Brandon couldn’t see over the table. He wheeled himself over to a lower table in the store and asked me to bring my computer over there. I complied but wondered how he was going to work on my computer when he has very little use of his hands and fingers. As I talked with Brandon, I learned that he was working toward a leadership role in the company. He demonstrated strong people skills and was incredibly effective at diagnosing my computer problems. He had adapted so that his environment and physical limitations were no longer impossible obstacles but were assets that he used to pursue his goal of becoming a manager.

He looked at me and said, “I don’t care”. My friend and I were discussing things that were very important to him, but as we talked, he would call out things things that came up that just did not matter to him. He went on to say, “I can’t care about things that are not a priority. If I care about everything, I then can focus on nothing.”

It’s one of the most important ingredients in a growing and successful relationship. It is also the most neglected attribute in many relationships. I’m referring to the ability to actually hear one another. Many times we may think we are listening, but in reality, we are not. To actually hear someone, we must intentionally focus and lean into what that person is saying as well as how they are communicating.

Diversity. What just came to your mind when you read that word? It’s easy to forget that diversity is the backbone of our nation of immigrants. We are a melting pot of people who come from a range of ethnicities, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds. We know that our differences expand our opportunities and deepen our understanding. We know that when we stand together, our differences make us stronger.

When I met him, he was a young teenage boy searching for something. He knew he wanted to be different from what he had seen and experienced in his life so far. His journey has not been an easy one; to say that he has faced adversity in his life would be an understatement. He has walked through the fire of tribulation not once, but many times. Each time, he could have given up. He could have joined the chorus of people who cave to the truth that life is not fair — certainly, life has not been fair for him. He could have quit trying to achieve his goals, and he could have stopped striving for more.

He chose another path. 

Here we go again. It’s the New Year and with it comes tons of aspirational and idealistic resolutions, goals, and plans… and, if history is any indicator, most of these hopeful New Year's resolutions will be completely abandoned within a few months. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with setting goals. We all need a target to shoot towards. The problem is that we do not know how to fail. In fact, the difference between achieving our goals and not is the ability to fail well.

I invite you to listen to this year-end edition of our Crossing The Line podcast. In this episode, I reflected on the interviews that we conducted throughout 2023. I was amazed at the nuggets of truth and wisdom that came from each guest. This short podcast is one great way to think back on your past year. Take a moment and listen and reflect.

The holiday season is here again. With it comes all kinds of celebrations and gatherings. As a society, we collectively participate in the rush toward the end of December when we are supposed to slow down, gather with friends and family, and… do what? The answer to that question is different for everyone. It means something different from family to family and from person to person.

It was the basketball playoffs for a small college team. The winner of this game would play for a championship. The team was down by one point, and as the clock ran out, the guard took a last-second shot. The shot was off-target, and the team lost the game. At the press conference, the young man who missed the final shot was devastated as tears ran down his cheeks.

I learned a valuable relationship hack recently. It is something that I can use immediately with others in my life. It’s called the “yes, and...” rule. It requires strong listening and then taking a conversational route that might not be comfortable for you. Instead of defending or justifying your behavior during a conversation, listen and then respond with, “Yes, and...”. You will be shocked at how this can improve your communication skills.

Our parents (the eldest living generation in our family) have demonstrated what it means to be a family. They are not perfect, and we have, at times, learned what not to do, but the vast majority of their past experiences have been valuable examples of how to love one another. These senior adults have consistently been there for one another. When one experiences a difficulty, the other siblings step up to support and love. This looks like staying with their sibling in the hospital when needed, offering emotional support, consistent phone calls to check on each other, and offering unconditional, non-judgmental (most of the time) care for each other. Most importantly, it means always being there for one another.

I challenge you to try something different this year. Be a thanksgiving blessing for someone else. Instead of the normal routine of thinking about all that you have to be thankful for, create a reason for someone else to be thankful.

I have a pet peeve. I hate it when someone complains about something and then refuses to do anything about it. That victim mentality drives me crazy.

Steve Riat was in a situation where he could have become a victim. He refused. Instead when he wanted to change his predicament, he looked for action that he could take to improve his circumstances. In this case, it meant walking across a parking lot to find a new opportunity that would change his direction.

I don’t fully understand. I can’t. While I have relatives who have served our country in times of war and peace, I have never served in the military. That’s why I can never fully understand the cost, the sacrifice, and the commitment our veterans give to make sure that we live in a democratic and free America. I do know that it is a lifelong decision. The love of our country, the willingness to defend her with their lives, the honor of fighting for our flag, and our freedom never dies.

Last week we sent out Part One of the conversation. Today, we drop the rest of his story. Mosheh knew things were not where he needed them to be both professionally and personally. He made a bold decision to do something about it. He started a new venture, a podcast called Mo News. It now has over a million viewers/listeners and is truly disrupting the news media arena.

Mosheh has found great success in the news reporting world. He is an Emmy, Murrow and Webby Award-winning Executive Producer and has led teams at Fox News, Bloomberg TV, CNBC ad CBS News. Recently, Mosheh has founded a ground breaking news podcast that reaches millions of listeners.

Those who possess a high level of empathy are rare. Kay is one of those rare individuals. She is in her mid-seventies but she has the energy of someone who is much younger.

I knew we needed to change. What we were doing was simply not working. The problem was that I did not want to deal with the disruption that the change would cause. So I did nothing.

The discipline to persevere and the determination to do the hard work are essential ingredients for relationships and life. There are no “3 keys to success” or “6 quick steps for instant growth”.

It hit me like a punch in gut. I went through a range of emotions: shocked, angry, scared