Determining if someone is truly sorry and trustworthy can be a complex and subjective process, but there are several key factors to consider when trying to assess their sincerity and reliability:

Apology and Acknowledgment: A genuine apology is often the first step. The person should acknowledge their wrongdoing, take responsibility for their actions, and express remorse for the harm they've caused.
Empathy and Understanding: A sincere apology should demonstrate empathy and understanding of how their actions have affected you or others. They should be able to articulate the impact of their behavior on your feelings.

The Difference Between Productivity and Busyness

Productivity is about achieving meaningful results and making the most of your time, while busyness is simply being occupied with activities, whether they are important or not. The key to personal and professional success is to prioritize productivity over busyness, focusing on tasks and activities that truly contribute to your goals and using your time efficiently and effectively.

How to Overcome Indecisiveness

In my last article, I shared numerous examples of indecisiveness and where it affects us. While overcoming indecisiveness can be challenging, with consistent effort and the right strategies, you can learn to make decisions more confidently.

Clarify Your Values and Priorities: When you're clear about what matters most to you, it becomes easier to make decisions that align with your values. Take some time to reflect on your goals, values, and long-term priorities.

Indecisiveness Is Everywhere

Sarah had always been passionate about two things: writing and healthcare. She had a talent for crafting compelling stories, but she also had a deep interest in helping others through healthcare. After high school, she found herself torn between pursuing a degree in journalism or nursing. She spent years going back and forth, unable to decide.

In the end, she tried to combine her interests by becoming a health journalist. However, her indecisiveness had caused her to miss out on valuable learning opportunities, and she always wondered what might have happened if she had fully committed to either path. She struggled to establish herself as a writer in the competitive world of journalism and couldn't shake the feeling that she had squandered her potential.

How to Manage Your Business' Biggest Asset

Businesses have many assets. These could be physical (buildings, inventory, computers), intellectual (trademarks and patents) or financial (cash and equivalents, marketable securities).

But the greatest asset that every company has, hands down, is its people, also known as human capital.

The better a company does at managing its human capital and keeping its people happy and productive, the more successful the company will be.

Managing human capital effectively involves creating an environment where employees can thrive, reach their full potential, and feel motivated and satisfied.

How to Manage Toxic Customers or Clients

In my last article, I shared anecdotes and attributes of toxic customers and clients. Below, I will share strategies on how to deal with them to protect yourself, your people, and your business.

Handling toxic customers and clients can be challenging, but it's important to address their concerns while also protecting yourself and your team. Here are some tips for handling toxic customers and clients effectively:

Stay calm and composed: It's crucial to maintain your composure and not let the customer's toxicity affect your emotions. Take deep breaths, remain patient, and focus on finding a solution.

Are Your Customers or Clients Toxic?

You’ve likely encountered toxic people like this.

The Unreasonable Demander: A small boutique clothing store had a customer who would come in regularly, try on numerous outfits, and then demand special discounts for each item. She would threaten to leave negative online reviews if her demands weren’t met, and her behavior created tension among the staff. Despite the store’s efforts to accommodate her, she continued her demanding behavior, impacting staff morale and overall customer experience.
The Eternal Complainer: A freelance graphic designer took on a client for a logo design project. Despite presenting several high-quality concepts, the client consistently found flaws and requested revisions. The client's feedback was often vague and contradictory, making it impossible for the designer to meet their expectations. After months of revisions, the client still wasn't satisfied, and the project had to be terminated, resulting in lost time and income for the designer.

10 Lessons I Learned from Starting 10 Years Ago with 0 Clients

10 years ago, my role as principal of a K-8 in Atlanta ended and I immediately hung my “Impactful” shingle.

Voila! I was now a coach/consultant… of exactly 0 clients.

Which meant that I had no idea how I was going to...

pay for my family's relocation to NJ, one of the most expensive states in the nation;
make meaningful and consistent income as a new-to-market coach/consultant with a freshly hung shingle; and
put myself through graduate school to complete my doctorate.

Thank God, I managed through that difficult early phase, and can now count many thousands of people who I have been blessed to serve through coaching, consulting, training, keynotes and talks, and my books and articles.

Here are 10 lessons I learned along the way.

When not to email

As head of school, I would have my assistant head of school read sensitive emails that I was planning on sending.

As time went on, I would stop sending such emails entirely, and insist on face-to-face meetings.

That's because we do a terrible job of accurately reading intent when it comes to things like email.

We lose sight of tonality. We lose sight of intent.

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