There are some admirable things about the American work ethic. We see innovations on every front and a spirit that is always striving for new progress. The “American Dream” is still deeply imprinted on our collective psyche. We want to succeed, to forge our own paths and find wealth by our own terms.

I’ve seen a few disturbing posts recently, mostly on social media, but a few on BiggerPockets as well, where the posters are reacting almost with glee that we may finally be heading toward a dip in real estate so they can cash in on good deals.

Few things kill our motivation like failure. None of us like to fail. In fact, there’s a lot of psychology behind failure. It is demoralizing. It makes us feel as if our goals are unattainable, leads us to the self-sabotaging fear of failure, and skews our perception of our own abilities — among other things.

Leadership is an exercise in constant personal growth. There’s no doubt about it — leadership is a tough gig. I think in many ways we can idealize leadership — we see it as being at the top, being in control, and having influence over others. And while these things can be true, it’s an enormous misstep to believe that leadership is all roses. After all, as Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben taught us, with great power comes great responsibility.

Beginning a new venture is always a thrill. As with relationships, we go through a “honeymoon phase” where everything is new, exciting, and captivating. When that phase ends, however, we begin to see more clearly the trials and flaws. We fall into the monotony of routine. Falling out of love, well. It happens.

I haven’t kept my love for podcasts secret. As much as I love to read, I also struggle to find the time to sit down and do it. For me, the popularity of podcasts has made my commute and travels more enriching. Not only do they pass the time when you’re trapped in traffic, but they enrich the mind.

There are few people who would say that they like criticism. We claim to like and appreciate feedback, but even that can sting. We find ourselves putting up walls to rebuff the things that we would rather not hear. In leadership, the ability to process and utilize criticism is so necessary.

“It’s in my genes,” is something we hear from time to time. Whether it’s part of a bad pun or referring to your predisposition for certain habits, we blame our genes for a lot of things. What if you knew you could change your genes and beat some of the natural risks in your world?

An entrepreneurial mind — even for non-entrepreneurs — has become one of the most coveted qualities in the business world. Even those of us who never intend to strike out on our own with a company, product, or idea, are all encouraged to have the same mindset. But what exactly does that mean? Why is it so important not only for professional success but in leadership?

All of us wish we could get more done in the day — I know I do. It seems like we always need more time to check off our to-do list. Something I’ve learned over the years is that so much of our problem isn’t having too much to do (though there are undeniable seasons of busyness that get in the way), it’s that we are ineffective in how we do it.

Do you consider yourself a confident person?

Psychology Today defines confidence as “how strongly you believe in your capabilities to learn new skills, perform at a certain level, attain a goal, or achieve your own definition of success." 

Sometimes it only takes a small change to up your game. I’ve been an endurance runner for some time now, and I will tell you from experience that the smallest adjustments can mean the difference between an okay race and a great one. When training, little adjustments can make the biggest difference for me in the long-term.

Because we live in a world of constant discovery, fluctuating fads, and corporate agendas, it can be difficult to effectively manage your health and nutrition. So many of today’s diets neglect sustainable, well-rounded nutrition and focus on short-term results. This isn’t to say that all dietary lifestyles (and even temporary diets) are bad. It is to say that the underlying nutritional values in your diet are what really matter.

Many of us dread quarterly and yearly performance reviews. That said, they’re often necessary to identify areas of growth and strength as well as what we need to work on. We’re all made up of strengths and flaws, and identifying and dealing with these personal characteristics transforms us into better leaders and more productive, effective employees and entrepreneurs. 

There is absolutely no doubt that leaders are in a stressful position. Stress can be beneficial in small doses, but an overwhelming amount of stress can negatively impact our physical and mental health. Insomnia, depression, anxiety, appetite changes, and digestion issues...the list doesn’t end there. While we may thrive with a reasonable amount of stress injected into our daily lives, what do we do when that stress proves too much to handle healthily?

Billionaire executive and leader Sheryl Sandberg is quoted as saying,

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence."

This quote seems to stand in contrast to the wisdom of the day that asserts that we can’t make people change. Of course, this is usually in reference to romantic relationships and not necessarily to business ones. However, I think we’re all aware that interpersonal conflicts with others are a primary source of strife in our lives.

We’re well into the first month of 2020 and I must say — never have I felt such optimism and apprehension towards the future all at once. For me, I prefer to focus on the things in my life that I can change rather than those that I can’t. The first thing I think of outside of my role as a partner with REI Nation is my health and fitness.

No matter what industry you’re in, there are power dynamics at play. It’s true of me, it’s true of you. Power dynamics — sometimes understood as workplace politics — are not always a bad thing. However, they can be unhealthy. After all, they’re the unspoken rules about communication and interaction in the workplace. 

In the past few decades, open office spaces have grown in popularity. Be it Google or Facebook, companies all over the world have been looking to tech giants and start-up pioneers for crafting the most effective workspaces.

As an entrepreneur and partner in my family’s real estate investment company, I’ve seen business done in different ways, good and bad, through the years. My own experiences in every job, every career, have taught me a lot about what it takes to succeed. It’s easy to look at me and see only the success and not the hard work that brought me to where I am now. (And make no mistake — I’m still working hard!)