It’s easy to feel like we’re constantly going from one thing to the next. From our tasks at work, to our responsibilities and commitments at home. There are seemingly endless demands on our time and attention. We can only keep up the juggling act for so long. Soon, some areas of our lives will begin […]

Having big goals is the only way big things happen. And the only way to achieve big goals is to become tolerant of the discomfort that comes with them. Of course, this isn’t our natural tendency. We’d rather play it safe and avoid failure. That’s perfectly understandable. It’s what’s comfortable. But inevitably we start to […]

We all wrestle with limiting beliefs. No matter your age, occupation, or role, it’s a universal struggle. A limiting belief is a misunderstanding of the present that shortchanges our future. These might be assumptions we hold about the wider world, about other people, or maybe, hardest of all, beliefs about ourselves. Some of our limiting […]

There’s a widely held assumption that gratitude leaves us feeling complacent. If we’re comfortable with life, we’ll feel no need to achieve more. And also have no need to set goals, right? But the opposite is true. Gratitude doesn’t make us complacent. Instead, it increases our efforts in the pursuit of goals. There are several […]

We all have rituals, even if we don’t refer to them in those terms. They’re simply the tasks we do on a regular, even daily, basis. They’re so woven into our days that we’re on autopilot when we do them. Things like showering and getting ready for bed, setting up the coffee maker for the […]

Being an entrepreneur is as exciting as it is challenging. There are new opportunities to do creative work—work you find purpose in—and to grow as a professional. For all the excitement, though, there are also plenty of challenges, particularly ones that affect a marriage. Gail and I have experienced this in our 40 years together. […]

When you own a business, it is inevitable that at some point you will experience crisis and disruption. The question to ask yourself is, should I pull back or lean in? Being afraid in uncertain times is normal, but fear doesn’t have to define your response. When seasons of crisis come, you can strategically pivot […]

Most of us have tried establishing a new habit. With good intentions, we usually start out strong. But then life happens, and the habit falls to the wayside. Maybe things become busy at work, or the weather isn’t cooperating, or your kids aren’t sleeping, which means you’re not sleeping. Whatever the reason, there is a […]

Growing up with my dad was like entrepreneurial school. He taught me that I had the opportunity to shape my own future by applying myself to something I loved. I just needed to look for the right opportunity. That first opportunity, at age 11, was selling boxes of all-occasion cards. Honestly, it was a bust. […]

Many high achievers believe journaling is valuable for personal reflection and growth, but few actually open a journal on a daily basis. Perhaps you’ve thought about journaling, but then promptly gotten lost in the flurry of other tasks. Or perhaps you’ve attempted to start doing it more regularly, but then lost momentum. I’ve been there. […]

Some days it feels like our calendars run away from us. It might even feel like they control us instead of the other way around. We can’t possibly get it all done without dipping into our personal time. And that’s what a lot of us end up doing. A primary reason we let this happen […]

Like water, work can be life-giving. But it can also flow all over and flood our other life domains. We need boundaries to contain it. When we allow it to travel unrestricted, we’re not accomplishing more. We’re actually bringing something less than our best to both the office and home. We’re scattered and depleted instead […]

There are few things worse than walking out of a meeting, looking down at your phone, and seeing emails numbering in the double digits awaiting your response. If you travel or take vacation, the number grows even larger. It can take hours to comb through all of those messages. You probably don’t have the time […]

When I first asked my daughter, Megan Hyatt Miller, to join our company as then COO, she agreed under one condition: she had to unplug from work and leave every day at 3:00 p.m. to pick up her kids from school and enjoy her evening at home with her family. I agreed, she took the […]

We all have dreams and goals for our business. Sadly, leadership isn’t a gently sloping road. In between us and our goals, there can be countless mountains to climb. The only reliable way to the top is to start with a vision. It’s what enables you to make a way when none previously existed. But […]

Passion is a key component of a leader. Leaders generally don’t get to where they are without it. The same is true of drive, good ideas, and execution. Even confidence. But none of that is enough to replace vision. Passion and all the rest can fuel the mission, but vision is the North Star to […]

We all need margin to live productive and fulfilling lives. It helps us perform at our best and be fully present. But what happens when you lack margin at home? Just like at work, we have long to-do lists at home. From laundry to cooking, to cleaning and shuffling kids to activities. Not only can […]

A lot of us start our days with a laundry list of things to do. It’s not uncommon for people to have 10, 20, or even more items on their to-do list. Where do you even start? Even if you accomplish five or six things, it’s easy to feel like a failure at the end […]

Most achievers think the answer to their productivity struggle is to hustle harder and faster. But that only leads to burnout. And in the modern workforce, burnout is a constant threat. We put leaders who never rest on a pedestal. We wear busyness like a badge of honor. Technology keeps us continually connected and always […]

Leaders are generally great solo achievers, but they often get one-on-one check-ins wrong. Either they give too little attention to their direct reports or smother them with communications and requests for updates. It’s challenging to find the appropriate level and cadence of interaction. People need an individual place to connect with their direct supervisor, so […]

If you’re like most people, your days are filled with demands, distractions, and interruptions. It can be frustrating wading through the never-ending tasks on the table. If you’re to make any headway, you can’t give your attention to everyone and everything. You have to identify exactly what needs your attention and what doesn’t. One way […]

The health effects of neglecting sleep are no secret. Cardiovascular disease, elevated stress hormones, and reduced immunity—just to name a few. Less noted is the effect skimping on sleep has on our work performance. Have you ever had one of those days when you’re just dragging, when no amount of coffee helps and you can’t […]

Many of us struggle to disconnect from our work. Even if we manage it, it’s uncomfortable. Because of our always-on culture, we may even feel guilty putting a hard stop on our work day and letting emails go unanswered until the following day. As much as we try, hitting the pause button is hard. The […]

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by everything on your plate? It seems like you’re hit with a new task every few minutes. You can barely keep up, much less get ahead. And worst of all, you can’t get free to focus on your high-leverage work. It’s even harder when you don’t have a staff. With […]