Communication – Lead.Learn.Live.

Man Down

June 11, 2013 By David Kanigan 32 Comments

It was born on Thursday morning. Source, unknown. Lousy night’s sleep. Scratchy throat. Teasing cough. Oh, oh.

By lunch, phlegm was sliding down the nasal passages.

By mid-afternoon, slow ripples…no waves, waves of low level, throbbing migraines.

I skip over major projects. Start pushing off meetings that can be deferred. Manage to creep through the afternoon aimlessly picking at project-lites.

Leave at 5:30. Head home. To rest.

“Starve a cold. Feed a fever.” (Why then, am I sitting at the table eating like a wolf?)

Vicks NyQuil Cold & Flu. I roll the shimmering green gel tablets in my palm – calm settles, I pause, and I swallow. (The Nightime, Sniffling, Sneezing, Coughing, Aching, Stuffyhead, Fever, So-You-Can-Rest Medicine. Yes, as advertised. This sh*t works.) Magic. 30 minutes later, I’m gone. Dream land.

Friday morning. Eyes open. Wary. But feeling rested. Hey, I feel better.

I approach the decision tree. Stay home – contain contamination. Or, Soldier on. Decision? Off to work it is. Real men, work.

Steady downward spiral. Hour by hour deterioration. Popping Sudafed tablets. Phlegm no longer phlegm. Mucous. Vicious type. Sn*t. No longer a gentle slide. Running. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: blessing, cold, Communication, David Steindl-Rast, Emily Post, flu, grace, grateful, gratefulness, Health, NyQuil, Quotes, Relationships, sick, Work

Yep, on point.

June 6, 2013 By David Kanigan 25 Comments

Source: themetapicture.com

Filed Under: Lead, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Communication, Funny, People, Relationships, struggle, tough day, true, Work

Words

June 6, 2013 By David Kanigan 61 Comments

Yesterday. Marathon meeting starting at 8am. A single topic, full day meeting ending at 3pm. Tight agenda on an important subject. Full engagement by all participants. Constructive collaborative discussion. Good meeting. Yes, an Oxymoron.

We finish our working lunch and continue at a workmanlike pace chopping through the agenda. My mind drifts. Back to a moment in 1985. A moment drifting into consciousness hundreds (1000′s?) of times. (Can it really be 28 years ago? You’ve deeply regretted so many other foot-in-mouth-moments. Why does this painful one keep coming back?)

Counterpunch?

May 21, 2013 By David Kanigan 15 Comments

“Patient acceptance is often considered a weak and passive response to problems that we do not have the power or courage to solve. In reality, however, being patient is far from being passive. There is nothing strong or courageous in reacting to hardship or insults with anger – all we are doing is being defeated by our delusions.”

~ Geshe Kelsang Gyatso (from “How to Solve Our Human Problems”)

Kelsang Gyatso is a Buddhist monk, “meditation master, scholar, and author” of 22 books based on the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in Tibet in 1931 and ordained at the age of eight. After leaving Tibet, he spent eighteen years in retreat in the Himalayas in India. He subsequently became a teacher and founder of spiritual centers. He retired as General Spiritual Director of the NKT-IKBU in August 2009 but continues to write books and practice materials. (Source: Wiki)

Note to Self: Patience (Still seeking). Acceptance (Try it. Just once.). Delusions (Thank you Monk Master for the ah ha moment.)

Credits: Image – kadampa.org. Quote – Thank you Sun Dog

Filed Under: Grow, Inspire, Life, Quotes Tagged With: acceptance, Anger, Buddhism, Buddhist, Communication, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Kelsang Gyatso, Monk, New Kadampa Tradition, patience, Quotes, Relationships, Tibetan Buddhism

Good Morning Grumpy

May 8, 2013 By David Kanigan 36 Comments

I can’t say that I execute every day, but I do believe this. Yes I do.

Good Morning!

Source: swiss-miss

Filed Under: Grow, Life Tagged With: Communication, greeting, Happiness, Happy, Human, humanity, Inspirational, Inspire, morning, Relationships, smile, spirit, Video, YouTube

Monday Mantra: Cleaning Piece III

February 11, 2013 By David Kanigan 23 Comments

This one made me think. (And I averted my eyes away from the double negative as I re-read this 3x.)

If you are curious about Yoko Ono’s Cleaning Piece I, II and IV (I was), you’ll find them @ Ibloghappiness.

Source: thisisnthappiness

Filed Under: Grow, Inspire, Life, Quotes, Uncategorized Tagged With: Business, Communication, contentment, Grow, Happiness, Happy, Lead, Leadership, Learn, Life, living, Management, negative, Quote, Relationships, Yoko Ono

Patience Grasshopper. Patience.

