more…
As a member of Toastmasters International, I’ve had the opportunity to learn and grow through the Toastmasters Pathways program by completing multiple learning paths – both from the earlier legacy curriculum and the current Pathways experience. Each path has challenged me in different ways and contributed to my development as a communicator and leader. So…
While reading the book “So Good They Can’t Ignore You” by Cal Newport, I came across an idea that challenged the way many people think about careers and passion. Newport argues that instead of adopting what he calls the passion mindset, we should embrace the craftsman mindset. The passion mindset asks the question, “What can…
This week, I want to reflect on a powerful quote from James Clear, author of Atomic Habits and The Atomic Habits Workbook. In his workbook, he writes: “The most important habit is choosing the right habit to work on.” That statement carries a lot of weight. I strongly believe in the power of focus –…
What are your most important goals right now? Are you making measurable progress toward them? Do you genuinely believe you will achieve them – or are you hoping the numbers will somehow change on their own? When we set goals, it’s easy to fixate on outcomes. The weight on the scale. The revenue target. The…
A book I enjoyed reading was the book “Look Ma, Life’s Easy” by Ernie Zelinski. The main lesson in this book is something that Ernie calls “The Easy Rule of Life”. His message is that your life will be difficult and uncomfortable if you always make the easy decisions and do what is comfortable for…
This week I want to explore the idea behind the following quote: “If you’re not changing it, you’re choosing it.” This is a quote from Erich Viedge, a Toastmaster from South Africa. I heard this quote when watching the recording of a “Belief Shift” webinar that Erich facilitated. Making Excuses and Placing Blame One common…
