Parker Houston

Just Like Me…

by Parker Houston | Jun 4, 2026 | Personal Leadership

You’ve heard me say it before, but it’s worth repeating—the brain is a prediction machine. The brain’s primary purpose is to keep us alive—and the best way to stay alive is...

Find Yourself By Getting Lost

by Parker Houston | May 28, 2026 | Personal Leadership

Last year I checked off a bucket list trip by backpacking the Lost Coast—with two friends I’ve known for more than 20 years. After living in California my entire life, this...

In This World You Will Have Trouble

by Parker Houston | May 21, 2026 | The Science of Mindset

I don’t know about you, but when life is easy, I generally want it to stay that way. I long for the calm stretches. Fun, relaxation, stable job, good health. But when I...

Does AI Make People More Productive? What Research Shows: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

by Parker Houston | May 14, 2026 | Boost Your Organizational Health, Productivity Best Practices

Last October, I woke up to an early rainstorm which I was enjoying at 5:15am while sipping my morning coffee until I felt a water droplet hit my head. I looked up to realize...

Perfectionism—The Secret Thief of Dreams

by Parker Houston | May 7, 2026 | Optimal Performance, The Science of Happiness

Most of you have probably never heard of Lord Acton, but I bet you have heard the phrase, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” attributed to him. John...

What To Do If You Work For a Micromanager

by Parker Houston | Apr 30, 2026 | Personal Leadership

I recently wrote an article summarizing the research showing how micromanagement is ineffective and the damaging effects, and better approaches. Read that post here. Today...

Feel the Fear, Then Do It Anyway

by Parker Houston | Apr 23, 2026 | The Science of Mindset

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.” –Henry Ford In 1987 psychologist Susan Jeffers wrote her bestselling book Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway,...

Organizations With a Structured Onboarding Process May Retain 50% More New Hires

by Parker Houston | Apr 16, 2026 | Boost Your Organizational Health, Top Teams Made Simple

Right after graduate school I began working at a maximum security prison. The pay was good, the work was exciting, and they offered student loan forgiveness programs. I was...

What Are You Resisting?

by Parker Houston | Apr 9, 2026 | Personal Leadership

Until he was 29 years old, Eckhart lived in a near-permanent state of severe anxiety and suicidal depression. He was miserable, living in a constant state of internal...

Why You Never Have Enough Time

by Parker Houston | Mar 26, 2026 | Personal Leadership

Peter was a driven leader and parent who prided himself on maximizing every minute. He never turned down an extra work project, coached his kid’s sports teams, hosted dinner...

Live Your Life That the Fear of Death Can Never Enter Your Heart

by Parker Houston | Mar 19, 2026 | Personal Leadership

Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion. Respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love...

14 Behaviors That Build Trust

by Parker Houston | Mar 12, 2026 | Top Teams Made Simple

“All things being equal, people work with people they like and trust. All things not being equal, people still work with people they like and trust.” –John Maxwell There is...

Nature-Deficit Disorder

by Parker Houston | Mar 5, 2026 | Personal Leadership

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency in 2020, Americans spend about 90% of their lives indoors. After the shelter-in-place orders were instituted, we saw more...

Resilient—The Eduardo Garcia Story

by Parker Houston | Feb 26, 2026 | Personal Leadership

The story of Eduardo Garcia is an incredible look at personal triumph through extreme adversity. If you haven’t heard his story, it will blow your mind. I am certain you...

Jose Alvarenga—Surviving More Than A Year Lost At Sea

by Parker Houston | Feb 19, 2026 | Personal Leadership, The Science of Mindset

If you have never heard of Jose Alvarenga, you will want to hear his incredible story of survival at sea. I first heard this story while reading 438 Days—by Jonathan...

Understanding the Role of Pay in Employee Retention, Satisfaction, and Motivation

by Parker Houston | Feb 12, 2026 | Boost Your Organizational Health, Top Teams Made Simple

Several years ago, I was having a conversation with a fellow leader who was having a difficult time with their team. The team was disgruntled and disengaged. At the end of...

Get To The Point

by Parker Houston | Feb 5, 2026 | Personal Leadership

“If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.” –Blaise Pascal After writing a blog for several years and teaching classes regularly, I have found deep truth in...

Five Reasons to Stop Micromanaging Your Kids (and Your Team)

by Parker Houston | Jan 29, 2026 | Boost Your Organizational Health, Family Leadership

Over the years, my kids have shown an interest in helping in the kitchen, which is fantastic. But for a long time, my first reaction wasn’t great. A thought would...

A Non-Anxious Presence

by Parker Houston | Jan 22, 2026 | Personal Leadership

Several years ago a mentor of mine used a term I had not heard before—he said he wanted to be a “non-anxious presence” for people. I didn’t really get it at first, but after...

Leaders Must Be Willing To Have Difficult Conversations

by Parker Houston | Jan 15, 2026 | Personal Leadership, Top Teams Made Simple

There is nothing more important to creating a strong team than hiring the right people. But unless you start a team from scratch, building a strong team will usually involve...

A Culture of Kindness is Essential for Keeping Good Employees

by Parker Houston | Jan 8, 2026 | Boost Your Organizational Health

Many years ago I had a coworker who had a very off-putting communication style. This was well known in my work area. When I saw the caller ID or this person walking toward...

This Job Is Killing Me

by Parker Houston | Jan 2, 2026 | Personal Leadership

The Big Idea—A global study published in 2021 by the World Health Organization and the International Labor Organization says that working more than 55 hours per week is now...

The Legend of John the Dwarf

by Parker Houston | Dec 25, 2025 | Personal Leadership

A mentor of mine shared this story with me several years ago. John the Dwarf—also known as Saint John Kolobos—was a Coptic desert father born in the year 339 in the town of...

The Cost, Cause, and Cure for Workplace Burnout

by Parker Houston | Dec 18, 2025 | Boost Your Organizational Health, Top Teams Made Simple

Shortly after graduating from college, I was talking to a friend who was living in Central America. He had dropped out of college our senior year, and we all wondered what...

The Five Most Common Happiness Traps at Work

by Parker Houston | Dec 11, 2025 | The Science of Happiness

“Most people climb the ladder of success only to realize it was leaning against the wrong building.” –Stephen Covey Several years ago I had a shot at what I thought was my...