January 15, 2013 By David Kanigan 27 Comments

Michael’s in my head again. Jabbing. Jabbing. Jabbing. Gracefully dancing and landing punches like Sugar Ray. With similar effectiveness. Each one leaving a mark. Punch line popping: You are RUDE.

If you want to pay someone a quiet compliment, give them some serious attention when they are speaking.

I’m in the groove. Making up lost time on a long neglected project with a looming deadline. And, then a colleague with unscheduled “drop-in” meeting walks through my door. My flow is interrupted. “It will just take a few minutes,” was the request. Rather than setting expectations as to my time upfront or scheduling a meeting to accommodate the discussion, I reluctantly shoe-horn it in.

We’re five minutes in. And we are wading. In a swamp. My mind begins to wander. (My foot starts tapping. I start playing with my pen. I sneak glances at my watch. TRIGGERS. Susan’s post intrudes: You see the triggers pal. The alarms are coming at you in waves. Pull up. Pull up. Do not go to the “automated response.”

Making Same Mistakes. Certainly.

January 3, 2013 By David Kanigan 15 Comments

We’re back to work after a wonderful two week siesta with the family. No travel. No stress. Just watching movies, eating and napping sprinkled with a well intentioned but woefully under-executed exercise regimen. Time to shift gears to work-mode. A post I came across during my vacation by Eric Barker @ “Barking Up The Wrong Tree” reminded me of an earlier conversation with a bright (very), ivy league educated, younger colleague. He posed these following questions:

You have achieved modest success in your career, what key learnings can you share? (Modest? Do I ooze underachievement?)

I’m sure you have made mistakes along the way? Would you mind sharing? (Why not start with the wins? Is it that obvious that this captain has weathered too many rough seas?)

Have you made repeated mistakes in the same area and why? (Cringing. How does he know? Do all ex-collegiate hockey players have a reputation of diving into the same scrum and looking for trouble?)

What tips would you share with someone just starting their career? (In contrast to me, that is, one who is just finishing or finished?)

Why…

December 29, 2012 By David Kanigan 23 Comments

Why am I afraid to dance, I who love music and rhythm and song and laughter?
Why am I afraid to live, I who love life
and the beauty of flesh and the living colors of earth and sea and sky?
Why am I afraid to love, I who love?
Why am I afraid, I who am not afraid?
Why must I pretend to scorn in order to pity?
Why must I hide myself in self-contempt in order to understand?
Why must I be so ashamed of my strength, so proud of my weakness?
Why must I live in a cage like a criminal, defying and hating, I who love peace and friendship?
Why was I born without a skin? Oh God, that I must wear armor in order to touch or be touched.”

~ Eugene O’Neill, The Great God Brown and Other Plays

Eugene O’Neill (1888-1953), was an American playwright who won the 1936 Nobel Prize in Literature ”for the power, honesty and deep-felt emotions of his dramatic works, which embody an original concept of tragedy.” His plays involve characters who inhabit the fringes of society, engaging in depraved behavior, where they struggle to maintain their hopes and aspirations but ultimately slide into disillusionment and despair. O’Neill wrote only one comedy (Ah, Wilderness!): all his other plays involve some degree of tragedy and personal pessimism.

Source: Thank you Whiskey River for quote. Wiki and goodreads for bio. Black and White for image.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: afraid, aspirations, Communication, contempt, Dance, despair, Eugene O'Neill, fear, Friendship, hopes, Life, Literature, Live, Love, Music, Nobel Laureate, Peace, Pessimism, plays, playwright, Poem, Poetry, Relationships, weakness

Cat’s left the cradle

December 19, 2012 By David Kanigan 70 Comments

Eric-before-after-2012

He returned home for Thanksgiving. My strapping 6′ 3” son walked into the waiting area. He had grown. Looking down on his Dad from a higher elevation. Adorned with knee length gym shorts. (47F outside.) Sweat shirt with hoody. And his hair. Wow. Only a Mother can love this slovenly look. And she does. I let it ride. For about 24 hours. Do you think just maybe you could trim it up? Dad puts up the fences and guardrails. Empathetic Mom breaks ranks. Intuitive Son notices his parents on opposing sides. Mamma’s boy digs in and expects full cover. With leverage waning, I grab the last lifeboat …when one feeds at the trough, respect the farmer. Outcome: No haircut. And, I now have a Son using hair elastics and headbands aka hair accessories.

