A.G. Gaston and His 10 Rules for Success

A friend of mine told me about one day, years ago, when her daughter came home from elementary school clearly disappointed. The teachers had assigned parts for the 4th grade Alabama History play that day. The play was an annual event and a big deal, and all the little...

I am thankful for …

At work and in life, I strive to live each day with a thankful frame of mind. I realize I have so many things to be thankful for, and I am humbled by that fact. Like many of you, I find the holidays to be the perfect time to relax and enjoy family in all its...

To Give or Not to Give?

It’s giving season again. While you’re contemplating holiday presents for family and friends, you might find yourself going back and forth regarding business gifts. You might be wondering if you should give your clients, prospects, suppliers or other business-related...

A Thanksgiving Meal I’ll Never Forget

It’s time to count our blessings! I’ll start by saying I am thankful for my family and friends and my health and my faith. That covers a lot of ground, so I’d like to focus on the family part of this. Family comes in many forms:  Immediate. Extended. Inherited....

The Unexpected Interview

One of my clients recently shared the interesting way his previous firm would determine whom they hired and whom they did not. As with most companies, a candidate would come into the office and be greeted by the receptionist. The candidate would explain that they were...

A Self-Starting Oil Man

While at a faith conference, I heard Erwin McManus say this:  “Most people need permission to start, but almost no one needs permission to quit.” I agree absolutely with this statement, but I’d like to break it down today and talk about the first part—needing...