Benny was a high school teacher’s most troubled student, a teenage boy with a drug problem who was on the list to be expelled. — His teacher begged for more time to work with him to help him shift his focus. Sure, he had the classic troubled childhood background which gave him poor odds of succeeding at school. …

Northern New South Wales after the deluge — On the sidewalk in front of the local music shop in the town of Mullumbimby, Australia, two women in short overalls and T-shirts wipe down ukuleles and violins and place them carefully atop their canvas cases to dry. …

But Organic Turkey Bone Broth Soup Won’t Save You “We’ll need a weekly budget for turkey bone broth soup,” my sister announced as soon she heard mum’s bedroom door click shut. “And it needs to be organic.” She moved into the kitchen and began scrubbing an enormous stainless steel pot she’d carried in from her car. Presumably for the soup. “We can’t let her have…

First, I left a message on your machine. But there was no answer in days. How many days? I lost count. That’s how it is when you live in a work-possessed city. Eight hours away by plane and car. Then, that haunting call I made about a week later while…

Why denying our importance hurts others I was in the room when my mum learned she was dying. Her doctor put her fate to her with such soft-spoken grace, I struggled to believe its gravity. Moments before, I’d reached for her hand. …

Why is it so hard to practice what we preach? — We show up as the genius, expert or world-class practitioner for everyone else. Why is there a weird disconnect in applying those principles in our own world? There’s an old saying ‘Cobbler’s children have no shoes’ — meaning the very thing a shoemaker delivers to his customers, he neglects for…

3 ways to boost your credibility to win an audience Passionate people are very persuasive. Sit down with an entrepreneur, you’ll likely leave the meeting with a fresh opinion; usually theirs. But passion and expertise don’t always go hand-in-hand. And that can leave a credibility gap. Passion can be the reason we start or stick with a project or life…

7 questions to ask to identify your thought leadership niche — Most of us have a signature dish we’re famous for amongst our family and friends — something we love cooking, have lots of experience with and have added our unique twist to. Often it is artfully simple. Whether it’s our Grandma’s apple pie, or an omelet, we’ve found a way…

When Mum died, I felt a strange relief. We’d been close. I lived overseas, and although I only saw her a few times each year, we talked openly about life and had the kind of bond I considered special. The rush of freedom I felt when she passed was a…