Is Mind Wandering a Good or Bad Thing?
Is mind wandering a good thing or bad thing? Is it the same as being on “autopilot,” without being conscious of what you are doing? There seems to be several differing perspectives on these questions.
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How Neuroscience Can Help Us Make Better Decisions
We make dozens of decisions every day, some simple, some more complex. Some internet sources estimate that an adult makes about 35,000 conscious decisions each day.We make 226.7 decisions each day on just food alone according to researchers at Cornell... read more
Should You “Trust Your Gut” to Make Decisions?
Is it rational to trust your gut feelings? Does it matter if you face a decision that is personal versus a decision you have at work? Does the amount and reliability of information prompt you to make a decision solely on logic and rationality, or does gut feeling... read more
Why Nelson Mandela Was A Great Leader
Nelson Mandela, or “Madiba” as he was affectionately known, has died. Not only have we lost a great man and a great leader for his country, but also a shining example of the kind of leadership we so desperately need today. He has left a huge inspirational vacuum.
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Why Christmas is So Difficult for Some People
We are told that Christmas, for Christians, should be the happiest time of year, an opportunity to be joyful and grateful with family, friends and colleagues. Yet, many people are unhappy at Christmas and according to the National Institute of Health,... read more
Why Emotional Intelligence is Critical for Great Leadership
There is clear evidence now that shows the strong connection between effective and successful leaders and their possession of high levels of emotional intelligence. Leadership is a process of social interaction where the leader’s ability to influence the... read more
Labeling Your Thoughts and Feelings: Using Neuroscience and Mindfulness
Putting your feelings into words, and mindful meditation together are a powerful way to regulate your emotions in a positive way. Why is putting our feelings into words beneficial? A brain imaging study by UCLA psychologists which appears in the... read more
Why CEOs Fail and What to do About It
The media is full of stories about super successful CEOs, such as Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson or Oprah Winfrey. They are however, the exception, not the norm. A large number of CEOs and senior executives have less than stellar careers, and an alarming number were... read more
Do Good Looks (Beauty) Give You an Advantage?
Does one’s physical attractiveness have a positive or negative impact on life? Does it give you an advantage when it comes to finding a mate, getting good grades in school, getting a job or being more successful in life? Is beauty in the eye of the beholder? What does... read more
Why There is no Formula for Success
Want to be successful in your career and life? Just follow the example of the superstars of business, celebrities, professional athletes and entertainers. Emulate the habits of Tiger Woods (before his personal crisis), Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Lance Armstrong or Sir Richard Branson. Or at the organizational level, just follow the examples of Apple, GE or Google. Thousands of books, movies, seminars, consultants and self-help gurus, exhort people to follow the same steps, habits and secrets of the super successful, and they too will achieve outstanding results.
The problem with this advice is it doesn’t work. When people try to do as suggested, they tend to fail, and become even more demotivated. I’ve coached hundreds of people who came to me with great disappointment or despair, after following the dictums of a recipe for success taken from the lives of the super successful. In some cases they have spent thousands of dollars on seminars, books, personal advisors and media sources.
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Why we “choke” under pressure and what to do about it?
“Choking is suboptimal performance, not just poor performance. It’s a performance that is inferior to what you can do and have done in the past and occurs when you feel pressure to get everything right,” argues Beilock.
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Are You Addicted to Busyness? The Damage to Productivity and Well Being
Talk to almost anyone today, and they complain about having “no time,” about being too busy. And we now equate that busyness to productivity and a characteristic of a successful life. The truth of the matter is that busyness does not result in greater productivity and that busyness is contributing to a culture of continuous anxiety and stress.
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