The simplest conversation habit that no one taught you

My wise friend Dr. Rebecca Heiss recommends developing the habit of saying "yes, and…"

Psychologically, when someone compliments you (for example) and says "but…" whatever you say next is what you'll remember. Everything before "but" will be meaningless.

It doesn't seem like a significant difference until you use it or hear it used in conversation.

Surprisingly simple hack that saves lives and businesses

I use a checklist to manage month-end accounting for my business. I physically check off each item before moving to the next. Accounting mistakes can be costly.

A remarkable study where medical staff across dozens of hospitals worldwide adhered to a 12-point checklist before performing surgeries. It resulted in a 50% drop in fatalities! Healthcare mistakes cost lives. NASA astronauts use checklists before launching into space.

This isn't a very sexy productivity or effectiveness tip. But if it's good enough for surgeons and NASA, it'll probably work for you and me.

Travel? Morning routines and other rituals? What critically important but repetitive tasks do you have a checklist for?

Our digital world: choice over blame

We often blame the digital world, with endless notifications and feeds, for our constant distractions. But complaining about a drama-filled social feed or constant phone notifications overlooks our power in choosing our digital connections and what our phones display.

It's our responsibility to use any invaluable technology wisely, learning to leverage the benefits for our growth and well-being, and when to disconnect completely.

The content we see is a reflection of our curated choices.