He returned home for Christmas. There he was waiting for us at the airport terminal. Same knee length ratty gym shorts. (39F outside). Same sorry sweat shirt with hoody. And his hair. All intact. Clothes, hair, shoes…looking matted, dingy and need of a hot shower and wire brush. Mom first. Then, Dad gave his Son a hug. Zeke, electrified, and in the midst of a full head-to-toe body wiggle, finally settled after Eric kneeled down to hug him. Of course, Zeke needed to be part of the greeting party. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: College, Communication, discipline, Family, Father, holidays, Inspirational, Inspire, Love, Middle Age, Parents, Relationships, School, Son, student

All The Best Things In Life…

December 11, 2012 By David Kanigan 23 Comments

My initial reaction to Wendy MacNaughton’s illustration was “Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!” I let it marinate and then returned to it. My reaction shifted to “please, please, please let it be wrong.”

Wendy MacNaughton. I’m a big fan. She’s an illustrator and graphic journalist with a long list of brand name clients including the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, NPR and a slew of others. Some of my other favorite illustrations include:

Source: Explore

Filed Under: Art, Grow, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Anxiety, Chart, Communication, embarrass, fear, Life, Lifestyle, Live, Management, Philosophy, Psychology, Regret, Relationships, venn diagram, Worry

Make it a Level 5 Good Morning

November 27, 2012 By David Kanigan 51 Comments

Something so simple. Yet, so true. Yes, it takes time. Yes, an introvert would need to leave the safety of their comfort zone. Making a human connection. I care. You matter. Need to work up to top of the ladder. See full and worthy post from The Chief Happiness Officer:

“Please do not underestimate the effect of something as simple as saying good morning at work. Studies show that when you have a good start to your work day, you’ll typically have a good day. Here’s our easiest and best tip for kicking your work day off with happiness: The Level 5 Good Morning. We call it that because there are several approaches to saying good morning at work:

Level 0: You ignore people completely
Level 1: A somewhat unintelligible grunt
Level 2: Saying good morning without looking at people
Level 3: Make eye contact as you say good morning
Level 4: Also say something more than just good morning, e.g. “How are you?” or something more personal.
Level 5: Also touch the other person – e.g. a handshake or a pat on the shoulder.

At what level are the typical good mornings in your workplace? And what would happen if you took it to level 5?”

Even a dog can learn to do it for Pete’s sake…

Image Sources: Whale and Dog.

Filed Under: Business, Grow, Inspire, Lead, Life Tagged With: Alexander Kjerulf, Business, Chief Happiness Officer, Communication, diver, Dog, Good morning, greeting, handshake, hug, human connection, I care, introvert, Leadership, Life, Management, photograph, Relationships, Whale, Work, you matter

Billion a Second…

November 20, 2012 By David Kanigan 10 Comments

This meeting was no different than any other. No different from the hundreds of meetings in the days, the months before. Where I’m on to the next meeting while attending the one in front of me. Meetings with a replicated loop. Mind whirring…processing. Me pushing. Me prodding. Agitating. Me wanting and needing more. Extraction. Creating discomfort. Manufacturing urgency. I’m not looking for you to love me. That’s what your dog is for. This morning, my level of consciousness had been ratcheted up by a few lines from Daniel Bor the night before. And, I roll into the first meeting of the day. I’m listening. I’m watching.

Volume has risen. The imbecilic din encroaching everywhere…

November 19, 2012 By David Kanigan 35 Comments

This article by Tim Kreider, Quiet Ones, struck a cord with me. A few excerpts:

…it seems significant that we don’t want things to be quiet, ever, anymore. Stores and restaurants have their ubiquitous Muzak or satellite radio; bars have anywhere between 1 and 17 TVs blaring…ads and 30-second news cycles play on screens in cabs, elevators and restrooms. Even some libraries, whose professional shushers were once celebrated in cartoon and sitcom, now have music and special segregated areas designated for “quiet study,” which is what a library used to be.

…People are louder, too. They complain at length and in detail about their divorces or gallbladders a foot away from you in restaurants. A dreaded Amtrak type is the passenger who commences prattling on her cellphone the instant she sits down and doesn’t hang up until she gets to her stop, unable to bear an undistracted instant in her own company. People practice rap lyrics on the bus or the subway, barking doggerel along with their iPods as though they were alone in the shower. Respecting shared public space is becoming as quaintly archaic as tipping your hat to a lady, now that the concept of public space is as nearly extinct as hats, and ladies. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Inspire, Life, Nature, Quotes Tagged With: Amtrak, be quiet, Birds, Communication, courtesy, disrespect, loud, New York Times, noise, Photo, quiet, Quiet Car, respect, rude, shared public space

Flying…with Baggage.

November 14, 2012 By David Kanigan 28 Comments

I get assigned the middle seat on flight to the Midwest.

