It seems like every time I go to Costco, someone makes me feel better.

Costco workers largely love their jobs, benefits and how they are treated by management.

They feel fortunate to have their jobs which is why few of them are quitting even though so many people are using the pandemic to look for something else.

I needed help putting nitrogen in the tires of my SUV and not only did I get it but learned a few things I didn’t know.

As is store policy, the employee wouldn’t take a tip because I wanted to pay him for making my day brighter.

Even in tough times, one happy person can make a difference.

The morning host on the radio or the supervisor for whom you work.

No matter how bad things get, positive people who are happy with where they are in life can lift others up.

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When you are hell bent to accomplish the most important goal of your life, be careful.

It’s easy to see that goal so much that you miss current opportunities to climb the ladder to success.

It’s the challenge that presents itself now that is the most important goal.

Conquer that and the next one comes along.

Passionately chasing future goals is ambition.

Pursuing the chances you have right now – these are the steps toward the big one.

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“But enough about me, let’s talk about you… what do you think of me?” – Bette Midler in Beaches: The Movie

How many people have asked about you today and, if they did, actually listened?

I thought of this in the last few days when I was asked a question and when I went to answer, the questioner answered it for me – not uncommon for our over-connected world.

The awesome power of listening is available to us as soon as this very day to unlock the humanity in others – to show you care, to make them addicted to being with you.

Talking in terms of the other person’s interest is what makes you a leader, a compelling figure and even a good conversationalist.

Dale Carnegie pointed out in How to Win Friends that ironically you have a better chance of being perceived as a good conversationalist by not talking so much and instead asking questions.

Close this email, and try it – let me know.

It’s hard to ask people to believe in us when we don’t believe in ourselves.

That’s how critical self-confidence is.

And the thing about believing is that it is not a warm and fuzzy feeling, it’s a cold, hard decision.

You decide – this is worth 100% of my personal investment.

Athletes are trained and coached to believe they can accomplish personal and team goals.

The least surprised person in the room when you achieve your goal should be you.

Everyone else is invited to buy in later.

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20% of workers in the private sector do not have paid vacation according to the Department of Labor.

More than half of us do not use all our paid time off according to an Ipsos/Oxford survey because it is seen as career threatening.

While pauses help, disconnection is the better.

Get away from email, Slack and being moments from being drawn back into work.

The restorative benefits of vacationing last only 2-4 weeks after returning to work.

Some companies are shutting down completely for periods of time so as to help workers totally disconnect.

Hard work is not the virtue it used to be in a world where we cannot easily disconnect.

Take all the time you can.

Leave work behind and disconnect from mail and social media.

Return by slowly resuming a full schedule.

NOTE:  Cheryl and I are going to take a few days off to recharge our batteries before NYU resumes in-person classes again in a few weeks and the media industry revs up to end a challenging year.  This seemed like a good time.  See you in a few days — Monday August 23.

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Between 2012 and 2019, the rates for teenage depression, loneliness, suicide and self-harm rose sharply.

Then the isolation of the pandemic with those born after 1996 feeling it the most.

NYU Professor Jonathan Haidt and San Diego State professor Jean Twenge have a tough love answer few will like but apparently everyone will need – this is directed toward kids but easily applies to adults who are feeling the anxiety.

Take long periods each day away from the distraction of digital devices.

Concentrate on not just being present but being fully focused for long periods of time.

Be cautious of social media, the great attention black hole for adults as well.

There are consequences to too much screen time and parents are as reluctant to come down hard on their kids to balance reality with virtual reality as they are to abide by the same steps themselves.

There is a tie-in between smartphones and the anxiety of distraction and fear of missing out.

Switch back to in-person socialization – read The Smartphone Trap here.

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Now we hear that employees who prefer or need to work from home may face a type of bias that could leave them behind.

In one study, the at-home workers were half as likely as their office counterparts to get a promotion – and promotions often mean raises so there is a hidden economic danger.

By the way, that was true even though the remote workers were 13% more productive making more calls per minute in their travel agency jobs and taking fewer breaks.

As we return to work, remote bias is a challenge that will have to be faced.

Virtual facetime will be even more important.

Finding ways to be present in person may be helpful.

To avoid the stress that will surely come from working at home at a disadvantage to those returning to the office, a plan to compensate for distance by making yourself more familiar is a sensible step.

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Being in the wrong headspace is a bad time for taking on challenges.

It’s better to listen to yourself and step back.

That’s what Simone Biles did in the Olympics – she battled inner voices that robbed her of her usual confidence and knew enough to take a time out.

Same for the rest of us.

Handling problems at work or personal pow-wows are not worth the mistakes that could be made by not being fully mentally available to participate.

This is an advantage not a shortcoming.

Former Olympic athlete Shannon Miller nailed it:

“We have to pay close attention to ourselves to notice those clues that something doesn’t quite feel right, and then take appropriate action to get the care and support we need.”

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Ron Popeil died recently after decades of pitching dehydrators, veggie slicers and the Pocket Fisherman.

I was always enthralled watching and listening to him – can’t tell you how many times I saw the same infomercial over and over and now I know why.

Of course, his ability to always be closing and making products I never bought sound appealing and affordable – but it was the line “But wait, there’s more!” that I craved.

That is what we all want to hear.

More to his offer, of course but more to our lives, more to our relationships, more to our careers – when there is the expectation of more, we can always find a way to stay motivated.

When you believe there is always more, you have hope and we humans do not do well without hope.

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American runner Isaiah Jewett’s act of friendship after he was accidentally tripped by Botswana’s Nijel Amos was deserving of a gold medal for sportsmanship.

An inadvertent accident after years of training for the men’s 800-meter event left Jewett understandably angry but he got up, helped Amos to his feet, continued the race where Amos let Jewett finish next to last – Amos was last.

“I learned from all the superhero animations I watch, regardless of how mad you are, you have to be a hero at the end of the day. That was my version of trying to be a hero.”

Sometimes losing is winning.

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