Do not expect a narrow-minded person to be open-minded. My most popular post!

We can spend an enormous amount of energy trying to explain things to people who neither understand nor care to understand. It often leads to frustration, because no matter how carefully we explain, ted to take in what we are saying.

The frog that lives in the well will never grasp the vastness of the ocean. That doesn’t make it a bad frog or a stupid frog. It simply means it is a well frog. Expecting it to see beyond its walls is unfair to the frog and exhausting for us.

In life, some people simply cannot see beyond their own well. Instead of wearing ourselves out trying to make them, we can accept their limits, move forward, and invest our energy in places where it will make a difference.

Life is good.
Marshall

"The best gift I have ever given is my time, energy and attention."

When I asked one of my great clients, "What is the greatest gift you have given to anyone?" That was her answer.

Upon reflection, Buddha's advice is deeper than my original interpretation. I was thinking, oor people can give away something that they have."

For my clients - and probably for you - "Having very little." means time, energy and attention.

"Give - even if you only have a little."

Life is good.
Marshall

Please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai. MGAI is aimed at helping you have a good life - and, even better, helping you help others.

Getting better is its own reward.

If we define success that way, we never feel shortchanged.

The world doesn’t always give us the trophy, the raise, or the applause.

But if we’ve grown, we’ve already won.

Life is good.
Marshall

Please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai. It is er!

Lead by example.

Great leaders and terrible leaders often say the same words.

Great leaders and terrible leaders do not do the same things.

No one cares what you preach. Everyone cares what you live.

Life is good.
Marshall

We all want to help others. We want to be generous. We want to be kind.

But saying “yes” to everything is not generosity. It is a recipe for burnout.

Every time we say yes to something, we are also saying no to something else.

Our time is limited. Our energy is limited. g for everyone.

You cannot help anyone very well if you are running on empty.

Learning to say “no” does not mean becoming selfish or uncaring. It means making thoughtful choices about where you can make the greatest positive difference.

Say no with kindness. Say no with clarity. Say no without guilt.

Great leaders don’t try to do everything. They have the wisdom to understand what matters most, the courage to let go of what doesn’t, and the discipline to focus their energy where it can do the most good.

Sometimes saying “no” is what makes your most important “yes” possible.

Life is good.
Marshall

Distraction is the enemy of depth.

Only you know what is important to you.

Only you know what achievement means to you.

Only you know what makes you happy.

Focus on what matters to you.

Let go of what does not really matter.

Life is good.
Marshall

Please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai. It may help you find your idea.

"You will need to do great work and keep learning as you do it."

The pace of change is not going to slow down.

Who knows what career challenges you will face?

I feel confident in a couple of predictions: 1 As a professional - your job security will be dependent upon you doing ine to five" mentality won't get you very far.

If you love what you do, this will be fun. If you do not love what you do, this will be painful.

Keep focused on your career. Keep learning.

Find your own passion. Don't wait for someone to 'motivate' you.

Life is good. Marshall

Please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai. It is getting better and better. It may help you on your journey. It is free!

This lesson does not only apply to exercise. It applies to life.

My friend, Zack Henderson, a great personal trainer, once shared a simple lesson with me. Some of his clients try to be “macho” and push themselves too hard at the beginning. For a short time they feel proud of , they fade. They get tired, discouraged, and sometimes even injured.

The same pattern often appears with new leaders. They arrive determined to change everything immediately. In their enthusiasm they move too fast, push too hard, and attempt to transform the organization in a matter of weeks. Instead of building support, they create skepticism and lose credibility.

A wiser approach is usually slower and steadier. Take time to understand the situation. Build relationships. Learn what is working before trying to change what is not.

Figure out where you want to go. Start slowly. Be realistic.

In the long run, finishing the race matters far more than starting in the lead.

Please send me your thoughts, reflections and ideas for helping leaders understand this.

Life is good.
Marshall

Because we are disciplined, logical, and driven, we assume that everyone else should operate the same way.

We try to lead people using only our heads.

When a team member is struggling, we give them a logical list of reasons why they should improve. When a colleague is upset, we 't feel that way because X, Y, and Z."

We try to debug people like they are computer code.

But as Eleanor Roosevelt said, "To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart."