The Window and Aisle seats are occupied. (< 2 hour flight. No reason to work oneself up. Last post on similar topic was titled Think Small and it came rushing to mind.)

WSM (Window Seat Mate) asks how “the big guy was so lucky to get stuck in the jump seat.” I reply that I’ve had back-to-back storms to thank for the rescheduling. No reaction from WSM.

Our Flight is grounded for a “quick repair.”

I pull out my PC to grind through some emails.

WSM steals one glance at my screen. And then another. And another. And another. And then just stares. (I need to invest in a screen protector to keep out prying eyes. Yet, we can all be forgiven to steal a one quick glance to knock out the curiosity…) However, there has to be an Emily Post rule where 4-5 side glances followed by a protracted stare is over the line.)

You got your talkers. And you got your…

November 13, 2012 By David Kanigan 19 Comments

“There’s two kinds of people in this world when you boil it all down. You got your talkers and you got your doers. Most people are just talkers. All they got is talk. But when all is said and done, it’s the doers who change this world. And when they do that, they change us, and that’s why we never forget them. So which one are you? Do you just talk about it, or do you stand up and do something about it? Because believe you me, all the rest of it is just coffee house bull$4!+.”

– Rocco (Boondock Saints II)

Image Credit: FatmohnScoop

Filed Under: Art, Business, Inspire, Lead, Life, Quotes Tagged With: action, Boondock Saints, Business, Cartoon, Communication, doers, inspiration, Leadership, Management, Quote, Strategy, talkers

I’m a card carrying member…

October 26, 2012 By David Kanigan 23 Comments

Source: Thank you madamescherzo

Filed Under: Life, Quotes Tagged With: Communication, Funny, Humor, laugh, Quote, Relationships, sarcasm, sarcastic

Mirror Mirror on the Wall…

October 18, 2012 By David Kanigan 12 Comments

I’ve been watching the debates and the bad actors in government. I’ve concluded that I’m a master compromiser when compared to this crowd. Then the mirror swings around and hits me on the forehead. See the chart below. Here’s Michael Brown’s 4-box on Compromise. I have no idea what “TKI” and “MBTI” stand for. Check out his full post on the theory behind it – I’ll let you hash that out with Michael and his high brow intellectual friends. I just wanted (needed) to get to the bottom line – how do I score? (Yes, it is always about the score. Yes, it is.) See the arrow pointing to my position. (And no one was looking when I nudged the star over to the right with some elbow grease. Hey, at least I’m not in the bottom right, right?. Poets/Artists, save your breath. I’m immune to the beatings on my lack of sensitivity on this topic.)

Then coincidently (by now you know there are no coincidences on my ride), I trip into the answer…

Learn to be quiet

October 11, 2012 By David Kanigan 29 Comments

You need not do anything.
Remain sitting at your table and listen.
You need not even listen, just wait.
You need not even wait,
just learn to be quiet, still and solitary.
And the world will freely offer itself to you unmasked.
It has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.

―Franz Kafka

Artist: Noell S. Oszvald: “Silence” via artlimited.net via yama-bato.

Quote Source: blogut via creatingaquietmind

Sincerely? Best Regards? Thx? Cheers?

October 11, 2012 By David Kanigan 40 Comments

“Forget what you’ve heard about first impressions; it’s the last impressions that count. Last impressions — whether they’re with customer service, an online shopping experience, or a blind date — are the ones we remember. They’re the ones that keep us coming back. But there’s one kind of final impression that people seem to forget. The closing line of email — that line that you write before you type your name — has been all but forgotten. Go take a look at your inbox: you might be astonished at how little attention people pay to the closing lines when writing email. This underrated rhetorical device is so frequently disregarded that many people have the gall to use an automatic closing line attached to their email signature file…If a closing line can be so meaningful, so important, why are emailers squandering the opportunity, putting no thought in the closing? Time, perhaps, iPhone-finger exhaustion, multi-tasking – they’re all possible excuses. And many times, acceptable ones. We can’t be expected to neatly tie up every email every time. But once in a while, it would be delightful if people applied the same sincerity to the last impressions that we do to first ones.”

As mass producer of emails, this email & chart left its mark…

Source: Bobulate via explore-blog

Filed Under: Art, Business, Quotes Tagged With: Business, Chart, Communication, courtesy, Email, email close, Graph, impression, Leadership, Management, Quotation, Quote, relationship, Work

Blame…

October 9, 2012 By David Kanigan 26 Comments

Source: thenumberisalways23 via iamabrusselssprout

Filed Under: Art, Grow, Inspire, Life, Quotes Tagged With: ANNIE WALKER, BRIDESMAIDS, Communication, gif, inspiration, Inspire, KRISTEN WIIG, Life, Lifestyle, MELISSA MCCARTHY, Movie, Philosophy, Photo, photograph, problem, Psychology, Quotation, Quote, relationship

Sonder…

October 4, 2012 By David Kanigan 35 Comments

SONDER:

n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.

