I have not met a single person in my life who has not experienced stress at least ONCE in their life! So, when I meet with clients and executives who are stressed out, there are a few basic tips we go back to when we are bubbling over due to the demands of life and work.

I am quite certain there are many more than just 4 lessons we can all learn from those who have lived over 80 years. Recently, my mother had to undergo a hip replacement, and though she has not sailed through the experience, she continues to teach through her actions how to embrace and meet challenges head on. These 4 lessons are applicable to each of us – every day – with the routine challenges in life

This week, I am featuring a guest blog post from Adrian Wood, VP Business Development for Shadowmatch USA. Adrian discusses the concept of “servant leadership” in growing companies and the difference it makes for managers and companies that are trying to scale their teams and organizations.

Recently there was an interesting article in TIME referencing characteristics of value in other people. The results were fascinating, and perhaps hold the key to our future – as individual leaders and in our places of works.

Over the past several years, there has been an onslaught of E-friendly, organic, and 100% natural products and services being offered. I have been a fan of Whole Foods Market since it was founded back in 1980 in Austin, Texas. They have built a credible and reliable brand for their strict standards relative to the products they offer. Does this really matter? I mean…does this translate to real ROI??

Recently ousted CEO of JCPenney, Ron Johnson, was slammed for relying too much on intuition versus hard data as he led the revamping of the JCPenney stores. Most will agree that JCP’s new stores are very creative and well done…yet, the company is in a free fall. What went wrong?

I cannot begin to tell you how many of my clients – from age 35 to age 65 – are questioning what is next for their lives. Thus, this is the second blog in which we are focusing on the “now what?!” question. Many are unhappy in their current roles yet power through every day unsure of how/if to leave; others are in transition having already taken the plunge by leaving their cushy corporate jobs to reduce their stress (and unfortunately their income stream); some have been riffed due to age (and please don’t tell me that doesn’t happen – because I see it happening every single day); and still others realize they want to leave soon, yet have no clue what they can do and even what they want to do. Sound familiar?

Lately, many of my colleagues and clients have shared their desire to reconsider what they really want to do in this next chapter of their lives. These musings are not necessarily due to unhappiness in their current state (though some are, to be honest); yet, many simply have a desire to expand, stretch, and augment their lives, their revenue streams, and the way in which they contribute.

Recently after giving a keynote on my book “Is This Seat Taken?” and the power of the random encounter, a friend told me about a fabulous book which covers a related concept. This book emphasizes that having an effective ‘touchpoint’ is about really connecting, being present – eyeball to eyeball – with another. He summed his perspective of effectively engaging into the ‘4 A’s’.

These past few weeks as many have celebrated Easter or Passover, I have heard several speakers and read numerous articles on ‘beginning again’. This time of year is indeed the time of renewal, reconciliation, and ongoing transformation.

Frankly, 2013 has been a strange year so far.