In our “Smooth Landing” pieces, we hope to share with you success stories, which we read about, learn about, and in some cases in which have actually participated. These will highlight individuals, teams, and organizations who have overcome challenges to achieve success, fulfillment, and are making a contribution – individually and collectively. We are looking…

Earlier this month, one of my favorite columns: The Corner Office in the New York Times, had a very insightful interview with Gregory Maffei, the President and CEO of Liberty Media. This particular interview was fascinating to me as Gregory has worked directly for Bill Gates and John Malone, both power houses in their fields. The entire interview…

I found myself reading an article about Queen Latifah a few weeks ago. Frankly, I have not followed her career; though by anyone’s standards she has certainly made her mark on almost every medium: award-winning rapper, singer, Oscar-nominated actress, producer, author of two books, and the creator and driving force behind her own business of…

Every man should be born again on the first day of January.  Start with a fresh page.  Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take…

Accountability is key.

Recently, someone commented to me on how helpful it had been to have someone holding them accountable to their goals, their actions, and even their thinking and overall attitudes. Not that he was weak, quite the contrary. This person knew his strengths, which were numerous. He also was fully aware of his areas for improvement and potential coaching.

It is hump day in the first week of 2011 and we are back at the grindstone. Stress is near. Challenges are ever-present. Pressures are building.  Some of us may have already broken the resolutions we made just 5 days ago. We may be lamenting – why did I bother?  We may be thinking – some…

Happy 2011 everyone! I hope your year is off to a great start. Many of you have asked me to recap the most popular posts from 2010 – so my first posting of 2010 is just that: The Top Ten Between The Lines for 2010! The best advice I ever got Do I have to be liked…

As Henry David Thoreau said:

“Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill. I think that there is nothing, not even crime, more opposed to poetry, to philosophy, ay, to life itself than this incessant business. ”

Wise words. A resolution I make every year is to read more. I work very hard at keeping current and exploring books to expand my world, my views, and my dreams. Books can indeed take us to places we have never been. They can expose us to different perspectives, challenge our ingrained beliefs, and stretch our mental capacities. They teach us.

A dear friend and colleague of mine, sent me this article last week as we prepare for 2011. Bull and Bear Essentials offers inventive food for thought!

My top four from their list of ‘Top 10 Things To Do” as we embark on this new year are denoted below. All are worthy – and easy to do!

As we depart to be with family, or prepare for loved ones to join us, this will be my last ‘Fine Line” for several days. I wish you joy, peace, happiness, and love this holiday season; and leave you with a quotation from one of my favorite storytellers when I was a child: Our hearts…