Even a half-century removed, the memories are vivid for Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy. As a 12-year-old, he was sitting in his childhood living room, in the small automotive town of Jackson, Michigan, watching the 1968 Summer Olympics with his father, Wilbur. American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos were on the…
Few NFL coaches have ever been considered more of a role model than Tony Dungy. At 25 and 28 years old, respectively, Dungy was the youngest assistant coach and coordinator in league history. His career winning percentage (.668) as a head coach is second to only Bill Belichick for those coaching at least 100 games…
We are told from a very early age that we shouldn’t ignore our problems. As a happiness researcher, though, I disagree. You absolutely should avoid the things that are bothering you—temporarily, at least. Contrary to popular misconceptions, taking time away from your problems may actually help you reap one of the greatest competitive advantages that…
Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year in the U.S., with more than 116 million people hitting the shops in search of a great deal. But REI, an outdoor clothing and equipment brand, does Black Friday differently to other retailers. For the fourth year in a row, REI closed its doors on…
No one enjoys stress. Managers of distressed teams scramble to lead their worn-out employees and struggle to keep their companies productive. Not all stress is bad, though. Eustress, unlike distress, describes psychological discomfort that’s beneficial to the person dealing with it. According to Alia and Thomas Crum on Harvard Business Review, people who learn to…
“Being busy means doing stuff, but being productive means getting stuff done.” Wiser words may never have been spoken, despite the anonymous origins of that inspirational quote. As a leader, I believe it more than ever—although I did not fully understand it early in my career. In fact, I spent years trying different strategies aimed at maximizing…
The News Feed is one of Facebook’s marque innovations. Rolled out to users in 2006, it became the go-to place for people to connect with their friends, share updates about their day-to-day life and enjoy content from brands they followed. Not to mention, it also played a pivotal role in Facebook’s march to advertising dominance.…
Even high achievers can end up procrastinating important tasks when they feel overwhelmed and stressed. Although urging yourself to just take action may sound like a good solution, it’s a little like telling a sad person to “just cheer up.” What you need instead is a specific process that works with your psychology as opposed…
I don’t know anyone who couldn’t use a little boost in their energy and self-control. Researchers at the University of Nottingham recently published findings from their exploration of 83 separate studies on energy and self-control. What they found will change the way you start your day. The researchers found that self-control and energy are not…
They fall to the dance floor during sha-la-la, tumbling backward on middle-aged spines and kicking their legs like waterbugs. There are five of them, all in their 40s and able-bodied, surrounded by an audience of kids in specialized wheelchairs. It’s the first week of summer and the last week of June, the week they’ve kept…