It’s tough to lead at the office. You have constant HR headaches, cash flow issues, and operational problems, just to name a few. But it’s a lot tougher to lead at home.  Why? First, you can’t fire your children. You’re a parent forever, no matter what your children say or do. Second, there is no paid or unpaid time off. You are always on the job, 24/7, doing their laundry, helping with homework, carpooling them...

When it comes to relationships, communication can be emotional.  So it needs to be handled carefully. There are some basic truths that Susan and I try to keep in mind when we’re trying to sort through relational issues.  First, remember that we’re all made for relationships.  Maybe this is obvious, but we sometimes forget that life is not just all about “me.”  When we get stuck on ourselves, we lose perspective on...

Life can be routine, mundane and can feel like a washing machine going round and round. In the cycle of life, how can we make sure we are living a life that’s significant? NFL broadcaster JB Brown says one way to live significantly is to recognize your gift and perfect it. We’ve all been blessed with special gifts and talents and if we perfect them we can impact the world around us for good. By perfecting his...

I confess; I’m a porcupine…at least sometimes. The average porcupine has about 30,000 sharp quills that it raises up and shoots into another animal, or person, when it feels threatened or gets angry. Like a porcupine, when one of my trigger points is pulled, I can get pretty prickly, ornery and downright cranky.  One of those trigger points is unmet expectations. When I build up crazy high expectations for myself...

With all the games, movies, and books out there, our kids still somehow find a way to whine, “I’m bored!”  One great way to cure their boredom is to take them on an adventure: a treasure hunt!  Setting up a scavenger hunt around your home is easy.  Just create clues and then hide them around the house in different places—under the table, in the food pantry, or on their bathroom mirror.  The hunt should end with...

As a parent, you may feel like leadership in your home is a burden you must carry or a duty you must endure. And the ups and downs of home life can even make you question your ability to lead as a mom or dad. In his book, A Leader’s Gift, Barry Banther says “Leadership isn’t something you just do; it’s someone you become.” This could not be truer in the world of parenting. So don’t just set your mind on the daily...

We want our kids to be confident. Acing a test, scoring a goal, or getting the part builds that confidence.  But all too often, confidence grows into pride as kids begin thinking they’re better than their peers.  Teach your children to be different by teaching them to be humble.  Here are some ways to teach your kids humility.  First, model it yourself.  It’s important to never underestimate the power of teaching...