Symmetry of Expectations

Today, I had a conversation with some young people (late teens/early twenties) who had incredibly strained relationships with their parents. First, it was strange to realize that I was inclined to step in and represent their parents’ absent perspective (I guess I’m officially a parent). But, second, the conversation was incredibly enlightening to me as…

The Burden of Business

I have paid a high price over the past six years. I used to think of myself as a sometimes flawed but generally well-intentioned person. Those who knew me well would agree that, even though I was (and still am) very ambitious, I was paradoxically not competitive at all. I felt that I had few…

The Most Important Question I Can Ask

It had been a while since I had asked it. I was reluctant to ask it of my two sons and my wife all on the same day. But, yesterday, I gathered the courage to do so. There were opportunities for me to be with each of them individually: on the way back from our…

On Relationships

What’s your most valuable “asset”? Easily the most fulfilling aspect of life, in my humble opinion, is derived from our relationships: friends, family, coworkers, and everything in between.I’m so grateful for the relationships in my life and the fulfillment I derive from each. Those who know me will appreciate that I’ve given a great deal of…

On the Importance of Writing

One activity has gotten me closest to a sense of calm and collected peace: early-morning writing, usually with a cup of something hot next to me. I’ve never described myself as a writer, as it wasn’t a skill on which I was academically trained. However, just as I used to get incredible mental gratification from…

Smart Isn’t Enough

In my experience, the most common obstacle holding back highly intelligent people from achieving their potential is that they’re so smart that they always think they’re right, but not quite humble enough to realize that they’re frequently wrong. It took me a long time to understand this, but it was a pivotal epiphany that changed…