“When you have the choice of whether to be right nor kind, be kind.” – Wayne Dyer
The Ripple Effect of a Bad Decision.
“Business ethics is grounded on a concept called stakeholders which describes all the various people/groups who are affected by a decision, thereby imposing responsibility on the stakeholder for the consequences of the decision. The below picture illustrates the concept in a way we can all identify with. This young boy’s decision to put his head in the opening of a …
7 Ways to Communicate Better
“Earn Trust – be honest; don’t exaggerate, distort or deceive. Really Listen – you can’t change another’s opinion until you truly understand it. Be Open – if you want to
Filling His Shoes
“Lately, all my friends are worried that they are turning into their fathers. I’m worried I’m not.” – Dan Zevin
Measure the Significance, Not the Success
There will come a time in your life when you realize that the true measure of your life is not success, but significance. Living a life that matters is about making a positive difference. It could be in the lives of those you love, in your workplace or community. You don’t have to be a selfless missionary to do this. …
COMMENTARY: Getting Started
Chris’s parents were proud of him when he graduated from college. But it’s been six months and he hasn’t gotten a job yet. In fact, he hasn’t looked seriously. He has no idea what he wants to do and he’s thinking of grad school. He’s living at home with his parents and things are getting tense, especially with his father, …
Don’t Underestimate Yourself!
“Don’t underestimate yourself! You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” – Michael Josephson
Great Leaders Earn, Great Leaders Empower
“Great leaders earn, exude, and instill confidence without being arrogant. They empower their followers with confidence and pride in themselves.” – Michael Josephson
Self-Pity – A No-No
“Self-pity is a losing strategy. It repels others and weakens you. You’re entitled to be sad and to grieve, but don’t sabotage yourself or your relationships with negativity.” – Michael Josephson
COMMENTARY 980.5: Blessing or Curse?
A man and his companion lost their way in a forest. The companion despaired, but the man said maybe some good would come of it. They came upon a stranger who needed the man’s help. The stranger turned out to be a prince who gave the man a beautiful horse. His neighbors praised his good luck and said, “How blessed …
What Kind of Day Is It?
It’s a good day to turn your life around.
Our Daily Lives
“Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you.” – Jim Rohn. Don’t fritter away precious moments on petty things. Easier said than done. We live our lives daily, hour by …
How Do You Know If You Are A Good Leader?
Great leaders are teachers not tyrants. They help their followers see and understand more. They inspire them to become more and they motivate them to do more. – Michael Josephson
COMMENTARY: Controlling the Weather
While teachers can have a lifelong effect on the way students think, psychologist Haim Ginott has focused on a more immediate aspect of impact: the creation of a positive or negative physical and emotional environment that can determine the quality of a child’s life. “I’ve come to a frightening conclusion,” he said. “I am the decisive element in the classroom. …
What Is Worth Doing?
“One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.” – Lewis Carroll
Ethics
Ethics are about the ought, not the is. Ethics are not about the way things are, but about the way they should be.
Take A Journey
“I’m humbled to know I’m not all that I can or all that I want to be, but I’m proud that I’m better than I used to be and not as good as I will be. A good life is a journey not a destination.” – Michael Josephson
COMMENTARY 980.3: The TEAM Approach to Teaching Character
I want my kids to be smart and successful, but I also want them to be good. I want them to be the kind of people other parents would like to see their kids marry. I also want them to make sound, values-based decisions that will help them be safe and happy. So, like most parents, I spend lots time …
Forgiveness – For Them, For You
“He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.” – Proverb “Forgiveness can be both an act of generosity and wisdom. It may release the person forgiven of guilt but it also releases the forgiver from chains of resentment. Forgiving is not condoning, but letting go.” – Michael Josephson
Who Really Gets It?
“Sometimes you have to talk with a two-year-old just to understand life again.” – Patricia Love
When Things Go Wrong
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, and you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit – Rest if you must, but don’t you quit. Life is queer with its twists and …
COMMENTARY 980.2: Family Values
Our values — the core beliefs that drive behavior — determine our character, our ethics and our potential. Thus, the most important thing we can do for our children is to stimulate them to develop positive values that will help them become wise, happy and good. This is no simple matter. The first step is to achieve greater clarity about …
“A Great Leader Is . . .
IDEALISTIC but not unrealistic, CONFIDENT but not arrogant, BOLD but not reckless, PERSUASIVE but not manipulative, PASSIONATE but not self-righteous, TENACIOUS but not obstinate.” – Michael Josephson
H-O-P-E
Hang On Pain Ends “Pain is unavoidable but it’s not permanent. The sun will come out tomorrow; It comes out every single day, even when we can’t see it. You have the strength you need to get through this. The light at the end of the tunnel is your life; it’s the tunnel that’s temporary.” – Michael Josephson
Real Generosity
“Real generosity is doing something for others, even when you’re certain you will get nothing back . . . not even a thank you.” – Michael Josephson
Is It Going To Be Easy?
Don’t ask if it is going to be easy, ask if it’s going to be worth it.
Admiration of the Kind
“When I was young I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.” – Abraham Joshua Hesche
Just say No
Remember, you don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to.
Your Children Will Grow Up…
“Your children will become what you are, so be what you want them to be.” – David Bly
COMMENTARY 980.1: Who Am I to Judge? – The Ethics of Moral Judgments
Almost every week someone indignantly attacks my integrity because I offended them with a real or perceived opinion they didn’t like. The underlying assumption is that stating an opinion on any controversial matter violates the sacred duty of neutrality. First, I’m a teacher and a commentator, not a judge or journalist. Although I strive mightily to be objective, I don’t …