What’s On Your Mind?

Mind your mind. Studies have indicated that negative predictions about an experience are far more likely to come true than positive predictions because negative thoughts are seven times more powerful than positive ones.

This means that to override any negative thought or expression you produce, it takes seven positive thoughts just to break even. Think about that.

A Poverty of Ambition

“Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself.”

–Barack Obama, Knox College Commencement Address 2005

Even after hearing the phrase “dream big” 3,297,391 times (or more) over the course of their life, most people still don’t get it.

“Don’t rock the boat.”

“Better safe than sorry.”

“A bird in the hand beats two in the bush.”

These timeless maxims are sage advice. When taken to the extreme, however, they create a certain poverty of ambition.

What The Ancient Egyptians Said About Public Speaking

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers the number one skill across the board that employers are looking for is the ability to communicate effectively.

Suggested Reading:

Public Speaking Tips
Soft Skills – Why all the fuss?

A Lesson On Mastering the Lesson

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

—Frederick Douglass

Do you find that you struggle with the same things over and over again? If so, you haven’t mastered the lesson in the struggle.

You probably already know that in life, lessons repeat themselves until you…

Smart People vs. Wise People

Smart people learn from their mistakes; wise people learn from the mistakes of others. Learning from the mistakes and experiences of others will greatly accelerate your progress. It will also save you a boatload of time and money.

Suggested Reading:A Lesson on Mastering the Lesson

Inside The Mind Of Anthony L. Harris

“There’s a leader, but everyone has an important role.”

–Anthony Harris

It is rare to find a student that is as committed to the success of his fellow students as he is to his own success. Most students are boggled down with taking care of the academic and personal challenges that matter most—their own. Anthony L. Harris, however, is an entirely different story.

From his days as a freshman at the University of Louisville in ’01-‘02 to receiving his master’s degree in education in May of ’08, two things consistently remain on Harris’ mind: student success and student retention.

Through program development or the daunting task of being a founding member, Harris has played a crucial role in the success of organizations such as Under Graduate Students Helping to Recruit (USHR), Collegiate 100 (a division of 100 Black Men of America), Think College Now, the Graduate Association for Professionals in Student Affairs (GAPSA), and the Student African-American Brotherhood (SAAB).

I’ll let the man himself tell you more about what’s going on inside the mind of Anthony L. Harris.

Inside The Mind Of Alicia English

“It’s not what you’re called it’s what you answer to. You have to set the standards of what you’re going to accept for yourself.”

–Alicia English

I spend a lot of time challenging young people; challenging them to grow; challenging them to elevate their thinking. Recently, a young lady turned the tables on me.

I was just beginning a session on the power of networking when Alicia English—a senior marketing major at Alabama A&M University and President of Phi Beta Lambda Business Fraternity, Inc.—walked in. All of the students were paired up and were preparing to play my networking game.

As the students began to play I introduced myself to Alicia and told her what the other students were doing. She was eager to play but she didn’t have a partner. So what does she do? She walks right up to the front of the room and says, “I’m your partner, Mr. Duncan. Let’s see how well you do at your own game.”

What nerve. But of course, a brother had to represent. So I accepted. Alicia has excellent networking skills. She was great at the game. What about me?

We’ll talk about that in a second. So, let’s find out what’s inside the mind of this powerful young lady.