Photo: Becky Johns Photography “Decide what you value so you know what you’re willing to pay to get it. Then pursue that goal with discipline and work ethic—but not to a point of obsession.” – Tom Izzo Megan Gebhart will soon join my flock as an alumna of Michigan State…

The Spartan Life is now available electronically at Amazon.com and Barnes& Noble! If you already have a copy, I’d love to have you review it there. If you haven’t read it yet, the $6.99 price point can’t be beat.

By Scott Westerman “To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intellingent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one’s self; to…

The Spring Issue of the MSUAA Magazine tells the story of the Spartan who invented one of the most effective cancer drugs available today. It’s a tale that touched Colleen and me in a special way, so this issue’s Executive Director column had a highly personal dimension. Here it is.…

By Scott Westerman “Change the changeable, accept the unchangeable, and remove yourself from the unacceptable.” – Denis Waitley This week, I talked with two of my favorite executives, both of whom are pondering a career change. Knowing when and how to extricate yourself from a job that doesn’t resonate with…

By Scott Westerman “Unhappy customers can be the key to your success, if you’re listening.” The Essence: Avoiding embarrassing customer situations can be a simple process. Listen, respond, apologize, follow through… and learn. This past week, we had some interaction with one of the major airlines’ social media teams. It…

By Scott Westerman “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7 The Essence: Whenever or wherever you open your mouth, someone you care about may be listening. So watch your language. We all yearn to communicate, to have people listen to what we say, and to be…

By Scott Westerman “We have many acquaintances but very few friends” “When I find myself fading, I close my eyes and realize my friends are my energy.” THE ESSENCE: To build a happy life, we need to cultivate authentic relationships with those rare few who genuinely resonate with us. Put…

By Scott Westerman ““We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey.”” – Stephen R. Covey THE ESSENCE: Spirit is at the center of faith, that iron constitution that keeps us going even in the most unpleasant circumstances. Spiritual people tend to…

By Scott Westerman “Exercise is medicine.” – Dr. Gary Ferenchick, Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine, Michigan State University THE ESSENCE: Include fitness goals in your 2011 plan. Taking care of our bodies can improve our energy, our overall health and our clarity of mind. When our son, Brandon was…