Quote Source: conflictingheart via That Girl. Image Source: soulist-aurora via madamescherzo

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: city, Communication, compassion, emotion, feeling, gif, Human, Life, Lifestyle, lights, night, Philosophy, Photo, photograph, Quotation, Quote, relationship, Society

You’re just another biological organism…

October 4, 2012 By David Kanigan 9 Comments

Source: shahirzag.com

Filed Under: Art, Business, Grow, Inspire, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Anxiety, Art, Communication, Conflict, fun, Funny, Humor, Joke, laugh, Lead, Leadership, Life, Lifestyle, Management, Photo, photograph, Poster, Relationships, resolve, Self-help, Worry

I’m not fascinated by people who smile all the time..

October 1, 2012 By David Kanigan 17 Comments

“I’m not fascinated by people who smile all the time. What I find interesting is the way people look when they are lost in thought, when their face becomes angry or serious, when they bite their lip, the way they glance, the way they look down when they walk, when they are alone and smoking a cigarette, when they smirk, the way they half smile, the way they try and hold back tears, the way when their face says they want to say something but can’t, the way they look at someone they want or love… I love the way people look when they do these things. It’s… beautiful.”

~ Unknown

Quote Source: madamescherzo via katyjean. Source: e-m-p-a-t-i-a via iamabrusselssprout

Filed Under: Art, Inspire, Life, Quotes Tagged With: body language, Communication, facial expressions, Inspirational, Inspire, Life, Lifestyle, People, Philosophy, Photo, photograph, Picture, Psychology, Quotations, Quote, Relationships

Your existence…

September 21, 2012 By David Kanigan 13 Comments

Sorry, can’t stop laughing.

Source: creatingaquietmind

Filed Under: Art, Grow, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Anger, Anxiety, Business, comment, Communication, fun, Funny, Humor, laugh, laughing, Leadership, Life, Lifestyle, Management, Peace, Quotation, Quote, Relationships, Stress, T.G.I.F., TGIF, Work

Are You Constructive or an Irritant?

September 14, 2012 By David Kanigan 22 Comments

Yes! This is so me…(Hopefully, perceived with the constructive element.) Smile

Credit: Hugh McLeod @ Gapingvoid.com

Filed Under: Grow, Inspire, Lead, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Business, Cartoon, Communication, fun, Funny, gaping void, hugh mcleod, Humor, laugh, Leadership, Management, Philosophy, relationship, Self-help, Success

I swear I used to be…

August 30, 2012 By David Kanigan 32 Comments

This about nails it…

Source: Happy2bsad

Filed Under: Art, Grow, Inspire, Life, Quotes Tagged With: anonymous, Anxiety, Balance, Blog, blogger, Blogging, Communication, Facebook, Human, human being, introvert, Life, Lifestyle, Mental health, Philosophy, Photo, privacy, public, Quotation, Quote, relationship, saying, self-human, Social Media, Twitter, wordpress, write, Writer

Before you speak to your children, remember…

August 29, 2012 By David Kanigan 37 Comments

Now this hit home…

Source: rebeccaalexis via creatingaquietmind

Filed Under: Art, Grow, Inspire, Lead, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Art, Children, Communication, kid, kids, Life, Lifestyle, Mental health, Parent, Parenting, Parents, Philosophy, photograph, Psychology, Quote, Quotes, relationship

Lead-Learn Mashup

August 23, 2012 By David Kanigan 18 Comments

Waiting For The Karma Truck: “You Want To Talk Leadership? Talk to the Hand“
Execupundit.com: “The Success/Failure Index”
The Atlantic: “Why Women Can’t Still Have It All” (THNQ Rina)
Penelope Trunk: “Marissa Mayer Becomes CEO of Yahoo and Proves Women Cannot Have It All“)
Image Dynamics: “Where Are You on The Ego Elevator” (THNQ George P)
Nicholas Bate: “Excellence 7 x 4“.
Broadside: “What’s your personal brand?“
David Pollay: “The Law of the Garbage Truck“ (THNQ Ed O)

Image Source: Source: beantz via crescentmoon06

Filed Under: Art, Business, Grow, Inspire, Lead, Life Tagged With: Blog, blogger, blogs, brand, Business, businesswomen, Communication, Ego, Excellence, inspiration, Inspire, Leadership, Lion, Management, Mental health, NLP, personal branding, Philosophy, positive thinking, Psychology, Quotations, Quote, Relationships, Self-help, Success, Tiger, Woman, Women

Social Media Citation…

August 17, 2012 By David Kanigan 11 Comments

And on this note…I’m signing off…

Source: teachingliteracy

Filed Under: Art, Grow, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Blog, blogger, Blogging, Chart, Comedy, Communication, Facebook, fun, Funny, Graph, Humor, Image, Life, Lifestyle, Mental health, Photo, Picture, Quotation, Quote, Social Media, Twitter, wordpress

When I am silent…

August 9, 2012 By David Kanigan 23 Comments

“When I am silent,
I have thunder hidden inside.”

