​I live in Colorado, where the temperature fluctuates – a lot. So when the weather changes, and I have an extra layer at the ready…that’s a big win! Who came prepared? This guy!
 
It’s a great lesson for the workplace, too. How prepared are we for the unexpected on the job?
 
Most of us, most of the time, only prepare for the most likely outcome. We think we know how the day or the meeting will go, and when it goes exactly that way, our limited prep pays off.
 
But when the unexpected happens? Well, that’s when we reassure ourselves with thoughts of “who could have seen that coming?” or “no one expected that!”
 
But c’mon…we’re better than that. Let’s hold ourselves to higher standards. The question we should ask is, “Why wasn’t I prepared for the unexpected?”
 
This is a great test of professional maturity. Do we plan for the full gamut of possible outcomes, not merely the most likely? When things go south, are we ready? If not, this needs to become our new standard.
 
Nothing illustrates professionalism more than achieving desired results amid undesirable conditions.

• In football, it’s called a “broken play.”
• In theater, it’s called “powering through.”
• In volleyball, it’s called “playing out of system.”
• In parenting, it’s called “every moment of every day.”

 
In other words, the unexpected must be on our list of expected outcomes!

• When a client is unhappy with our delivery
• When a teammate reacts poorly to coaching
• When a boss is critical of our execution

 
Call these unlikely…but we mustn’t claim they’re unfair or unexpected.
 
And let’s teach our teams an important rule: When we’re planning…discussing eventualities, no one is ever allowed to say “Oh, that will never happen.”
 
If we arrive prepared, we’ll depart fulfilled!

​Who’s up for a Super Bowl Mindfulness Challenge? Super Bowl parties are fascinating because so many of us feel the need to announce – emphatically – our dislikes:

• What a terrible commercial!
• This team has no running game!
• Why would you pay $8 million to run that ad!?
• Why wouldn’t you blitz on that play!?
• Why would you blitz on that play!?
• Bad Bunny was a horrible choice!

(Is there any greater national pastime than we men criticizing the half-time performer?)
 
My point is not to mock and ridicule every critical opinion this Sunday. But from a mindfulness perspective, the day presents an opportunity to be more aware of how we express ourselves.

• What image do we project when prominently and predominantly declaring our dislikes?
• Do we want to focus on what repels us or attracts us?
• Are we defined by exasperation or appreciation?

 
Don’t overreact here. This challenge is not about being uptight or reticent. It’s about being aware of what we say…and if our speech reflects who we want to be.
 
If you’re a fan of mindfulness…if you’re trying to be more present or intentional…if you’re fond of the “scarcity vs. abundance mindset” philosophy, this challenge checks all those boxes.
 
So, if you’re attending a Super Bowl party, I hope you find exactly what you desire, and may any displeasures be fleeting.

Many of us identify as “storyteller.” I love that. But a reminder to all of us – storytelling doesn’t require skill. We just need to tell our stories!
 
Here’s what I mean: It’s tempting to think that storytelling requires dramatic flair. But it doesn’t. In fact, storytelling doesn’t even require a great story!
 
The most powerful aspect of storytelling is the personal story. People love first-person stories! They’re engaging, relatable and memorable.
 
So don’t overthink it. Shed the self-imposed pressure. You don’t need thrilling content or charisma. Just tell your stories…to your kids, co-workers, and clients. Talk about first jobs, first days, embarrassing moments, lessons learned, successes and failures.
 
Share the real you, and you’ll build connection and trust.
 
But I also think it can be intimidating to everyone else…this myth that telling stories requires specific skills…skills that you may think you lack.
 
You don’t need to dabble in improvisation to tell stories.
You don’t need acting experience to tell stories.
You don’t need ANY specific skill to tell stories.
 
You just need a story.
 
And the story needn’t be dramatic, spectacular, hilarious or dangerous.
 
Here’s what too many of us get wrong: The power of personal stories lies not in the “story” but in the “personal.” Forget the performative aspect of story-telling. It’s not about being funny or dramatic. And it’s not about having a spectacularly amazing story to tell.
 
My keynotes are full of personal stories, and not because I’ve led an unusual life.
 
I tell stories because there’s no better way to connect with an audience. Even better, nothing is more memorable than a story. So start telling your stories!

​Here’s an easy-yet-impactful new year’s resolution for all of us: Let’s commit to starting meetings on time in 2026!
 
How might we accomplish this? Allow me to offer some humble thoughts:

• Look at your watch. At the appointed time…on time…start talking.

• Start by saying, “OK, let’s get started.”
• If people are standing and talking at a sit-down meeting, say “Let’s take our seats and get started.”
• If people are sitting and talking, say “Let’s get started.”

(This isn’t rocket science. And it’s not rude to interrupt people to start a meeting. Quite the contrary…it’s mandatory that we interrupt people to start a meeting.)

• If someone comes in late, there’s no need to acknowledge or welcome them. One, we don’t need to embarrass them for being late. Two, we don’t want to celebrate their tardiness by halting the meeting and announcing their late arrival.
• There’s also no need to explain to a late-arriver why the meeting has begun. Even if your boss is late, there’s rarely a reason to delay a meeting for the boss.

 
Moist importantly, if we arrive late to our OWN meeting…shame on us! This is unacceptable. Resolve to do better in 2026, because make no mistake – teammates lose respect for us when we make them wait.
 
Like I said, this is an easy resolution. Being on-time for meetings only requires a wee bit of mindfulness. And if you’re squeamish about interrupting a talkative bunch, or you think it’s rude to begin before everyone arrives, well, let’s be honest…that’s a “you” problem. But that’s OK. Be thankful you have an easy opportunity to practice a better way.
 
Now let’s get started!

Here’s a free – and easy – way to boost the quality of your next event: Level-up Your Emcee!
 
An emcee should provide continuity…fluidity…make attendees feel the event is polished and well-crafted.

• A strong emcee keeps momentum going, maintaining energy from one presentation to the next.
• A weak emcee is like a first-time driver with a stick shift: awkwardly bounding between presentations, distressing the audience.

 
Most groups simply tab their current President to be emcee, regardless of whether he or she is a good public speaker. And that’s OK…because you don’t need to be a good speaker to be a solid emcee. But here’s the mistake too many groups make: Choosing an emcee and then failing to provide any guidance.
 

• To adapt an old phrase…If you fail to train your emcee, you train them to fail!

 
Here’s the great news: A few basic guidelines is all your emcee needs to deliver an excellent event! So let’s give your emcee a job with framework…not a burden without direction.
 
Regardless of the emcee you’ve chosen – be they shy and soft-spoken or the cocky side of confident – these guidelines will ensure your next emcee and event are engaging and polished.
 

• Quick transitions. Seems obvious, but the emcee must be on stage immediately after a speaker finishes. The emcee’s #1 job is to ensure there’s no awkward dead time between presentations.
• Over-prepare. Have speaker bios ready and printed in advance. (Otherwise, you risk the next bullet.)
• Limit the improvisation. None of us is as funny as we think we are. Ask your emcee to stick to the script.
• Stick to the schedule. Start on time; don’t wait for everyone to enter the room. Emcees must be comfortable speaking while the audience is still finding their seats.
• Avoid inside jokes. Events must engage 100% of the audience. But long-time industry insiders (who often serve as emcees) love to make inside jokes. But these comments only engage their friends – 5-10% of the audience – while alienating the other 90% of the audience.