You need your head to maintain your own discipline, set your strategy, and manage your time.

But you need your heart to build bridges.

If you are trying to "fix" a relationship at work using only logic, you are using the wrong tool.

Where in your life are you trying to use your head to solve a problem that requires your heart?

Life is good.
Marshall

I am deeply honored to be the second author of 'The Power of the Learning Mindset' with Dr. Lilian Ajayi Ore, Ed.D.

Recently, our book was #9 on the USA Today bestseller list — across all books, including fiction. Lilian has done an amazing job.

In this new world, business ted challenges.

Technology can transform entire industries overnight. Markets shift. Expectations evolve. Stability is temporary.

How do you stay relevant in the middle of constant change?
How do you build teams that thrive under pressure?
How do you foster innovation while still maintaining operational excellence?

The answer is both simple and demanding.

Executives, managers, and team leaders at every level must be learners, leaders, and coaches at the same time.

Learning is no longer optional. It is the foundation of modern leadership.

Learn to love learning. If you do not, it may be time to reconsider the role you want to play.

Life is good.
Marshall

Today is the perfect day to reflect on the tree you want to plant now.

The past is over. We have all made mistakes. We have all lived with regret about choices we could have made and paths we did not take.

This is just part of being human.

What matters most is not what we did choose to do today. Every morning gives us another chance. In that sense, every year can be a New Year.

Forgive yourself for what you did not do. Let go of the weight of “too late” and “if only.” These thoughts keep us stuck in the past and steal energy from the present.

Progress does not require a perfect plan. It only requires a beginning.

Plant something small. Take one step. Make one choice that points you toward the life you want to live now.

The future is created from what we do today.

Life is good.
Marshall

Please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai. It may help in your quest to 'plant a new tree'.

Kindness without wisdom can reinforce bad habits. True care supports the person, not the behavior that hurts them.

Recently, I was discussing this idea with my friend, Yanki Yazgan from Turkey. Dr. Yazgan has spent years helping people who struggle with compulsive behaviors such from his work is both simple and challenging: when we accommodate unhealthy behavior in the name of kindness, we can unintentionally make the problem worse.

Many of us want to help the people we care about. We do not want to embarrass them or create conflict. As a result, we sometimes tolerate or even support behaviors that are ultimately harmful.

Dr. Yazgan’s work reminds us that compassion and wisdom must go together. Supporting the person does not always mean supporting the behavior. Sometimes the most caring response is to set a gentle boundary that encourages growth.

Real care is not about avoiding discomfort. Real care is about helping people move toward healthier lives.

Please share your reflections on this post. Please share your suggestions for parents, leaders, coaches and other professionals.

Life is good.
Marshall

Ayse (Eye-Shay) Birsel, Yanki Yazgan, Esel Y. Cekin

I have had the honor of coaching five leaders who were considered the best CEO in America at the time. Although they were all truly great, none were perfect. Even more important, none pretended to be.

We can all improve. The most successful leaders I have worked with share one . They do not assume they have all the answers. Instead, they actively seek input from the people around them.

Stakeholder Centered Coaching is built on this belief. It begins with asking your key stakeholders for ideas on how you and the organization can get better. It continues with practicing feedforward: focusing on the future, not the past. And it requires a commitment to learning, over and over again.

Great leaders are not defined by perfection. They are defined by their willingness to grow.

If you cannot think of one thing you need to do better—pick humility.

Life is good.
Marshall

Forgiveness is very easy to talk about and very hard to practice.

Most of us want others to forgive us for our mistakes, our bad decisions, and our moments of weakness.

It can be much harder for us to extend that same grace to them.

One of the reasons forgiveness is so ten confuse it with approval. Forgiveness does not mean that what happened was acceptable. It means we choose not to let resentment control our lives.

This quote was inspired by ancient teaching from the Bhagavad Gita.

Thousands of years later, its message remains as powerful as ever.

Real courage is not always found on a battlefield.

Sometimes courage is found in a conversation.
Sometimes it is found in letting go of anger.
Sometimes it is found in choosing compassion when resentment would be easier.

Forgiveness may not change the past, but it can change the future.

Life is good.
Marshall

Please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai. Ask any question you like about leadership, coaching or life. I will do my best to give you ideas.

To a degree, we all wear masks - at work, at home and in life.

