Several things struck me about this article in the Sunday Styles section of the New York Times. First, his unbelievable attention to detail, his insistence on doing it over and over with full scale mockups and his complete desire for perfection. I know almost nothing about Calvin Klein or design for that matter but I do know people and many successful people share similar traits: the desire for perfection, a relentless work ethic, perseverance, and the drive to get things right even if they have to piss people off along the way (take forever to build, create traffic jams, etc..) I couldn’t help but wonder, however, with all that need for perfection if Mr. Klein is capable of “Being.” In other words, can he enjoy the now?  Many overachiever personality types have little capacity for enjoyment. Some, on the other hand, are so enraptured by their work that they find a kind of ecstasy in their “doing.” read more

Whether I am working with an individual, group or organization, I help all people eliminate distractions. Distractions come in many forms and disguises.  I worked with a young woman recently who came to me because she said she wanted to be very successful and make a lot more money in sales. She is bright, attractive,  intelligent, and personable.
However, as I got to know her, I realized that she was consistently distracted by drama both in her personal life and at the office. Thus, we began our work together with a strong emphasis on eliminating the drama and distractions in her life. It’s hard to be truly successful, I argued, if you are running around pissed at this person and not talking to that person. Anger, blame, negativity and resentment consume valuable energy that we can put to good use elsewhere, such as developing a new business strategy or booking another appointment! read more

An investment banker came to see me because he was tired and feeling depleted. For many years, he had been working long hours, traveling well over a hundred days a year, and rarely ever felt appreciated. In fact, the only thing he looked forward to at work was his bonus, which gratified him only briefly now.  You may not be an investment banker but this story may still sound familiar. Many of us are working long hours and feel under-appreciated. Some of us don’t feel appreciated at all. I am also coaching an elementary school teacher who feels this way. He doesn’t have the hours a banker does, and yet he still works pretty hard.  He too is often tired, frustrated and fatigued without the compensation to look forward too. read more