The Uncommon Life

Along his relatively short (still in his mid twenties) but admirable journey through life, Charlie has learned that if you get stuck playing the wrong game with the wrong yardstick, progress itself becomes a liability. But I’ll let him take it from here… Read More →

I think we can all agree on one thing: If you cannot control your mind, you’ll control little else. Yet, unless you have decided to practice some form of meditation or the like, mental discipline is not a skill that is often taught. This is a real shame because without mental stability and mastery, there is no stability or mastery in other parts of life.

‘One moment, one emotion’ (OMOE) capitalizes on the peace of mind that can only be summoned while being the moment. It’s about feeding the desired emotion so the negative alternative starves. It’s a philosophy that can help you guide your emotional experience through learned mental discipline that leads to authentic emotions. Read More →

Take a quick gaze into the world of non-fiction literature and there is one word that cannot be ignored: passion.

Authors, speakers, leaders, and gurus use this word with a near religious application – as though it’s the alchemist’s secret to wielding the famed Midas touch. They preach that passion is an indispensable part of personal success and happiness.

Based on this introduction, you might be surprised to read this next statement: I agree with them. Passion is one very important element (of many) that produces extraordinary results.

What frustrates me (and many people who read these statements about passion) is that the process to attaining this ‘transformational’ passion is often overlooked or described as though the Gods endow it. Either way doesn’t help. Read More →

Money can be motivating, but it also tends to limit what we perceive as possible. When focusing on how your existing talents and abilities can add value to others, many more opportunities reveal themselves. These opportunities may not be noticeable immediately, but with time and commitment, they always surface. Read More →

It doesn’t take perfection, top-notch tools or world-class talent to do great work that’s recognizable and appreciated by others. It takes courage in the face of an unknown outcome and commitment of uncommon effort. Read More →

Before you commence your journey to an uncommon life in 2012, assess your inventory. Stop, think, and drop. Literally. Identify the items of baggage you’re currently carrying from 2011 and scrutinize every last piece. Read More →

Countless well-meaning people paralyze themselves in the face of fear, which often leads to the misguided notion that inaction always lessens risk. But in the pursuit of an uncommon life, this is very rarely the case. Our fear-induced responses are a survival tool, but these knee-jerk responses are not an effective instrument for constructing a fulfilling life… Read More →

It’s far too easy (and common) to turn to—and often rely on—these authority figures for advice, feedback, and solutions to important life issues. But an impressive title—and even years of experience in a given field—does not guarantee the best result. Instead of relying on statistics, facts, mathematical formulas, and professional opinion to verify or guide our own personal inklings, we should take a bold step forward and test our own theories, absent from external judgment, direction, or the likelihood of success. Read More →