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.
Categories
search by Title
L.O.C.K.
Over the last 30 years, I have been continuously training at least one runner (sort of like an intern or mentee) at all times. I
Trust the Process
We have all heard this saying (heck, I have a shirt from Charlie Forker that I wear all the time with this exact saying on
Never Stop
Have you ever seen this happen? Someone hits one big goal and thinks they’ve made it. They coast. They lose their edge. The hard truth
Early Risers are Having their Moment
Waking up early isn’t about being extreme—it’s about taking control of your life. For decades, I’ve started my days between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m. Early
Don’t Be a Guest in Your Own Life
As we grow our businesses, we are also growing people…or we should be. Creating a kickass team has been a 25+ year goal for me.
Do More!
This week’s reminder has been true in my life for many decades: success isn’t JUST about being a little better (FL Rule #8: the 2 percent rule)
A Cheat Sheet for Living
After reading hundreds of self-help books over the years, I’ve realized most of them say the same thing, just with different stories and packaging. The
Activating Discipline
“Discipline is cheaper than regret.” – Shane Parish. Discipline doesn’t just vanish—it drifts. One off day becomes a week… then a month. The key is having
Believe It to Do It
Mindset is everything—and it starts with the conversations you have with yourself. I came across this quote from Pat Summitt (Legendary coach of the Tennessee Lady
Spending Time with your Team and Kids
I’ve raised four kids, built businesses with large teams, and mentored hundreds of people. One truth always stands out—confidence does not come from lectures, gifts,
Your Most Productive Self
We’ve all had those moments where we are fully locked in, time disappears, and our energy soars. That’s the state of flow. I’ve felt it
Premortem on New Year Resolutions & Goals
Most people set New Year’s resolutions and most people also give up on them. I thought we would look at your resolutions here in March
Getting Unplugged
The world is busy, crazy, and full. Every so often we need to be reminded to get unplugged. I think about and plan getting unplugged
Firsts—Lasts—and the Journey
Last week, after 41 years working together, Jim Watkins and I closed our last deal. We closed our first deal together in 1984. In 2020,
The Benefits of Failure
Failure is success in progress.” – Albert Einstein. Let’s get into it—if you want real success, you’re going to have to fail. Probably a lot. In
The Joy of Long-Term Relationships
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller. One of the greatest gifts in life? Watching the people around
Ways to be Calmer
Calmness isn’t something I was born with— however, I have been working on becoming calmer….for a long long time. Ha. I have found that the most
Stop Networking, Start Connecting
We all know, success isn’t just about what you know—it’s about who you know. AND in my opinion, more importantly, who knows you. The best networkers
What it Takes to be the GOAT
Tom Brady is the undisputed GOAT, and his story isn’t just about football—it’s about greatness, period. He wasn’t a prodigy. He fought, adapted, and pushed
Stop Procrastination
Procrastination is the enemy of success. Of course I have procrastinated just like everyone else, convincing myself that “later” is a solid strategy—only to find
Word of the Year: Consistency!
I have learned that success is not all about talent or luck—it’s about showing up every day, no matter what. The best performers don’t wait
Part 2 – Aging: Healthspan
In this second part of our series on Aging, Mary and I dove into a fairly new word: healthspan. Healthspan refers to the years you
Part 1 – Aging
The saying, “age is just a number” is starting to seem more and more true as I get older. Mary Henk, who works on my team,
Just Keep Growing!
Growth means change—and real personal growth requires us to let go of parts of our old selves. The habits, routines, or identities that once served
Burn Out
We’ve all been there — pushing past our limits until burnout hits, and suddenly, we realize we have met our max. When we’re constantly juggling work,
The Benefits of Travel
For me, travel isn’t just a getaway — it’s also how I stay inspired. I’ve written about the joys and lessons of travel many times. Here
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