
What I learned in Dubai, Part 4 – Borrow Brains
There are two million citizens in Dubai. Two million people would never be able to build what they have by themselves in such a short time. So they outsource the work. They get engineers, and workers and talent from all over the world to work on their projects. Right now…

What I learned in Dubai, Part 3 – Going big
The leaders in Dubai wanted to build a destination that would attract tourists so when they ran out of oil, they'd have a future. It's clear to me when seeing what they have done and continue to do, that they had a clear goal. In only 20 years they built…

What I learned in Dubai, part 2 – Leadership
When you look around and see success, you have to know it was no accident and it wasn't easy. It comes from the mind of man coupled with his sheer will and determination, with countless problems solved along the way. There were three leaders, called Sheiks, that have ruled since…

Who dressed you this morning?
People take you at your word for who you are. They are not going to argue with who you say you are. You say to the world who you are by how you dress (and groom).

What I learned in Dubai
Marie and I went to a couple of different places for our honeymoon. Dubai was one of them. I didn't know much about Dubai. I couldn't point to it on a map, didn't know if women needed to cover their faces, or if it was really safe. I had heard…

Today you will not be given anything.
Today you won't be given jack shit. No success or results will fall in your lap. You have to earn it. You have to take it. Go.

The people you meet…
Each person you meet teaches you something. They leave a part of themselves in you, good or bad, and you learn. Can you/do you make deliberate choices about who to be around? It matters - a lot.

Your biggest obstacle
The biggest obstacle to your growth is yourself. When you look in the mirror you are looking at your problem. The good news is that you are also looking at the solution. It's up to you.

Be responsible for yourself
People that do not take responsibility for their life, give it away to other people. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much. Take responsibility for your ambitions, goals, actions and results.

Give people exactly what you say you will – or…
Give people exactly what you say you will, or better. When they need someone they can rely on to help them, they will turn to you and you will get opportunities.

A red flag is a red flag
When someone shows you who they are, believe them. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Envision your future
Human beings are the only animals that can envision a future, and this ability is responsible for hope, optimism and most great advances in civilization. Are you using this ability well?

Wisdom
"Wisdom consists in the anticipation of consequences - and I remind you that consequences can be both good and bad." - Norman Cousins "The anticipation of consequences"....hmmmm... Think - What will be the consequences of your actions, short and long term?

Create value first
We aren't entitled to anything. Nothing is going to come to us unless we create value for someone else first. For the most part and at most times, the world will give us what we deserve.

The "Greats" are not great at everything
Great people have focused their time and energies at being great at one thing. They don't try to be great at everything. What one thing are you trying to be great at?

Good to Great
Good to Great is a business book I read many years ago. In it, the idea that "good is the enemy of great" is presented. The idea is that if something is bad in your life, it's easy to get rid of it, replace it, redo it, etc. The problem…

You need this to succeed
Recently I messed up. I had a week where I overdid it. Working, speaking/training events (I call them "uptime"), workouts. Not enough sleep or rest and catch-up time. One big day after another. After a week I felt sick. I knew this feeling. I wasn't sick, but my body was…

Only the virtuous can be free.
"No people who have lost their character have kept their liberties." If people do not obey laws, or if the require laws ......

Success builds on success
Learning one thing makes learning the next more meaningful. The more things you know, the easier it is to learn and to fill in some blanks on your own. Developing a good relationship with one person makes doing it again with the next easier. Eventually, you have so many good…
Hello from the Garden State. We have to add Dubai to our travel list!