Do you ever feel stuck, in a rut, and not sure how to move forward. No matter your goals, take a step. Motivation is internal. Even if you are motivated, how do we move toward achieving our goals. Tell someone what you want to do. They will help, cheer you on, and press you when needed. The points on this episode came from numerous sources including personal experience. The ideas and suggestions are no guarantee for success, but hopefully motivating. I’m rooting for you.

Back in 1927, Max Ehrmann wrote a prose poem called "Desiderata" (Latin: "things desired"). It's been shared around the world as a devotional, inspiration, and reminder to people everywhere. According to planetofsuccess.com, this poem "is a concise but truly inspiring reminder to strive for the high ideals. It reminds us to treat others kindly, to accept who they are and to be gentle with ourselves. It also motivates us to have faith in ourselves and to develop trust in the way things unfold."

If you would like to read it, the full text can be found at https://www.desiderata.com/desiderata.html.

Peace and joy to you all. Thank you for listening.

Hope is a beacon and expectation that tomorrow and the future have bright outlooks. Hope is as infectious as negativity. Nelson Mandela was jailed in South Africa for 27 years, yet had hope and optimism that one day he would be free. There are many other historical figures who have embodied hope, such as Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, and Mother Teresa. The world is not as dark and dreary as we see on television or see in the news. There is a brighter future, and the future is in teaching our kids how to set goals, develop plans, and move toward positive energies. Tacitly referenced in this episode were goodreads.com, yourmom.com, hudsonvalleyone.com, and howtoadult.com. Thank you for listening!

We all may want success for ourselves and our kids. The path to success is rarely a straight line. There are bumps, obstacles, and set backs. Social media tends to show the highlights rather than the struggles and journey. Getting knocked down is part of the learning process. What we learn and how we adjust may bring us success, or we learn skills to put us on a different path. Part of learning is defining success. Olympic athletes train for years before they compete. Their success may be in earning a spot in the race, honoring their country, or finishing with a medal. Not everyone gets a medal, so we need to manage our kids expectations. Having goals, working hard, learning, striving beyond what we feel possible could put us on a path to help others. Failures will happen, but doesn't mean our story ends there. The adjustments we make, the drive to continue, and learning from errors are important lessons for a successful life.

Presidents and generals must have some leadership skills for them to rise up the ranks. The mall in Washington D.C. has monuments to a few of the most revered and important leaders in U.S. history - Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. Few of us know much about Eisenhower, who also has a monument. Books and articles tell us about President and General Eisenhower's abilities to lead, take action, interact with others, and ultimately achieve desired and needed goals and outcomes. This episode references article content from Inc.com, Forbes.com, danieldarling.com, and wikipedia, as well as a couple of books - Eisenhower in War and Peace and At Ease: Stories I Tell My Friends. There are many more options for you to learn about Eisenhower, including a segment on Biography.com, whitehouse.gov, and eisenhowerlibrary.gov.

There is so much joy in the world. How do we find it? Where do we look? Well, we don't have to go far. In fact, we may want to take a seat where we are. If you are looking for ideas and ways to enjoy life, there are lots of lists and ideas online. A couple of them are "How to Enjoy Life In a Way Most People Don't" found on lifehack.org, or "30 Simple Ways to Enjoy Life" on lifeoptimizer.org. Both offer some awesome suggestions with one common theme...life is more than just work, school, and routines. In most cases, we just need to open our eyes and witness the beauty around us. Recording these episodes is part of my enjoyment, and hopefully they give you a little joy too. Thank you for listening.

In the age of Covid-19/Coronavirus, many people were forced out of offices and schools. Business and learning had to continue. This episode is focused on how to work or learn from home. It's not easy for everyone, so I used a list from "8 habits of super-productive people who work from home" found on theladders.com. Many of the suggestions can be used by employees or students, with a slight variation. If you are working or learning in this "new normal", there should be a few tips to help you be the most productive. Good luck to you!