In December, we set goals; in January, we take steps towards them; in February, we go on a goal sabbatical; and in March, we say in December, we will set new goals. https://youtu.be/gGwLTeDC4q4?si=HxbTgP6-zmcwza1s What if, this time, we committed to setting one short-term goal per month for six months? Pick one short-term goal from each category below, identify a month you will complete it, and our brain will reward us with motivation and encouragement! Print this page and track your progress! Every goal you ever gave up on was partly because you didn't have a way to track progress or were no ..read more

At dinner, my wife was telling a story about her father. When she finished, my little one scooted closer, put her head on my shoulder, and said, “My daddy is this guy right here.”   NO. WORDS. Fourteen months ago, I became a first-time father. Not by traditional means, as my wife and I are unable to have children biologically. Still, these unfortunate circumstances ultimately led us to our tiny superhero, which is, quite simply, EVERYTHING.   I've learned having a child is similar to the plot of Mighty Pups. You think you are strong and can take on any challenge, but then a meteor cr ..read more

Two of my neighbors had a heated argument (Mark and Kevin). They were screaming so loud people began coming out of their homes to observe the interaction. Later that night, Mark (allegedly) went across the street and tossed a brick through the windshield of Kevin’s 1972 Ford Mustang Classic. A car that was passed down to Kevin after his father died. The conflict escalated until charges were made, resulting in Mark eventually moving. At the height of the incident, another neighbor approached me and said, “Can you believe what Mark is doing? He is really in the wrong. What do you ..read more

On November 20th, 2022, I thought I understood what it meant to be patient. Three hundred sixty-five days later, I am writing this blog with an understanding that patience is not just trusting the process; it's how you behave when it doesn't go your way. In this article, I will discuss 9 ways to add patience to your personality and explain how to manage your mind in the most emotionally challenging times. If you are impatient and wish to skip to the 9 WAYS, click here.   (Before reading any further, look at the clock and do not proceed until 1 minute has passed. Do not browse social medi ..read more

Speak4MC, LLC was created because of Motivational Interviewing (MI). Whether I was doing an unannounced visit at a client's home, presenting a performance improvement plan to staff, or de-escalating a 3-year-old on her third piece of Halloween candy, MI consistently proves to be the most potent approach to inspiring change.     Since creating Speak4MC in 2021, I have trained upwards of 10,000 professionals in person and virtually across 17 states. However, like any skill, the power of MI is dependent on the person's willingness to practice and improve in it. Thus, here are four remin ..read more

"I hate to blow my own horn, but I gave a lot of people fits" - Bo Jackson What is Motivational Interviewing? The 80% Rule ,What is the locus of controllability? ,The Importance of Self-Awareness and Locus of Control The Locus of Causality Locus of control quiz Undoubtedly, physical talent is part of the equation when achieving success in competition. One such example is Bo Jackson, the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major American sports and ran the fastest NFL 40-yard dash ever. Still, great teams have players who don't just settle for success; they have an unrelenting desire ..read more

“Bro. That must have been a heavy sock.” It is official. Today, I turned 39, and the milestone of turning 40 is approaching. This realization caused me to reflect upon a recent conversation. ,Friend: Are you going to the gym? ,Me: No, I strained my back pretty bad. ,Friend: What happened? ,Me: I reached down to pick up a sock. ,Friend: That must have been a heavy sock. ,Me: (Hangs up) At this moment, I discovered an essential lesson about stretching and socks. I also wondered how honest I should be with my friends moving forward. In the spirit of turning 39, let us delve into the ,39 lessons ..read more

“My best teammate?” McCoy said. “A guy like Mike Evans.” 12 years, four different organizations, and relationships with hundreds of players, yet when two-time Superbowl champion LeSean McCoy was asked about his best teammate, he said the following: ,,“My best teammate I’ve ever had — that doesn’t make him my best friend, but my best teammate — a guy like Mike Evans. This dude’s a great person,” McCoy said. “He buys stuff for the starters, buys for the practice squad, everybody. Holidays, Christmas gifts." Even though impressive, the praise didn't stop there: ",In the meetings, who wants the ba ..read more

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid." The question I have for you at this point of our journey together is, What is your genius?" – AE Affirmations, empowerment, and open-ended questions! Perhaps Albert Einstein was the first person ever to use Motivational Interviewing! ,What is Motivational Interviewing? ,The Importance of Achievement. ,MI and Staff Retention. ,Creating a Non-Judgemental Workplace. ,Giving Advice ,Respect ,Open-Ended Questions Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative co ..read more

“You were so preoccupied with whether or not you could; you didn’t stop to think if you should” – Ian Malcolm Jurassic Park. Have you ever watched a scary movie and then began hearing noises at night? After a tough breakup, is every song on the radio about heartache? Have you ever argued strongly about voting rights, marriage, immigration, etc., and then indulged in articles, new stories, and like-minded people who agree with your perspective? The good news is that you are normal. The bad news is that normal can get us in trouble. Thought experiment – Rate your agreeableness to each statem ..read more