A paradigm can either protect us from harm or blind us to danger. Re-validating that which we believe to be true is the only way to know the difference. Our paradigms are built on points of pain and pleasure that inject our minds with assumptions. And we know what can happen when we assume. Take the difficult conversation going on…

As artificial intelligence becomes more deeply embedded in our daily life will it outsmart us? Only if we let it. “AI” – Artificial Intelligence is the concept of creating a machine that is smart enough to think and act like a human being. We’ve seen it on screen thanks to the intelligent mind of Steven Spielberg. It’s invading our homes…

By Scott Westerman Deal directly with your current unpleasant reality but never lose faith that you will prevail. This is the essence of the Stockdale Paradox. It can change your life. Whenever I get the chance to lead a new team, the first book I share with them is Jim Collins’ “Good to Great”. In it, Jim and his gifted…

5 years ago, I wrote “The Last Monday Motivator“. Today, I’m back in the saddle again with some learnings and lessons.. In the interim a lot has changed. People are more addicted than ever to our devices, the Internet, to Netflix, to Facebook. The list of things competing for our time and attention is a long one. A year ago,…

Sydney J. Harris wrote for the Chicago Daily News and, later, the Chicago Sun-Times. He also authored 11 books and a syndicated column, Strictly Personal, that was regular reading for me when I was growing up. In 1980, he penned a New Year’s message focusing on those resolutions we love to make and so easily break. My friend, Russ White,…

By Scott Westerman “Always question your motivation. Why you decide to do something is much more important than what you ultimately do.” What are the factors that impact the decisions you make in life? Are you in pursuit of purpose or personal glory? This has been on my mind lately as I’ve witnessed several incidents where chasing status and ego…

By Scott Westerman “The Only Thing That Is Constant Is Change” ~Heraclituse  It’s impossible to stay in your comfort zone long without getting uncomfortable. Watch a satellite image of the inexorable progression of the weather across our continent and you begin to get a sense for the truth in the old saying that the only constant is change. Resist it…

No job is forever. It’s a fact that you will ultimately face a career change. Why not prepare for it now? My friend Tony Bordo was working on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade when his job was eliminated. A lifelong fitness enthusiast, Tony decided to make his passion his profession and launched Tony Bordo Fitness. He’s a…

By Scott Westerman I recently spent some time with Dacher Keltner, a perpetual student of the art and science of emotional wellbeing. He reminded me of one of its great prerequisites: Gratitude.

By Scott Westerman Of all the natural wonders that caress our beautiful campus, the Red Cedar River is, perhaps, most symbolic. Its waters  flow inexorably toward the west, reminding us that we must continuously expand our own horizons of thought and explore new vistas beyond our comfort zones. It is a combination of gently undulating currents and explosive rapids,…