Valuing Lebron James: Avoiding Absurd Arguments
Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a heated argument and thought, “How the heck did I get here and why am I arguing about this?” This is exactly what happened to me the other day with three close friends. We had decided to grab a beer and throw some darts...
Provocative Passion: Lessons from Steve Jobs
Do you ever find a book so intriguing that you cannot stop reading it and talking about the material? Everything about the characters feels like a mystery to be unraveled and you find yourself enamored with their personal characteristics, accomplishments, and flaws....
The Language of Loss
My family recently had to make the heart-breaking decision to have one of our dogs put down. This was not an easy decision because rather than suffering a traumatic life-ending event such as a heart attack, he was slowly deteriorating due to severe epilepsy. The...
Rhetorical Blowback
Rhetorical Blowback When a speaker successfully uses the canons of rhetoric to craft a compelling message and influence an appropriate target audience, that message often falls on deaf ears. Why does this occur? One reason has to do with the shifting communication...
No Time to Think
I recently made a discovery that was personally disturbing, and although it arises from very simple and anecdotal observations, from what I have read it seems to hold true across entire societies regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. This...
Uncovering Anchors Prevents 'Naked' Numbers
The Fallacy of 'Homo Economicus' In the realm of Economics, it is assumed that people act rationally and make decisions that are always in one's best interests. Economists call this "Maximizing Utility," and traditional economics theory suggests that humans are calm,...
The Complexity of "Focus"
I was recently speaking with a client who was having problems at work and during social life. The problems were a symptom of some severe anxiety and constant self-consciousness regarding her physical appearance. She had built up several issues in her head and allowed...
The Appropriate Amount of 'Presence' in Multi-Party Facilitations
I recently conducted a multi-party facilitation and am seeking feedback from other conflict management professionals and attorneys who have facilitated similar situations. I will provide some background about the issue, discuss my perspective on how it went, and then...
Understanding Dog Fights
I recently arrived home after a long day at work to discover that my two boxers, Gizmo and Gonzo, had gotten into a fight in their kennel. I did not see the actual fight but I did see the horrifying marks left on each of my beloved animals, as they were each covered...
Customized Relationship Guides
How often do people read manuals? Rarely. The only time people pull out the manual is when an appliance or vehicle breaks down. Why should relationships be any different? We don’t go into a friendship or marriage with a set of guidelines that outlines how to navigate...
