A listener asked me to go more in depth on how to overcome anxiety when making connections in networking and sales. Here's my answer.

If you feel overwhelmed and can't understand why you can't master adulting, it's because you've been given an impossible task. The structure of our modern society has removed the supports that undergirded families and then blamed the individuals for not being able to keep up. Once you accept that the game is rigged, you let go of your pride and do what it takes to beat it.

Everyone has their own unique gifts, but sometimes we compare ourselves to others which often means comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. That way lies madness. Instead look at your own gifts, because that is what God gave you to do good in the world with.

Two keys to avoid being overwhelmed: get things off your plate and avoid putting things on your plate.

At the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Conference, I had the privilege of being a judge in awarding a $500 grant to a youth project, but by collaboration and abundance mindset, we were able to find thousands of dollars of additional resources to fund so many more projects. Why split the pie when you can grow the pie?

I am blessed to be on the event committee for Dinner in the Dark, an extremely successful event that has raised somewhere around a million dollars in six year to cure the rare genetic condition known as LCA. The example of this organization raising this kind of money in little Southeast Connecticut should be an inspiration to organizations everywhere. If they can do it, you can to...if you believe you can.

There are those in organizations who want to do great things, but their greatest obstacle is often others who think things are good enough and just want to leave well enough alone. Burnout is not caused by adversity. It is caused by mediocrity.

In a TV series the drama increases and becomes more complex every season. Have we as a culture come to see this as the model for our own lives? But is it accurate or do we create it ourselves?

You want people to know of your accomplishments, but you don't want to come off as a braggart. First, know your audience. How much bravado is acceptable. You can let people know about what you've done by recognizing the accomplishments of those who helped you. Sometimes you've just got to tell people what you're worth or they just won't know.

Burn the boats is a piece of advice given to entrepreneurs. Fully commit to what you are doing to achieve success. Conversely, if you can give your opponent in any field of competition an alternative to fighting you 100%, it can serve well distract them.