“It’s in my genes,” is something we hear from time to time. Whether it’s part of a bad pun or referring to your predisposition for certain habits, we blame our genes for a lot of things. What if you knew you could change your genes and beat some of the natural risks in your world?

An entrepreneurial mind — even for non-entrepreneurs — has become one of the most coveted qualities in the business world. Even those of us who never intend to strike out on our own with a company, product, or idea, are all encouraged to have the same mindset. But what exactly does that mean? Why is it so important not only for professional success but in leadership?

All of us wish we could get more done in the day — I know I do. It seems like we always need more time to check off our to-do list. Something I’ve learned over the years is that so much of our problem isn’t having too much to do (though there are undeniable seasons of busyness that get in the way), it’s that we are ineffective in how we do it.

Do you consider yourself a confident person?

Psychology Today defines confidence as “how strongly you believe in your capabilities to learn new skills, perform at a certain level, attain a goal, or achieve your own definition of success." 

Sometimes it only takes a small change to up your game. I’ve been an endurance runner for some time now, and I will tell you from experience that the smallest adjustments can mean the difference between an okay race and a great one. When training, little adjustments can make the biggest difference for me in the long-term.

Because we live in a world of constant discovery, fluctuating fads, and corporate agendas, it can be difficult to effectively manage your health and nutrition. So many of today’s diets neglect sustainable, well-rounded nutrition and focus on short-term results. This isn’t to say that all dietary lifestyles (and even temporary diets) are bad. It is to say that the underlying nutritional values in your diet are what really matter.

Many of us dread quarterly and yearly performance reviews. That said, they’re often necessary to identify areas of growth and strength as well as what we need to work on. We’re all made up of strengths and flaws, and identifying and dealing with these personal characteristics transforms us into better leaders and more productive, effective employees and entrepreneurs. 

There is absolutely no doubt that leaders are in a stressful position. Stress can be beneficial in small doses, but an overwhelming amount of stress can negatively impact our physical and mental health. Insomnia, depression, anxiety, appetite changes, and digestion issues...the list doesn’t end there. While we may thrive with a reasonable amount of stress injected into our daily lives, what do we do when that stress proves too much to handle healthily?

Billionaire executive and leader Sheryl Sandberg is quoted as saying,

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence."

This quote seems to stand in contrast to the wisdom of the day that asserts that we can’t make people change. Of course, this is usually in reference to romantic relationships and not necessarily to business ones. However, I think we’re all aware that interpersonal conflicts with others are a primary source of strife in our lives.

We’re well into the first month of 2020 and I must say — never have I felt such optimism and apprehension towards the future all at once. For me, I prefer to focus on the things in my life that I can change rather than those that I can’t. The first thing I think of outside of my role as a partner with REI Nation is my health and fitness.

No matter what industry you’re in, there are power dynamics at play. It’s true of me, it’s true of you. Power dynamics — sometimes understood as workplace politics — are not always a bad thing. However, they can be unhealthy. After all, they’re the unspoken rules about communication and interaction in the workplace. 

In the past few decades, open office spaces have grown in popularity. Be it Google or Facebook, companies all over the world have been looking to tech giants and start-up pioneers for crafting the most effective workspaces.

As an entrepreneur and partner in my family’s real estate investment company, I’ve seen business done in different ways, good and bad, through the years. My own experiences in every job, every career, have taught me a lot about what it takes to succeed. It’s easy to look at me and see only the success and not the hard work that brought me to where I am now. (And make no mistake — I’m still working hard!)

At first glance, it is easy to mistake a leader for a manager and vice versa. There’s no doubt that the two roles share similarities. Both are “above” others in that they provide guidance, direction, and oversight. Managers can become leaders but the point at which they bridge the gap can be fuzzy and difficult to navigate.

Most of us, at some time or another in our lives, had big ambitions. Maybe you’re remembering being a fresh-faced college student with dreams of fancy degrees and big earnings. You might think about that big promotion and living in a beautiful house. I think we often confuse ambitions with dreams. Ambitions are the things we set out to accomplish — we make moves and game plans and strive. Dreams are those things we would like, but we either never pursue or never make real plans to get there.

It’s that time of year again. While we’re still feeling the warm glow of the holiday spirit and ringing in not just a new year but a new decade, new year’s resolutions will be more ambitious than ever. It’s almost a joke now to talk about resolutions, knowing that in a few week’s time we’ll be right back to our old habits. We fail to see the possibility of our own success, believing that we’re set up for failure every time.

Running doesn’t seem like a winter sport, does it? When it’s cold and blustery, it’s not attractive. It gets dark early. It doesn’t feel right! You should be inside sipping on hot cocoa, not braving the elements. As an avid endurance runner, I enjoy running just about year-round. It can get tough during these humid Tennessee summers, but generally speaking, I see it as an all-year event.

As we live in a capitalist society, there is often an assumed correlation between success and making lots and lots of money. I think we all know, however, that wealth doesn’t fix everything. While we all strive for financial security, there are some things in life that are more valuable than profit. If we wish to be the best employees, entrepreneurs, and executives out there, we have to recognize what is and is not worth it to us in the pursuit of success.

Communication is one of the best tools we have as professionals. Few of us, however, know how to communicate effectively — particularly where feedback is concerned. What is it that makes giving feedback so difficult? Even if we’re comfortable dispensing criticism, it isn’t always well-received.

Thanksgiving is barely passed and I already feel as though I’m overwhelmed by a slew of decadent treats and warm, fattening meals around the dinner table. As much as we want to eat healthily, the holidays bring out all of the temptations that can disrupt your stomach and your progress towards a goal weight.