Alan C. Fox's Blog, page 9

Let me be clear.  I do own a pogo stick.  I do not own a dog.

This means that my title is factually incorrect even though it feels emotionally accurate.

I must admit that my pogo stick adventure is not my top priority. Also, I believe that I can do just about anything at the last minute and still be successful.  So this morning I wrestled my pogo stick away from my nonexistent dog (who was chewing on it), and asked Sprite to help me find my bicycle pump. I located my helmet and ankle protecto...

Since I suffer from the terminal condition of being a man, the best I can give you is my personal answer to this question, entirely from a male perspective.  I believe, however, that most women would reach a similar conclusion.

Who will say the words “I love you” first in a relationship?  I thought about this a lot when I was a teenager, and my answer then, as now, is simple.  I am willing to say it first, and, in so doing, I am willing to risk the possibility of rejection.

This is true even...

I’ve heard it said that “life is what happens while you’re making plans.”

As mentioned in a previous blog, I’ve received my new adult pogo stick, helmet, bicycle pump, and ankle braces.  I’ve taken everything out of their boxes. My daughter told me last week that I bought a pogo stick for her when she was a child, and while I’d like to believe that I remember everything accurately, I didn’t remember that.

When my pogo stick popped out of the cardboard box, there was a page of instructions att...

The photo is of my pogo stick and helmet.  More on that later.

As the author of five books (Three books in the People Tools series and two books for children – Benji and the 24 Pound Banana Squash, available now, and Benji and the Giant Kite, available this fall) I take words seriously and believe that we all should. Using the right word communicates your thoughts accurately to others and, more importantly, to yourself.

One of my pet word gripes is when someone asks me, “Are you sure?”

I know...

On my first trip on an airplane in the New Year I read an article about unusual workouts.  One man said that he uses a pogo stick for two to five minutes five times a day.

I remember pogo sticks from when I was a kid.  They were spring loaded and I could bounce about one foot high.  I had good balance and don’t remember ever hurting myself, but I never owned one so using a pogo stick was an infrequent treat.

You can imagine my surprise to read about the current state of the art.  Adult pogo s...

Even though a new year actually begins every single day of your life, most of us only pay attention to the New Year that begins on January 1st.

I’ve had too many experiences with resolutions that last only a week (or less), to expect that any New Year’s Resolution will be long lasting, especially if your list is a long one.  So, in addition to firmly resolving that you will read my blog each week, let’s all make only one more resolution this year. Let’s resolve to release our inner enthusiast...

I’m on vacation, living in the moment, as I have often advocated.

I wish everyone a happy holiday season, and I’ll be back on January 2nd with a blog for the New Year.

Love to all.

Alan

The post Living in the Moment – Is There Another Choice? appeared first on People Tools.

Last Saturday evening I was seated in the third row center at a Broadway play, “The Band’s Visit.”  Ten minutes before curtain I was catching up on the news, courtesy of my iPhone, when I felt someone push my right elbow into my side and forcefully take sole possession of our mutual armrest.

Out of my peripheral vision, I noticed a woman had invaded my space.

I have attended hundreds of plays, but I have never discussed this situation with anyone.  Maybe I’m unusually sensitive to the art of...

If you want to know a secret for living well and achieving greater success both personally and professionally, I have one simple and effective tool.

Add perceived value.

There were two candy stores across the street from an elementary school.  When a child ordered a quarter pound of candy from the first store, the employee filled the bag, then poured candy out of the bag until the weight was down to a quarter pound.

At the second store the employees were instructed to put a little candy into...

My absolute deadline for completing my blog each week is five pm when Lauren, who posts it on the website, leaves for the day. And yet, here I am at two pm just beginning to write.  So why did I start so late? I am always trying to understand my own process (as well as the process of everyone else). I like to know why people behave the way they do, perhaps because it makes them more predictable (and for that reason more safe). So here are some insights into my process:

Why did I start so late...