Jul 10Member-onlyLet These 8 Quotes Stoke Your Collaborative FireBecause teamwork really can make the dream work. I spent much of my career as a lone wolf. And I was pretty damn successful at it. I would unflinchingly tackle impossible projects with a laser-like focus — all by myself. I would clock insane amounts of overtime. I took care…Life Lessons4 min read
Jul 3Member-onlyWhy Don’t Motivational Speeches Work?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…Life Lessons2 min read
Jun 27Member-onlyHow To Pretend To Be Happy When You Are NotBecause 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…Happiness3 min read
Jun 18Member-onlyRisk Going Too FarYou’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…Life Lessons3 min read
Jun 11Member-onlyWhat Are Some Behaviors of a Confident Person?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…Life Lessons4 min read
Jun 4Member-onlyThe “Old You” Cannot Conquer Your Current ChallengesWhy 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…Personal Development3 min read
May 29Member-only12 Quotes That Motivate Me To Kick AssMaybe 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. …Motivation4 min read
May 17Member-onlyShould You Hide Your Happiness for the Benefit of Others?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…Life Lessons2 min read
May 15Member-onlyStop Dragging Your Confidence Through the MudChoose 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…Life Lessons2 min read
May 7Member-onlyImitation Will Only Get You So FarYour 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…Life Lessons3 min read