Author: Scott Westerman

“Exercise is medicine.” – Dr. Gary Ferenchick, Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine, Michigan State UniversityTHE 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 a senior in high school, he was co-captain of the…

As Christmas approaches, here’s a chapter from my Spartan Life book about Robin and Betsy Miner-Swartz. I first wrote about them in 2010. They will continue this compassionate tradition again this year.  Enjoy!Betsy and Robin are refugees from old media, escaping from the ever compressing newspaper industry and totally re-inventing themselves. They epitomize the passion-seeking…

“Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit.” – B.K.S. IyengarTHE ESSENCE: We become what we think about.Our very existence is predicated on balance. Each of us require just the right mixture of oxygen, fuel, mental stimulation and spiritual energy to function effectively. If one foundation is out of balance…

My friend Gary Berkowitz is what radio guys call “a legend”. His clients have included most popular radio stations in the land, including Detroit radio powerhouses like WJR and WNIC. Gary is the guy who conceives and builds a station’s sound. From the type of music played to the formatic elements of jingles, commercial placement and…

“The capacity for hope is the most significant fact of life. It provides human beings with a sense of destination and the energy to get started.” – Norman CousinsThe holiday parties I’m attending this year seem to have a common theme. Fear, uncertainty and doubt pervade.  Many people are feeling stuck in assignments that don’t…

George Blaha Meets Led Zepplin courtesy of the audio artistry of Bob Berry.

“A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave.” – Gandhi The last pre-game event I visited during the 2010 regular football season was Sparty’s Middle Eastern Tailgate.  It was a co-production of the MSU Jewish Student Union and the MSU Arab Cultural Society. The food was terrific. But that…

I originally wrote this in November of 2010. Ironic that every word still applies, both to our football team and to life.“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.Watch your words, for they become actions.Watch your actions, for they become habits.Watch your habits, for they become character.Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”Yesterday my Spartans…

Tony Schwartz is the president and CEO of The Energy Project and the author of  The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working. He also blogs for the Harvard Business Review.Tony recently shared some excellent thoughts on “Fueling Positive Emotions in a World Gone Mad”  that are worth repeating. We’ll turn this week’s Motivator over to him.If…

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters. Compared to what lies within us. – EmersonWhen we find ourselves in the depths of an adventure, a challenge or an emotion, the topography of our environment can be an unwelcome distraction. Get a promotion, win the lotto, announce that you’re considering a…