Serious and debilitating addictions, i.e., to a physical substance or gambling, should be treated in a therapy setting, not via phone-based coaching. Nonetheless, certain techniques from this field can be applied to a broad range of undesired behaviors. These techniques include recognizing the impacts of one’s environment, and proactively generating strategies for countering and replacing [...]

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Although I don’t watch a great deal of television, I viewed the first few episodes of ABC’s new animated sitcom The Goode Family with great anticipation. This highly socially and environmentally conscious family exaggerates characteristics of people I’ve served through my life coaching, workshops, and writing. They also remind me of myself. How would Mike [...]

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A few weeks ago my grandmother passed away at the age of 91. Among the things she shared with me and others were her musical talents, sharp wit, and sense of humor. I still recall hearing the organ and piano music wafting out her front windows during the summer, and remember her music books that [...]

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Many people currently spend each day in workplaces with heightened levels of uncertainty, wondering if they’ll still have their job in another month. This can result in increased challenges with work-life balance, and possibly even questions as to whether a job or career change may be in order.
When discussing the pitfalls of competition, I sometimes [...]

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When you’re actively seeking it, inspiration for life coaching, career and transition coaching, and everyday living comes from many places.
Given my own “music composer” side, I tuned in to Katie Couric’s recent Grammy Awards special where she interviewed several popular music stars. Among them was Lil’ Wayne, a hip-hop/rap artist known for his fiercely independent [...]

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As we consider the 2009 presidential inauguration ceremony for Barack Obama, we can develop tools for personal life transitions.
Inauguration, as defined by Merriam-Webster, means “to induct into office with suitable ceremonies,” “to dedicate ceremoniously, or “to bring about the beginning of.” Wikipedia describes an inauguration as “a formal ceremony to mark the beginning of a [...]

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When experiencing a sudden and unexpected life transition regarding a physical goal, career objective, relationship, or otherwise, have you leveraged opportunities to view and do things differently? I hope that my own thoughts surrounding loss provide you with insight as well.
My left foot slipped on the ice and I instantly fell backwards and sideways, while [...]

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Are you caught up in the hustle and bustle of shopping, planning, running errands, etc., that never quite seem to bring contentment? As a new year rapidly approaches, are you looking to get off the treadmill and start defining and pursuing what you really want?
If this describes you or someone you know, give yourself and [...]

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There was a significant amount of media coverage late last week over Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell’s comments regarding Janet Napolitano. Not realizing he was speaking near a turned-on microphone, he noted that Napolitano was a perfect candidate for Homeland Security Secretary because she has no life or family and “can devote, literally, 19 to 20 [...]

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Holly Harman Fackler, editor of the new “Community Conversations” section of the Mansfield News Journal, interviewed me recently. Because she covers a range of community and civic engagement issues, the topics of Naked Idealism fit in nicely. We covered a lot of ground including the book, life coaching, authenticity, sustainability, proactive thinking, diversity, self-leadership, and [...]

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