~ Rumi

Quote Source: radandiknowit. Image Source: headlikeanorange

Filed Under: Art, Inspire, Lead, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Anger, Communication, gif, inspiration, Inspire, lightening, Philosophy, Photo, Photography, Psychology, Quotation, Quote, relationship, Rumi, storm, thunder

Joker…

August 9, 2012 By David Kanigan 13 Comments

ME: 6am. I cranked up my morning reading and scanned to find Kristin’s new post Play the Tape Through. Play the Tape Through. Play the tape through. Repeating the mantra in my head like a stylus stuck in a groove of a RCA gramophone. Shrieking again and again.

KRISTIN: “When you choose the behavior, you choose the consequences… -Dr. Phil.” It sounds so simple, but most people, myself included, have acted without stopping to play the tape through at one time or another- if not over and over again. Picture having a video tape of all your thoughts and actions and the consequences of those thoughts and actions. It is my guess that a whole lot of people would think twice if they could view the tape before ever acting in the first place.

ME: Roll the tape back. Way back. The play ends. Referees are on high alert…scanning the ice looking for trouble. Who’s the player who retaliates after the whistle blows? Who’s the one taking the extra shot? Who loses control? Satisfaction for 3 seconds. Then off to the penalty box. Some things never change.

Tall man but short character…

August 9, 2012 By David Kanigan 24 Comments

Filed Under: Art, Grow, Inspire, Lead, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Communication, Dalai Lama, effectiveness, growth, Image, Middle Age, Personal Development, Philosophy, Photo, Psychology, Quotation, Quote, Relationships, Self-help, Success

All-Blogger Alert!

August 4, 2012 By David Kanigan 15 Comments

Here are links to notable blogging/writing posts in the past week:

Kurt Harden @ Cultural Offering with I Love a Tradition and Ray Visokski @ A Simple Village Undertaker with Officially A Tradition where they invite bloggers to a face-to-face meeting in Newark. (I was reading too fast. I thought they meant Newark, NJ which would have been a no-brainer. The idea has me thinkin’. Maybe something smaller and more local? Yes, Brenna, me too – way (way) out of comfort zone. On the other hand, YOLO?)

Madame Scherzo: The 10 Most Commonly Misunderstood Words In English. (Got me on “Enormity” and several others.)

Michael Hyatt: 15 Resources For Pro Bloggers (Or those who want to be). (I’m not a Mac user but there are solid tips in his post.)

Caitlin Kelly @ Broadside: BlogHer 2012 — was it worth it? “Three days of full-on intensity, 5,000 bloggers in one midtown Manhattan hotel, about 80 percent of whom — maybe 90 percent — were female, and under the age of 40…”

How to put out fires…STOP.DROP.ROLL.

July 27, 2012 By David Kanigan 22 Comments

Source: radandiknowit via nevver

Filed Under: Art, Business, Grow, Inspire, Lead, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Anxiety, Art, Business, Chart, Communication, Graph, Image, inspiration, Inspire, Leadership, Life, Lifestyle, Management, Mental health, Philosophy, Photo, Psychology, Quotation, Quote

My mouth is a fire escape…

July 18, 2012 By David Kanigan 8 Comments

“My mouth is a fire escape. The words coming out don’t care that they are naked, there is something burning in here.”

~ Andrea Gibson

Quote Source: Thank you abirdeyeview. (This quote was speaking to me.)

Image Source: Thank you Anake Goodall. (Another great share!)

