I don’t normally shed tears when I watch video clips of CEOs – but yesterday I did. Watch the following clip of Frank Donaghue, CEO of PHR (Physicians for Human Rights) and see how it affects you. Read more…

In my speech communication and sales presentation consulting work, when I talk about receiving feedback, I relay a Western and an Eastern view. The Western view, from Somerset Maugham is: ‘People ask for criticism, but they only want praise’. The Eastern view, attributed to Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching is: ‘When the master makes a mistake she realises it, having realised it she admits it, having admitted it she corrects it . . . she considers those who point out her faults as her most benevolent teachers. . . she considers her enemy, as the shadow that she herself cast.’ Read more…

“Until most individuals recognize that sustained training and effort is a prerequisite for reaching expert levels of performance, they will continue to mis-attribute lesser achievement to the lack of natural gifts, and will thus fail to reach their own potential.” K Anders Ericsson, Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance. Read more…

“For 40 years I had been making deposits in my ability to take-off, fly and land aircraft. On that fateful day I made a huge withdrawal. And if I hadn’t made all those deposits over all those years, I wouldn’t have been able to make that withdrawal, and save those people’s lives.” Read more…