Articles by Jim L. Smith

Defending new ieas against defensive reactions and resentment.

You already know what it's like to be you from the inside. Think for a moment how it would be to encounter you from the outside.

Perfectionists will try to tell you that their relentless standards drive them to levels of productivity and excellence that they could not otherwise attain. But often just the opposite is true.

If there is nothing we are striving for, nothing we really want to accomplish or change, life becomes stale and we become complacent. When this happens, we lose creative energy and drive, and we flatten out.

Chances are you can work far more effectively than you are and move yourself into an upward trend.

Use your talents to move the goals of the organization forward.

If you want to form a lasting relationship with someone, start by being basically happy with whom he or she is.

Success means getting to do what you really want to do in your personal life, and in your professional life, doing it very well, and feeling satisfied about how you're doing it.

What did I learn after all these years of listening, observing and studying? I discovered the one thing that is most needed for success comes down to one word.

Sometimes, when you are committed to personal growth and positive change, family members or close friends will do everything they can to try and get you to change back to the way you were---even when the way you were was below your expectations or desires.