Most people who want to succeed in the world of business know that they have to be good managers. I'd like to suggest to you that it's important to be a good manager, no matter what your field is, if you want to be a success. 

Why do I say that? Well, here's a laundry list of a few things you should be able to manage effectively if you want to lead a productive life: You have to manage ideas, money, time, opportunities, other people, talent, training, energy, risk, decisions, problems and your imagination. 

You see, failure is not the… >>>

How much control do you believe you have over what happens to you in life? Today, let's talk about how our feelings, about who's in control, affect our end-results. 

Some people believe they have very little control over what happens to them. When good things occur, they believe it's mostly a matter of luck or circumstance. They don't set goals or plan very far ahead because they think that how things turn out is beyond their control. 

Their tension and stress levels are generally very high, as you might expect, and they often feel overwhelmed, helpless and hopeless. Strangely enough,… >>>

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

Now, I'm not talking about magic, because some things - such as how tall you are - simply cannot be changed.

But, you know, there really isn't much that you can't alter if you want it badly enough - assuming you know how to go about it, and assuming that you take action as needed. Wanting to badly is a great start, but it won't get you anywhere by itself. Neither will affirmations or visualizations, if that's all you do. 

I you want to get started making… >>>

You know, high achievers are a lot like mountain climbers.

When you think about mountain climbing, maybe your stomach does a little flip-flop, like mine. But, you know, people who are successful in life are really a lot like mountain climbers. They don't start out climbing Mount Everest. Instead, they train and practice on smaller slopes until they build the skills and confidence to move on to bigger challenges. 

When they choose a goal, they map out a plan and, as much as possible, they follow it. They equip themselves as well as they possibly can and they learn from… >>>

Do you know anyone who has a hard time admitting they were wrong? If so, they may be struggling with uncertain self-esteem. 

No one enjoys being wrong or making a mistake, but in spite of what some folks would like you to believe, we all do it. In fact, the more venturesome you are and the less afraid of taking risks, the more likely you are to be wrong from time to time. But then what? How can you salvage your self-esteem when your pride has been shaken by a wrong decision? 

Well, it's not as hard as you might… >>>

You may have noticed that I've been talking about teens this week. As our PX2® program spreads further around the world, I am meeting and talking with more teens than I have since I left high-school teaching. Like adults, they come in all shapes and sizes, with every type of personality on the planet. Today, I have a message for parents who want to make sure their kids become responsible drivers.

If you want to see what mixed feelings look like, watch a parent whose 16 year-old has just brought home a driving learner's permit! Combined with the relief of… >>>

I'd like to build on yesterday's "Talking to Teens." Parents of teenagers often complain that they can't get their kids to communicate. Sometimes there are good reasons why. 

Teenagers really want to be able to talk to their parents. In fact, in some cases, they're dying because they can't. Most teens who commit suicide are those who feel they can't talk to either parent, and their feelings of loneliness, isolation and despair take over. 

Parents, without realizing it, do things that stop their teen-aged children from confiding in them. What sorts of things? Well, they interrupt to give reprimands and… >>>

What should parents do if they want their teenagers to confide in them? Dr. Joyce Vedral, author of several books on the teenager-parent relationship, asked a large number of teens to answer this question, and here is what they said. 

Generally, teenagers tend to feel comfortable talking with those parents with whom they can laugh and joke, parents whose understanding they know can count on. When asked why they would choose one parent over another to confide in, they invariably say they choose the one who stays calm even when they, themselves, are emotional, and who never says things like,… >>>

Do you feel that half the things you do turn out all wrong? If so, take heart, because today I'm going to tell you how to fail successfully. 

After nearly forty years in business, I consider myself highly successful. The company my wife and I started in our basement now does business on six continents, and the seminars I once gave to small groups of teachers and coaches now reach millions of people every year, many of them world leaders and corporate executives. 

But one of the reasons I'm successful is the same reason that Ty Cobb, the greatest baseball… >>>

What do hopelessness, helplessness and stress have to do with rats, astronauts and you? 

Did you know that right after splashdown, one of the most difficult phases of space flight, NASA doctors found significant changes in the Apollo astronauts' immune systems? Researchers have also found that rats, given electric shocks from which they cannot escape, give up and become helpless. 

