Early in life, he was a loner with few friends. But well known landscape photographer Ansel Adams was always curious – teaching himself the piano, and then photography. Adams did things his way. For those of us struggling to build a career or find our way in this life, the philosophy of Ansel Adams is […]
I can still remember him. He was my boss when I was in the radio business years ago and he left a lasting impression on me for one reason: he gave a damn. In fact, John cared more about me and my career than he did about the needs of the company, at least, that’s […]
It’s not well known, but the famous French painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir created his masterpieces during the last 20 years of his life while suffering great pain. Even more incredible was where the pain was focused: in his hands. Renoir suffered terrible rheumatoid arthritis, a disease of the joints which eventually left his hands completely disfigured. […]
The author who wrote the novel “The Great Gatsby,” believed he was a failure. Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was an alcoholic, depressed that he was not getting the praise he felt he deserved. It would not be until after his passing at the young age of 44 that Fitzgerald would be considered one of the […]
Everywhere we go these days, we hear complaints. People complain about everything. And if they cannot find something to complain about – they will complain about all of the complaining. The act of tearing down, it seems, is a full time occupation. But unless we use our voice to encourage, rather than discourage, this old […]
He cut, burned and kicked 500 of his paintings because he felt they weren’t good enough. Later in life, he threatened to destroy every one of his famous paintings. French painter Claude Monet, founder of the impressionist painting style, was a perfectionist, insecure and prone to depression. But Monet also loved life and his work, […]
He was one of the greatest public speakers of ancient Rome. Philosopher, lawyer and politician Marcus Cicero, would end up murdered. But while he lived, he expressed a management philosophy that is remarkably relevant to today’s rough and tumble business world. In practicing the sage advice of Cicero, we can become outstanding managers. 1. “ I criticize […]
He believed winning a war, or anything in life, was best accomplished without firing a single shot. Ancient Chinese general, strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu liked to win before the other side even knew they had lost. His teachings on effective strategy have been followed by leaders throughout time. Today, we can learn from Sun […]
He was mentally ill; tried to live off just coffee, smoke and alcohol; almost never slept; and was regarded as a total failure since only one of his paintings sold when he was alive. But Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh refused to back down, going on to create hundreds of paintings, each worth millions today. […]
Often, it seems the whole world is conspiring against us. Since the mind wants to be right, it reaffirms its helplessness in the face of hard times by using relentless negative self-talk, as in “Yes, I knew things would be this way.” But the mind can be taught to turn off the negative narrative. It […]
Cory Galbraith 