For almost 3 months I have been eating a 90% vegan diet. I feel pretty great. I’m finding that I have so much more energy, my mood is consistently good, I haven’t gotten sick even though I’ve been surrounded by people with the flu, AND I weigh less today than I’ve weighed since I was about 19 years old.

I share this with you not to brag – but rather because, for me, this has been a pretty significant breakthrough that I think brings lessons I can apply to other areas of my life. For as long as I can really remember, certainly since high school, I have struggled with food and maintaining a healthy diet. For years I have known that I wasn’t eating particularly well – but dealing with it in any sort of lasting and meaningful way – has always seemed more than a little bit overwhelming. At least twice a year, I’ve discovered a new book at Barnes & Nobles, with the latest low carb or high protein or food combining “solution,” and have convinced myself that finally THIS is the diet I am going to follow. THIS one will be the answer to those extra pounds. THIS time I’m going to stick with it. I get started with a vengeance, making lists, hitting the grocery store, sorting through new recipes. And time after time, usually in less than a month, one day “off the diet” turns into 3 days, which turns into a full week…you get the picture. Read more »

Recently I went through a challenging time when a business associate that I very much respect, felt that my ethics had been lacking in the way I had handled a particular situation. This caused me an enormous amount of anxiety and upset because my integrity is probably the thing on which I place the  most value as a business owner. Having that called into question will never be something I would take lightly.

I spent a great deal of time in thought about the whole situation. I turned to other business colleagues asking for their honest opinions about what had occurred. In the end, I absolutely accept that mistakes were made on my part AND can honestly say that I fundamentally disagree with the accusation that my actions, at their core, were in any way unethical.

At the end of the day, as painful a time as this was, I think it raised an important question that we must all address as business owners: How much are you thinking about business ethics? The truth is that the more your business grows – the more you will face decisions about the “right” way to handle things. Read more »

Imagine this.  You want to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle.  You are serious about it and you are pumped.  You are going to exercise and eat nutritious foods.  Yet day after day you are surrounded by people who hang out in front of the television eating pizza, chips, and ice cream.  They complain all of the time about not having any energy and feeling lousy, but they never do anything about it.  How successful do you really believe you are going to be unless you change your environment? Read more »