When it comes to self-improvement, choose salads over sweets. Have you ever opened a YouTube link to kill time and ended up surfing a tidal wave of inspiration? Or have you ever attended a conference where a presenter verbally nudged you to take action instead of waiting for good fortune…

Because being optimistic all the time can be exhausting. Everyone wants to become the spirited leader in a crowd of cynics, grin despite the grind of daily life, and be a beacon of light in a society filled with darkness. But here is a dirty secret that folks rarely mention…

You’ll never seize greatness by playing it safe. The Secondhand Inspiration Project begins with a motivational quote and ventures wherever the creative path meanders. “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” -T.S. Eliot Taking chances is a vital component of…

Understand how they operate so you can emulate their actions. So what qualifies me to yap about the habits of confident people? Well, I have run the gamut in my partial lifetime from tragically insecure to self-assured. And because of that transition, I can say the distance between those extremes…

Why leveling up is critical. The Secondhand Inspiration Project begins with a motivational quote and ventures wherever the creative path meanders. “Every next level of your life will demand a different you.” — Leonardo DiCaprio Life is a multiple-level video game. In each phase, we alter our strategies, assume different…

Maybe they can fire you up to kick some ass, too. The human condition is inherently problematic. Knock down one obstacle, and another problem waits in the wings to take its place. We fall in love with everything only to find ourselves married to nothing but heartbreak and half-baked ideas. …

Hell no. Somebody I mentor recently asked a question that I’m sure many optimists face while seeking career advancement. And actually, I think many upbeat people wonder about this in life in general. My mentee wanted to talk honestly about her chipper attitude and how it impacts others at her…

Choose a cleaner approach. Sometimes, during the heat of life’s battles, I say nasty things. To myself. About myself. If I send an email with an obvious typo, I may call myself a dumbass. Or worse. Or if I blow an easy layup playing pickup basketball, I mutter vile things…

Your path is unique. The Secondhand Inspiration Project begins with a motivational quote and ventures wherever the creative path meanders. “From this point, your strategy is to make everyone else get on your level, you’re not going down to theirs. You’re not competing with anyone else, ever again. They’re going…