Posts by Robert Ringer
The Power of the Leapfrog Theory
Whether it’s a career decision or how to handle a one-off problem, listening to too many opinions can be financially fatal. Every industry has its Discouragement Fraternity — people who go to great lengths to try to convince you that you can’t make it in their field. Because of their own insecurity, they are prepared…
Read MoreWhy Looking Out for Number One Is Noble
Over the years, I’ve taken a lot of flak — especially from the media — for the title of my New York Times #1 bestseller Looking Out for #1. As near as I’ve been able to tell, however, those who have been the most offended by the title never took the trouble to actually read…
Read MoreThe Crux of the Issue
By crux of the issue, I’m referring to the point or points upon which success or failure rests. It’s important to resist the temptation to get sidetracked by peripheral issues that cannot yield a payoff no matter what their outcome. I believe that the reason so many people are late for appointments and events is…
Read MoreThe Missing Ingredient in a Meaningful Life
Happiness has been defined in myriad ways over the centuries by some of the world’s greatest thinkers. Aristotle described happiness as a condition rather than a destination. Ralph Waldo Emerson referred to it as a journey. But I think Viktor Frankl got to the heart of the matter even better when he explained that if…
Read MoreReality VS Your Perception of Reality
Trying to make it through life without a solid grasp of reality is like stumbling around in a dark room laden with land mines.
Read MoreYour Pursuit In Life
By dictionary definition, joy is “an emotion of great happiness.” I would be tempted to refer to it as ultimate happiness, but there is no accurate way to quantify either happiness or joy. The truth is that none of us can ever be certain of what constitutes ultimate happiness. Whatever it is, joy seems to…
Read MoreThe Truth About Your Problems
Some years ago, while on a nationwide seminar tour, I happened to be staying overnight in Houston. After a particularly tiring, stressful day, I made an appointment for a massage at the health spa in the hotel where I was staying. By the time my appointment rolled around, I was in a pretty gruff mood…
Read MoreLeading a Low-Stress Life by Living Right
The foundation for handling sadness and misfortune, and thus for leading a low-stress life, is what I like to refer to as “living right.” What I mean by that is consistently being conscious of, and vigilant about, trying to make good choices. We all desire love, understanding, and recognition, but those things aren’t foundational to…
Read MoreWhy You Must Expand Your Mind
Motivational speakers and authors have long insisted that it’s possible to exert a great deal of control over your destiny by having a positive outlook on life. Even though problems are an integral part of the living experience, they believe that the key to success is how you react to those problems. So, are they…
Read MoreDealing with Changes in Your Life
If you’re a mature adult, you already know that to accomplish anything worthwhile in life takes effort. Nevertheless, millions of people seem incapable of grasping this self-evident truth. It’s as though they’ve never heard of Murphy’s Law: Nothing is as easy as it looks, Everything takes longer than you expect, And if anything can go…
Read MoreThe Friend That Will Never Leave You
Human beings have debated the ultimate purpose of life throughout recorded history. If one wanted to participate in this debate, he could make a persuasive argument that the ultimate purpose of life is to search for truth. I say search rather than find, because to find truth in the broadest sense of the word would…
Read MoreWhy The Best Day Is Today
There are two basic kinds of actions. One is proaction, which puts you on the offensive and gives you a great deal of control over events. The other is reaction, which puts you on the defensive and relegates you to an inherent position of weakness. An interesting way of looking at inaction is that it’s…
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