Filed Under: Art, Grow, Inspire, Lead, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Anger, Business, Communication, emotion, frustration, Image, inspiration, Leadership, Management, Philosophy, Photo, Psychology, Quotation, Quote, relationship, Self-help

Watch…

July 16, 2012 By David Kanigan 6 Comments

Source: Thank you abirdeyeview for sharing Katherine Rucker

Filed Under: Art, Business, Grow, Inspire, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Art, Chart, Communication, control, eyes, Health, Image, inspiration, Inspire, Mental health, perception, Personal Development, Philosophy, Philosphy, Photo, Psychology, Quotation, Quote, reality, Relationships, Self-help

I’m sorry, but…

July 7, 2012 By David Kanigan 20 Comments

Adapted From You Are Worth Saving

Filed Under: Art, Grow, Inspire, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Anger, apologize, Communication, emotion, Image, inspiration, Inspire, Leadership, Mental health, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Philosophy, Photo, Quotation, Quote, Relationships, Self-help, sorry

People know the price of everything, but the value of nothing…

June 26, 2012 By David Kanigan 32 Comments

“Most of us believe that to give, we first need to have something to give. The trouble with that is, that when we are taking stock of what we have, we almost always make accounting errors. Oscar Wilde once quipped, ‘Now-a-days, people know the price of everything, but the value of nothing.’ We have forgotten how to value things without a price tag. Hence, when we get to our most abundant gifts — like attention, insight, compassion — we confuse their worth because they’re, well, priceless.”

~ delightmakers.com

Filed Under: Art, Grow, Inspire, Lead, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Communication, compassion, gifts, Gratitude, Happiness, Image, Life, Lifestyle, living, Love, Mental health, Oscar Wilde, Philosophy, Photo, psychologist, Relationships, Self-help, sketch, Success

It’s ok if you disagree with me…

June 19, 2012 By David Kanigan 13 Comments

Filed Under: Art, Grow, Inspire, Lead, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Business, Comedy, Communication, Funny, inspiration, Life, Philosophy, Photo, Picture, Psychology, Quotation, Quote, relationship, Relationships

A Blogger’s Gift to A Blogger…

June 17, 2012 By David Kanigan 41 Comments

I was flipping through emails after lunch today when I came across an email from a fellow blogger, Alex Jones @ The Liberated Way. Alex is from Colchester, 60 miles Northeast of London in the UK. Not unlike most other blogger relationships, I’ve never met Alex. I’ve never spoken to him. We have traded comments and links over the past month or so. I’ve come to appreciate his posts and his frequent and insightful comments on mine. And the wheels on the blogger bus keep turning. So, when I read Alex’ post this afternoon, I was moved. I was grateful. I was touched. I was humbled. What a wonderful, thoughtful and unexpected gift on Father’s Day. Thank you Alex. You made my day.

Alex’s post reminded me of the great bloggers who had recognized me for various awards. I’ve been a non-participant in the awards process (grist for another future post) – - so, we have Alex to thank for pushing me over the tipping point.

Weekend Roundup…(including The Denali Climb by 5 Wounded Warriors with 4 Good Legs Between Them…)

May 26, 2012 By David Kanigan 6 Comments

Here’s some noteworthy leading, learning & living articles that I came across this week …

Forbes: Intelligence Is Overrated: What You Really Need To Succeed. “Albert Einstein’s was estimated at 160, Madonna’s is 140, and John F. Kennedy’s was only 119, but as it turns out, your IQ score pales in comparison with your EQ, MQ, and BQ scores when it comes to predicting your success and professional achievement.”

(((Note to Tom Hood: Thanks for sharing. Thank goodness Intelligence research is moving in my direction. Smile )))

WSJ: Mom Was Right: Go Outside. “Children spend more than 4 hours a day with technology and there’s no longer time for nature…latest research – untamed landscapes have a restorative effect, calming our frazzled nerves…after a brief exposure to the outdoors, people are more creative, happier and better able to focus.”

(((Note: And here I sit, inside, banging away on keyboard. Hmmmmm.)))

Are you a natural born closer? Take the Test.

May 22, 2012 By David Kanigan 24 Comments

We are all “selling” in our daily activities – whether it is selling a product or service, an idea or our point of view. So, I found this post to be thought provoking.

Yet, I found myself bristling at the author’s use of the terms “dominance”, “gaining the willing obedience of the customer”, “gaining dominance over a submissive customer” and “exerting their will over the customer.” The movie classic Glengarry Glen Ross immediately came to mind. However, I think his point of view has merit as does his self-test which is very good. I would encourage you to read the full post at the HBR Blog Network: Are You a Closer? Take the Test. I’ve excerpted the self-test and a few quotes below.

(P.S. Last minute addition. The subject of my post Pure Sales. All Human. scored a 7 on the test below. And he was doing high-fives around the office. His Sensei didn’t have the heart to tell him his own score. Youngsters. Will they never learn. )

Living in Two Different Worlds. But operating in one mind.

May 20, 2012 By David Kanigan 27 Comments

My Uncle.

