Over my lifetime I have become an avid reader of all things personal and professional growth. I’ve also come to learn that many people don’t have time to read, don’t like to read or don’t know what to read to help them live a Fantastic Life. This blog is a shortcut to articles and stories that I’ve found helpful. There are thousands in this library, organized by topic and by Fantastic Life rule. Even better, I’ve summarized each entry and highlighted what’s most important. So you don’t have to.
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How Self-Cultivation Unlocks Lasting Self-Improvement
Self-cultivation is a new word for how we build lasting self-improvement. It’s not all about hitting short-term goals (although I would argue that having super
Never Too Late
Learning never stops—at least not if we want to stay in the game and keep crushing our Fantastic Life. Research shows that when older adults
Making Healthy Habits Stick-New Science
Every year people make New Year’s resolutions and every year people do not stick to them. But my question is: why do we have to
Mindful Meditation Practice
Mindfulness isn’t just a buzzword (and a frequent topic of LIFEies)—it delivers real, immediate benefits. According to Daniel Goleman, even a short meditation practice can calm
Set Big Goals Like Caitlin Clark
I get inspiration from anywhere and everywhere. A surprising one I found recently comes from basketball phenom Caitlin Clark, who just dropped a masterclass on
Family Traditions
Traditions aren’t just “nice to have”—they’re the glue that keeps families, friend group and work culture strong. In the Coppola family, we have a number of
The 80/20 Principle for Your Life
Here is a lesson I took a long time to embrace: Not everything deserves your time. Winners figure out what moves the needle and go
What Makes Us Happy?
I believe, for most people, happiness is a choice. And I believe it all starts with our habits. If habits run our lives, then happy
Running Advice from 90 year old’s
I ran long distances for a long time before I finally retired from running. But I didn’t stop moving. For the last 15-20 years I
Friendship Snacks
When I was working 70+ hours a week, I was a lousy friend and sibling. Life comes at you hard and when you are raising
Truth Without Being Harsh
Everyone always says honesty is the best policy, but what happens when the truth is hurtful? Mastering honest communication without hurting feelings is key to building
Exercise More=Sleep Better
Sleep and exercise are two of the most important ways to live a Fantastic Life. Today’s message is a simple one brought to us by
What Are Your Stories?
As the keynote speaker at the 2024 Lee Summit, I had the pleasure of discussing a few of The Fantastic Life rules. I shared how
Round 2: Difference Between Pros and Amateurs
I love this concept so I thought I would revisit it. If you want the original LIFEies on Pros vs. Amateurs, click here. I have always
LIFEies 10-Year Anniversary
Can you believe it’s been ten years since we started this journey together with LIFEies? A decade of sharing, learning, and pushing each other towards
Happiness Rules
Below is a great article by Scott H. Young detailing his 7 Rules for Happiness. All seven are great and worth thinking about applying to your
Doing Great Work
Achieving greatness requires more than ambition. You need talent, passion, and of course, relentless effort. Paul Graham’s insights on doing great work in the article
A Good Death
Death is not a topic we relish discussing in the U.S. And yet, we know it’s coming for all of us. (I have written about dealing
Ray Dalio’s 5 Step Process to Get What you Want
As regular readers know, I spend a lot of time on goal setting. Every week, month, and year, I devote hours and hours thinking about my
A Well Lived LIFE(ies)
We all strive to live a long and healthy life. The below article by Andy Murray highlights 5 ways to age well according to different
The Latest on Sleep
I have been focused on all the latest discussions on sleep for years (past LIFEies on sleep can be found here, here, and here). Below is a very
Working Out Everyday
I LOVE adventure. To be able to tackle all the adventures I want to, I need to train (exercise) all the time. So, I hike
Time Billionaire
What is a “Time Billionaire?” Simply put, it’s a concept that challenges us to recognize the wealth of time we hold, especially when we’re young.
Do Hard Things
I am always trying to grow. One way I grow is by constantly working on my resumes, incorporating new challenges and achievements to my core
LIFEies on Sugar
Cutting back on sugar is tough, especially when you love sweets as much as I do. I went looking for ways to cut out sugar and found
Do THIS to Live Longer
The longevity industry is booming. Everyone wants to live longer. And the research is booming as well. According to the below article, THE NUMBER ONE THING
How Often You Should Call Your Parents
This week, let’s focus on how often we should call our parents. If you are one of my own kids reading this; Call and come over all
A Quick Check Up
LIFEies is written as a weekly life lesson, sharing ways to help define your Fantastic Life and to make sure we are spending time thinking
The #1 Resume Red Flag
Today’s LIFEies is for anyone looking to upgrade their resume for today’s hiring managers. Having a strong resume is the number one way for you
The Easy Life?
Today, I see more and more people desiring an easy life without many challenges. And I remember when I thought I wanted that too. I would have