With your career in full swing, you’re busy, you’re running around all over the country, sometimes, all over the world, your schedule is ridiculously unpredictable. One moment you’re totally excited, the next, you’re nervous and stressed out, the next, you’re catching up on sleep, the next, “Wait, what city am I in? What time zone is it?”

When you finally get a moment of actual FREE time, you want to connect with your friends and family. You want to share your highs and lows with them. But if you call them now, they’re at work. Or asleep. Or, huh? You got them on the phone, but they don’t really seem that interested in what you have to say! In fact, they actually sound irritated with you—and while you want to tell them all about this amazing experience you’ve just had, they want to talk about their job that’s exactly the same as the last time you talked to them? The silly thing their kids just did? The dog?

Wha????

What happened to your number one supporter? Why are they so annoyed? Don’t they GET that this is what you’ve worked all your life for and you want to share it with them?

The problem? Your friendship just became one-sided…

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I’m sure you’ve heard the (supposedly) motivational words, Failure Is Not An Option , as a way to inspire people to do great things. It makes great ad copy when selling sneakers or gatorade, and it ALWAYS makes for stirring interviews when people like Donald Trump, Olympic gold medalists, and award winners from every walk of life say it.

The Failure Is Not An Option perspective is a state of mind that can be extremely useful in helping us to keep moving forward no matter what setbacks come our way. But it can also do the EXACT OPPOSITE…

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Charitable giving must be in the air. Last night, a colleague and I were talking about one of the main benefits of earning lots and lots of money was how fun it would be to give a whole lot of it away. Then, this morning, I received an article about an award a friend received for her extensive charitable giving in the town where she lives. (more…)

Do you find yourself saying “Mmmmm!” to a mouthful of beluga when the truth is, you think little bumps of salty water exploding in your mouth are kind of gross? Playing golf or watching polo when you still can’t figure out why people seem to like the sports so much?

One of the biggest challenges some people face when they’re thrust into the world of money, power, and prestige is the social pressure (real or perceived) to act and look “Affluent.” You know, you’re invited to the big charity event and everyone is going on and on about the expensive wines and you haven’t the vaguest idea what the big deal is, yet, you find yourself sipping it and nodding in agreement with them so they don’t think you’re stupid? (more…)