SICK ALL THE WAY AROUND?

Well, I hope you weren't expecting anything tantalizing based on my title above. It basically refers to the fact that I am physically sick at the moment, and it's telling to observe in myself how that affects mental capacity. (Unfortunately though, I really can't afford much diminishment there!) If you want a fascinating read, check out The Ultramind Solution by Mark Hyman, M.D. It is an amazing work on the interconnectivity between your brain and your body.

In the book, Dr. Hyman posthulates in great scientific detail how ineffective it is to attack mental disorders with medicines aimed at the brain alone, when often the diagnosis is related to something much larger out of balance in the body as a whole.

As you diagnose problems you have to face in your business, how wholistic are you? Do you focus in on a specific issue without regard for perhaps a much larger, hidden, systemic issue that could be stalking your business?

Be wholistic in business...even if you just take a pill for your body...

THERE'S A TRACTOR WAITING FOR YOU TOO...

With The Masters starting in Augusta in less than 36 hours, my thoughts are definitley on golf much of the day lately. That's not to say there aren't some great lessons you can take from that game and apply to business and life. You could write books (as some have) just on that subject.

One is standing out to me right now though. When Arnold Palmer left the family farm to pursue his career on the links, his father had some very simple advice..."When you go, do what you know how to do, and when you need me call me."

Pretty good leadership stuff from a farmer in Latrobe, PA. And then he added something brilliant... "If you listen to everyone's advice, I'll keep the tractor here in Latrobe for you." Arnold took that funny swing of his and his super-aggressive style and became a legend.

I don't know what your "tractor" is, or where your "Latrobe" is. But, if you don't heed the lesson of Arnold's dad, you'll be headed somewhere you don't want to go. Do what you know, call very few people when you need help. Don't listen to everyone.

YOU HAVE TWO BRAINS...SO USE THEM...

My wife runs our small real estate business. (Who would have thought a year ago we'd be happy to have more in real estate than in stocks!?!) We have a renter who texted us late tonight to make sure we received her rent check--which we haven't. She put it in her outgoing mail bin at work---despite a gut feeling saying she shouldn't.

It's not an uncommon problem. In their book Judgment: How Winning Leaders Make Great Calls, Noel M. Tichy and Warren G. Bennis lay out a stark insight about leaders they have studied at the highest levels. Most of them make their worst decisions when they don't trust their gut.

There's a good reason for that. Your digestive system encompasses your enteric nervous system...which has actually been called your second brain. If you want see some of the science behind it, you can check out http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/23/health/23gut.html?pagewanted=all.

If you want to make good decisions without the science, just make sure you listen to what your brain(s) are telling you!

CAREFUL STOMPING THE BUMPER

As I was driving down the freeway recently, I observed a small 2-car fender-bender on the side of the road. There was a State Trooper there with the accident, which was so minor, the traffic on the busy freeway wasn't even slowed by it. The car that took the brunt of the damage had its rear 5-mph-impact bumper mostly hanging off the car. The Trooper was kicking at it to get it all of the way off, so the owner of the car could just drive away and not face a costly tow.

Great idea...except it almost caused a disaster...

When the Trooper stomped it all the way off, one edge hit the ground and somersaulted the whole detached bumper over....right into the freeway-speed traffic! A Honda Accord swerved hard left to avoid it, barely missing me. I had to jam my brakes...and thankfully nobody was close on my tail. So aside, from some seriously puckered adrenal glands, no harm no foul. But it was close!

It made me thing of how fixated we can get on a point problem, have good intentions, work hard to solve it...and in the process, blow up something much bigger.

Don't "Stomp the Bumper" unless you know where it is going to wind up!

IS IT ALL ABOUT "I"?

How many of the paragraphs in your emails start with "I"?

Of course, if you have that many paragraphs in an email, you might need to pick up the phone...