Last week during a presentation, an audience participant asked me a question that comes up regularly.

“How do I deal with those 10% of people who are always negative and seem to consume 90% of my time ?”

First off—great question ! Secondly, because it’s a common issue, here’s my step-by-step approach to <more>

Last week during a presentation an audience participant asked me a critical thinking question. It turns out it’s a question I have never been asked nor a question I’ve asked myself.

So following a flurry of insightful questions, Craig steps up. He asks, <more>

Last week I was talking with Ashton who illustrates this blog and I said something like, “I’m doing pretty good on next week’s post—I’m about 90% there. I should have it to you by Wednesday or Thursday.” Friday morning I get an email from her, “Do you have the blog ready for next week ?”

The short answer—no. The long answer—<more>

After a 12 day vacation with a friend, Lyn gets home tonight. I’m excited to see her and even though we’ve been texting daily, I can’t wait to hear all about her trip. 

So for the past 12 days, it’s been Shangri-La for me—in our family that’s what we jokingly call <more>

Have you ever found yourself reliving old memories and longing for them again ? If so, be careful.

10 years into my career at Nova Scotia Power, it would still come up in casual conversations, “Yea, it’s just not the same here anymore—no Christmas turkey…” And the person would continue a romantic reflection on the past with a litany of things that had changed. Here’s the thing—the Christmas turkey was almost always the <more>

Have you ever noticed how entitlement and complacency can creep into a workplace and then just take over ? Complacency and entitlement are mindsets that destroy your culture, and yes, it’s leadership that prevents complacency and entitlement from ruining your culture, but what aspect of leadership ? <more>

In the first 2 or 3 years of school—primary through grade 2, right after we sang the national anthem, the school sold treats that you could take outside during morning recess. Every now and then, Mom and Dad gave us some change so my brother Pete and I could get our favourite—the Jos. Louis. If you’re not familiar, the Jos. Louis is <more>

I was thinking the other day, “I work hard—very hard. I really don’t get my fair share—I deserve more.”  Maybe you’ve got a way to prevent this type of thinking but it’s easy for me to slip into. Whether I’m assessing <more>

In January of last year, I set a personal fitness goal which I believed was impossible. The goal would not break any world records nor come close to doing so, yet I had no idea how I would accomplish it. The goal was to <more>

Back before you could google the answer to pretty much anything, I used to listen to a science expert who had a weekly spot on a popular radio program. One week he would pose a question (i.e. why does the moon look so big when it’s on the horizon ?), listeners would submit answers and the following week he would <more>

Last week I was on a call with someone who was prospecting me. He asked me what I did for work and I explained how I help companies bring more gratitude to work each day. 

Then he asks, “How’s it going ?” I say, “What do you mean ?”

He then <more>

A couple weeks ago I was leaving a hotel parking lot. I had my parking stub in hand, which concierge had validated—complimentary ! I expressed my gratitude to her for that !

At the exit, I reach out to insert the stub into the little machine—and it won’t fit in. It’s like the mechanism is jammed. Turn the ticket around the other way and still no luck. 

“Oh great, cars are starting to build up in a line behind me.”

Turn the stub upside down and it still feels like I’m <more>

If gratitude is not already a part of your meeting preparation routine, it needs to be. 

Last week, I was doing a professional development program on Grateful Leadership with a group of MBA students. It was great to be in a classroom again—it’s probably been about four years. After we had laid the groundwork on Grateful Leadership and how to practically incorporate it into their daily routines, they all seemed very comfortable so we introduced a mock situation that they would each likely experience within the next few months—and it left them speechless. <more>

In the past couple weeks, on two separate occasions, two different people were sharing what was going on in their life and the challenges they were dealing with. Eventually they boiled over, “I’m done. I am so done !” <more>

There’s a chestnut tree down the street which coincidently marks the “finish line” for my daily run. Over the past few weeks I picked up a half dozen chestnuts that glistened in the grass, most of which were still half covered by a prickly outer skin. While I intend to plant them next spring, they are now resting on top of my desk—but <more>

If you get my voicemail, you’ll hear something like, “Hi it’s Steve Foran. Sorry I can’t take your call. Please share one thing you’re grateful for and a detailed message and I’ll get back to you promptly.”

I get some pretty cool voicemails !

Recently I got a voicemail from <more>

You can never underestimate the power of kindness.

A couple weeks ago, I read the obituary of a childhood friend, Earle. The family was quite open and shared that Earle had a life long struggle with <more>

Last weekend Hurricane Fiona ripped her way through our region left a path of destruction in the wake of the centre of the storm. We were a hundred miles or so west of the eye so it wasn’t as bad here—but there were lots of trees down, shingles blown off roofs and we were without power for <more>

Last week I was downtown and parked the car curb-side. The city transitioned from parking meters to a remote-pay type system that runs via an app and pay machines that are located on every block around town.

I loaded two hours and when I returned 90 minutes later I see a <more>

A few years back I hired a marketing consultant to help me with a brand refresh. Our first meeting was at my office—aka my house. We had a great meeting and he went on to do great work for me (coincidentally, seven years later he’s finishing another project for me). Anyhow, later that day back in 2015, a while after my wife gets home, she says,

“Who was in the bathroom ?”

<more>