Our actions immediately give first impressions to all those around us.   Recently after a soccer game, I saw a coach walk off the field over to a group of parents. Before he spoke to the group he looked around four times making sure nobody was around to overhear what he was about to say.  The look on his face made him guilty before he even opened his mouth.  He was giddy with excitement over what he was about to tell the parents.  It was unfortunate for him that he didn’t know one of the club’s major supporters was…

Just like cutting down a tree, once your words are spoken or your actions are seen, they can’t be taken back.  You can be forgiven, but the words will always have been said, and the actions will have been seen.   Most of the time I am very careful about how I answer or respond to someone.  Particularly if I am aware the person is uncomfortable or difficult.  I don’t rush to react or feel pressure to respond.  There are those times when I am caught off guard and say or do something I regret.  It is during those…

When things stop being all about me, things start to get much better.   I don’t have enough time, I have too much going on, I can’t relax, I can’t get organized, I’m tired, I don’t know what to make for dinner, I don’t have time to see my friends, I don’t want to clean the house, I work too much, the kids are driving me crazy, etc.  Most of us have experienced some of these thoughts, I have experienced many of them!  I find that these thoughts are very unproductive and I work…

I have lived my life focusing on what matters, my faith, my family, and my career, but it was not until I worked as a direct marketing consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics that I fully understood the importance of putting faith first, family second, and career third.  Mary Kay Ash lived her life focusing on these priorities; never forcing her beliefs on others. Faith Matters: Although my faith has always been a strong component of my life, I have not always consciously made it my first priority.  When I focus on my faith being my first priority, all other things…