Husband.
Father of three terrific (now adult) children.
Retired Millwright.
Beekeeper. (He’d offer so sweet honeycomb picked off a hot knife)
Gardener. (He’d bring over juicy plums, peaches and apricots)
Farmer. (Hay Baler Cotter pins busting. Yelling and scrambling to get alfalfa in before rain)
Base singer in Men’s Choir. (Deep, Deep voice)
Photographer. (Black & White specialty including film processing in his dark room)
Cyclist. (20+ miles a loop. Pumping up and down. Relentless. And alone)
Cross-Country Skier. (10+ miles a pop. Traversing the most difficult Monashee Mountain terrain. Alone)
Volunteer Organizer for Charity
Woodcarver/Artisan. (Handcrafted jewelry boxes. Smooooooooth. Wood grain glistening.)

Internet Friendships…

May 13, 2012 By David Kanigan 21 Comments

Source: Adapted from Themetapicture.com

Filed Under: Art, Business, Grow, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Blogging, Communication, Computers, Email, Facebook, Friends, Internet, Social Media, Social networking, Texting, Twitter, wordpress

Suffering is due entirely to…

May 8, 2012 By David Kanigan 17 Comments

More info on: Nisargadatta Maharaj

Quote Source: spycnsweet

Filed Under: Business, Grow, Inspire, Lead, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Advaita, Buddhism, Communication, Eckhart Tolle, guru, I Am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta, Image, Leadership, Life, Lifestyle, Management, Mental health, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Philosophy, Photo, Picture, Psychology, Quote, Relationships, Religion and Spirituality, Stress, Suffering

Twelve of life’s most important lessons…

May 6, 2012 By David Kanigan 27 Comments

I don’t believe that I’ve read a better self-help post in the past year. Tony Schwartz turned 60 and these are his reflections. He is the author of Be Excellent at Anything. This post is from the HBR Network and it’s titled: Turning 60: The Twelve Most Important Lessons I’ve Learned So Far. I find his insights remarkable…

“Humility is underrated…deepening self-awareness is essential to freeing ourselves from reactive habitual behaviors…
“Notice the good – we carry an evolutionary disposition to dwell on on what’s wrong – take time each day to notice what right and to feel grateful
“Never seek your value at the expense of others…devaluing the person will only prompt more of the same in return”
“Slow down. Speed is the enemy of nearly everything in life that really matters. It’s addictive and it undermines quality, compassion, depth, creativity, appreciation and real relationship.”

An on and on and on. I’ve excerpted most of his post below so I can return to it frequently. (Now, only to execute…)

Pure Sales. All Human.

May 3, 2012 By David Kanigan 42 Comments

January, 2000. It’s an unseasonably steamy day in Miami. My sales manager comes into my office and asks for a few minutes. “Keep an open mind,” he says. “I think there’s something here…I think.” And he pauses. I note his discomfort. Hmmm. Highly unusual. (This coming from someone that even today, more than 10 years later, I consider to be one of the brightest, most confident and most effective sales managers that has worked for me.)

He then stumbles into his request: “Would you spend 10 minutes with him and if you don’t agree, we’ll show him the door.” With that introduction, the bar was set limbo style – ankle biting level.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Art, Business, Grow, Inspire, Lead, Life, Quotes Tagged With: Attitude, Business, Communication, hiring, Leadership, Management, Philosophy, Sales, Success, Work

The Thought-Patterns of Success…

May 3, 2012 By David Kanigan 7 Comments

“Elizabeth Grace Saunders is a time management life coach who empowers clients around the world to go from feeling frustrated, overwhelmed and guilty to accomplishing more with peace and confidence.” Her post in the HBR Blog Network titled The Thought-Patterns of Success is terrific. I’ve shared a few nuggets below that resonated with me…

Oxytocin: Why some of us are caring, some cruel, some generous, some greedy…

April 30, 2012 By David Kanigan 27 Comments

From The Wall Street Journal: The Trust Molecule. A few choice excerpts from worthy article:

Why are some of us caring and some of us cruel, some generous and some greedy?

Could a single molecule—one chemical substance—lie at the very center of our moral lives?

Research that I have done over the past decade suggests that a chemical messenger called oxytocin accounts for why some people give freely of themselves and others are coldhearted louts, why some people cheat and steal and others you can trust with your life…

More strikingly, we found that you don’t need to shoot a chemical up someone’s nose…or even give them a hug in order to create the surge in oxytocin that leads to more generous behavior. To trigger this "moral molecule," all you have to do is give someone a sign of trust. When one person extends himself to another in a trusting way—by, say, giving money—the person being trusted experiences a surge in oxytocin that makes her less likely to hold back and less likely to cheat. Which is another way of saying that the feeling of being trusted makes a person more…trustworthy. Which, over time, makes other people more inclined to trust, which in turn…