Is some cases, wearing a mask can be a good idea!

Not every battle is worth fighting. In many situations, laughing at a child’s joke, a partner’s comment, or even a boss’s weak humor can be wiser than offering an inful, critique.

The problem begins when the mask becomes our default.

Over time, we can lose touch with who we really are. We start performing instead of living. We adapt so well to what others expect that we forget what we think, what we feel, and what we believe.

Then one day, a deeper question emerges. Who am I?

If you have been wearing a mask for so long that you no longer notice it, it is time to look in the mirror and begin living your own life.

Life is good.
Marshall

Thank you Erica Dhawan, for this inspiration.

We often read stories where good people win. In the real world, that is not always the case.

I have met many good people and caring leaders whose companies did not make a lot of money.

I have also met people who were not so good people and not such good leaders, whose e.

Life is not always fair.

If your goal is to be a good person because it will guarantee money, you may be disappointed.

There is a deeper reason.

Being a good person is not about impressing the world. It is about living with yourself. It is about finding peace, meaning, and quiet pride in who you are, regardless of the outcome.

At the end of the day, you have to look at the person in the mirror.If you respect that person, you have already won.

Life is good.
Marshall

Please visit Marshall Goldsmith.ai and ask questions. It provides very 'in depth' answers.

Do you want your children to be happy? You go first!

Do you want the people you work with to be happy?
Do you want your neighbors to be happy?
Do you want the people you love to be happy?

You go first.

We spend so much time wishing happiness for others but we often forget wish ou want to inspire joy, be joyful. If you want to spread peace, be peaceful. If you want your children to grow up with confidence, let them see what confidence looks like in you.

Leading by example isn’t just about performance or success, it is about life.

Your happiness is not just good for you. It’s a gift to those who love you.

Life is good.
Marshall

Please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai and ask questions about leadership, coaching or life.

We often tell ourselves that we need to be "ready" before we begin.

We wait for the perfect time, the extra degree, more experience, or the feeling of complete confidence. Many of us are afraid of looking foolish, making mistakes, or being exposed as an imposter.

Yet growth stay inside our comfort zone.

As Pablo Picasso said, "I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."

You do not learn to swim by reading books about water. You learn by getting in the water. Competence does not come before action. Competence is the result of action.

Great leaders embrace the discomfort of "not yet." They understand that if they only do what they already know how to do, they will never become more than they are today.

The next time you hesitate because you feel unqualified, ask yourself, "Am I waiting for confidence, or am I willing to build confidence through effort?"

Life is good.
Marshall

It can be wonderful to solve problems and help others improve. Many successful people spend their lives doing exactly that.

If we are not careful, though, life can slowly become a series of “things to fix” with very few moments left for "things to enjoy."

There will always be r mistake. Another challenge. Another person who needs help.

That part of life never ends.

As Avery Shriner wisely reminds us, there is already so much that is right.

Look around. There are people to love. Moments to appreciate. Small joys to notice. Simple gifts we can easily overlook while focusing on what is missing.

Life is not meant to be one long repair project.

Life is short.
Enjoy it.
Marshall

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to know Suzie Bishop's grandfather, Dr. Paul Hersey, whose work changed leadership thinking around the world.

Today, I am proud to share Match, a book that Suzie and I created together.

The core message is simple: effective coaching r approach to the person, the opportunity, and the moment.

Thank you, Suzie, for your friendship, partnership, and commitment to helping people grow.

We are excited to share Match with the world, releasing November 10th.

Preorders are now open here: a.co/d/05eVTX99

Life is good.
Marshall
Note the orange shirt! Chester Elton

As affluence has increased in many parts of the world, so has depression and anxiety.

One reason is that many people spend too much time comparing themselves to others.

Social media and modern culture constantly encourage us to measure our lives against people we do not even ften presenting a carefully edited version of reality.

Wake up. Do your best. Then let go of the endless comparison game.

Most of the people you envy are not thinking about you at all. They are busy worrying about themselves.

Life is short.

You do not need to win someone else’s race.

Be yourself. Build the life that is meaningful to you. Appreciate your own gifts, your own timing, and your own journey.

The sun and the moon both shine brilliantly. Each in their own time and each in their own way.

Life is good.
Marshall