When placed in a box where they can escape the shocks just by moving to the other side, these rats don't even try. They also develop stomach ulcers and abnormal brain chemistry. And, it's not because of the shocks. Another… >>>

Those of us who knew the 90's were a time of rapid change, and thought the new century would be no different, were right. The ability to quickly adapt is still a survival skill, one that has set the human species apart from most others.

One of the secrets to happiness in these changing times is the ability to be flexible - the power to adapt. Some people make themselves miserable by being very stubborn about their plans for the future. They choose a path and refuse to deviate from it, no matter what.

Now, persistence and tenacity are normally… >>>

Are optimists people who just don't see the pain and suffering in the world, or is something else going on? Let's talk about optimism in a less than perfect world. 

Do you know anyone who is a pessimist because they claim that it's just being "realistic?" They seem to feel that because the world contains murderers and molesters, and because war, famine and injustice are common, that the economy is in a mess, it is simpleminded to take an optimistic view. 

Now, I agree that it is simpleminded to try to live as if the world contained no pain or… >>>

Everyone feels frightened from time to time, especially young children. Let's face it, there are some pretty frightening images on television and in newspapers and magazines. Today, let's talk about how to handle the fears of the children in our lives, whether they be our children, grandchildren, godchildren, nieces, nephews - whatever. 

What should you do if your child becomes terrified of the water, or of going to the doctor, or shows fearful or aggressive behavior that you hadn't noticed before? First, don't panic. Fears surface normally during many stages of child development. 

Reassure your children patiently and affectionately about… >>>

For most of us, the greatest source of happiness in life is to love and be loved. Today I am going to tell you why love and optimism go hand in hand.

When I think of the strongly optimistic people I know, I am always struck by the depth and scope of their relationships. Optimists are great lovers! They love many things passionately - nature, sports, music, art, gardening - you name it. 

But most of all, they love people. They respond to children and old folks with enthusiasm. They are deeply connected to their families. They are usually involved… >>>

Are you using visualization to help ensure the results you want in the future? If not, you should be.

How good is your imagination? Now, when I ask that question, most people invariably say that they have an active imagination. If that's true for you, too, then you should certainly be using visualization techniques to help you get the results you want in the future. 

Why? Well, because if you do it right, it works. How do I know? From over 40 years of experience - personal and otherwise - for one thing. But don't take my word for it.… >>>

There is great comfort in the familiar, but there is also great danger, too.

Most of us feel secure in the belief that we can trust the familiar in our lives, and we feel that there is comfort and peace in the predictable. Actually, while this is true to some degree, it can also be a trap.

You see, it is the unfamiliar, the risk, and the unpredictable that liberates us from boredom, unleashes our creative spirit, and enlivens our relationships. And it is the unplanned and unknown occurrences that make our life rich in possibilities. 

Of course, some order,… >>>

With Valentine's Day coming up in a couple of weeks, I thought this would be a good time to address "love."  How do you say, "I love you" to someone you care about?  How do you express your feelings of love and affection to your spouse and other family members?  Florists would like us to believe that we should "say it with flowers," but I think there are better ways.

For instance: If you love me, compliment me often for jobs well done and don't downgrade me, but rather reassure me when I fail.

If you love me, listen to… >>>

People have trouble accepting criticism, but how about when it's time to accept a compliment? I'd like to talk a little about receiving compliments.

How well do you receive a compliment? People who have a healthy sense of self-esteem, and who are concerned about empowering themselves and others, know how to receive compliments that are well deserved and sincerely meant. 

They do it in a way that is gracious and that enhances their own self-image, as well as that of the giver of the compliment. All too often, I have seen people turn away compliments with comebacks that amount to… >>>

What makes a good relationship work? What makes a good relationship turn bad and fall apart? Let's talk about what it takes to build solid relationships.

Most people would never consider jumping off a cliff into the sea without some expertise in swimming, but almost all of us jump into relationships without a clue about how to make them work. 

We've never given much thought to what a really good relationship needs, or about what skills the people in the relationship should have, if they really want to get the most out of it. Nevertheless, we seem to expect some… >>>

We've all heard the saying "the truth hurts." But while lying to protect someone else's feelings may seem easier, it can be very damaging in the long run. Let's talk about truth in relationships.

Lying to someone you love can be devastating and can undermine their trust in you for a long, long time. How do you feel about lying? Would you prefer that those around you keep unpleasant truths from you? Or, would you prefer to know the truth, no matter what? 

How would you like the truth told to you? Brutally, with no regard for your feelings? Or… >>>