Parker Houston

Year Behind, Year Ahead

by Parker Houston | Dec 30, 2021 | Self Leadership

Today’s Big Idea—“Some people live 80 years, most people live one year 80 times.” –Zig Ziglar For the last several years, I have established a few practices that help me...

Direction is More Important Than Speed

by Parker Houston | Dec 23, 2021 | 10x Your Productivity

One morning in 1972 Yogi Berra awakened his wife and three sons and piled them into the car to drive to his Hall of Fame ceremony. They were in a bit of a hurry, and it soon...

In the Modern Era of Distraction Addiction, You Need This Skill

by Parker Houston | Dec 16, 2021 | Optimal Performance Series

“Without great solitude, no serious work is possible.” –Pablo Picasso We are only just beginning to see the long-term effects of our hyper-connected internet and smartphone...

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

by Parker Houston | Dec 9, 2021 | The Practices of 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...

The Legend of John the Dwarf

by Parker Houston | Dec 2, 2021 | The Practices of 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...

Gratitude Is A Daily Discipline of Training Your Brain What To Pay Attention To

by Parker Houston | Nov 23, 2021 | Gratitude, The Science of Mindset

The BIG IDEA—The research is very clear that gratitude changes your brain chemistry and wiring, your leadership results, your physical health, and the health of your...

Are You Over Gripping the Wheel of Life?

by Parker Houston | Nov 18, 2021 | Mind and Body, Self Leadership

“Just hold on loosely, but don’t let go. If you cling too tightly, you’re gonna lose control.” –Donnie Van Zant, .38 Special A few years ago, I hired a personal and...

Self-Compassion Is Not Fluff. Research Shows It’s Inseparable from a Champion’s Mindset.

by Parker Houston | Nov 11, 2021 | The Science of Mindset

“Having compassion starts and ends with having compassion on all of those unwanted parts of ourselves.” –Pema Chodron The Big Idea –One thing is certain—leaders cannot...

Do You Really Want To Change?

by Parker Houston | Nov 4, 2021 | How People Change

Today’s Big Idea—Research identifies six stages of change people pass through when trying to change their behavior. Leaders need to understand these stages in order to make...

Never Despise Small Beginnings

by Parker Houston | Oct 28, 2021 | How People Change

Today’s Big Idea: “An overnight success is 15 years in the making.” –Dave Ramsey Above is a picture of the common water hyacinth—pontederia crassipes—a plant that is native...

Happy at Work—10 Tips For Finding a Job You Love

by Parker Houston | Oct 21, 2021 | Self Leadership, The Science of Happiness

For most people, work has a huge impact on overall life happiness. Furthermore, staying in a job you hate can have devastating consequences for your health, your emotional...

Experience Is Not The Same As Expertise

by Parker Houston | Oct 14, 2021 | Killer Teams Made Simple, The Science of Mindset

“I neither know, nor think that I know.” –Socrates According to historical legend, this is the response Socrates gave when the Oracle of Delphi asked why he was considered...

How I Healed From 10 Years of Chronic Pain

by Parker Houston | Oct 7, 2021 | Mind and Body

Photo is me after the grueling hike up Mount Tallc on March 17th, 2021 *This article does not constitute medical or psychological advice in any way, and is not a substitute...

In an Over-Committed Culture, Margin Is Your Secret Weapon

by Parker Houston | Oct 3, 2021 | Self Leadership

Today’s BIG IDEA—“Overload is the disease of our time. Margin is the cure.” –Richard Swenson, M.D. Probably my favorite thing in the world to do is backpacking. For me,...

9 Money Habits That Influence Happiness

by Parker Houston | Sep 23, 2021 | The Science of Happiness

We’ve all heard the expression—“Money can’t buy happiness.” That may not be completely true. Psychological science suggests that how we spend can have a big impact on...

Walking 4 Hours On A Broken Ankle In The Snow

by Parker Houston | Sep 16, 2021 | Leading During COVID19

“Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.”― J.K. Rowling I slept restlessly all night, tossing and turning with excitement and anticipation...

Perfectionism—The Secret Thief of Dreams

by Parker Houston | Sep 9, 2021 | 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...

Lead YOU First

by Parker Houston | Sep 2, 2021 | The Practices of Personal Leadership

My friend Trey asks great questions. He recently asked me, “So why did you call it lead you first?” As I fumbled for a concise response, the question rattled around in my...

The most important word for impact—“NO”

by Parker Houston | Aug 26, 2021 | 10x Your Productivity

“It is the super-achievers, and only the super-achievers, who have learned to say No.” –Peter Drucker The word “NO” might be the most important word when it comes to...

What is Good or Bad? A Tao Parable

by Parker Houston | Aug 19, 2021 | Self Leadership

A farmer and his son lived on a farm in the countryside. They owned a beautiful horse they cherished deeply. The farmer entered the horse into a village contest and won...

Get Off the Hedonic Treadmill

by Parker Houston | Aug 12, 2021 | The Science of Happiness

Extensive global research on happiness exists, and understanding how happiness works is a key life leadership skill that has enormous implications for your life and your...

Great Leadership Always Includes Gratitude

by Parker Houston | Aug 5, 2021 | Gratitude, Self Leadership

Here is today’s BIG IDEA—The research is very clear that gratitude changes your brain chemistry and wiring, your leadership results, your physical health, and the health of...

Solve Your Problems By Subtraction

by Parker Houston | Jul 29, 2021 | Self Leadership, The Practices of Personal Leadership

The Big Idea: According to research, the human brain tries to solve most of life’s problems through adding solutions, instead of removing things that might easily fix the...

Whatever You Do, Stop Multitasking!

by Parker Houston | Jul 22, 2021 | 10x Your Productivity

“If you chase two rabbits, you won’t catch either one.” —Russian Proverb The BIG IDEA—Once you have recognized the importance of carefully investing...

Time Blocking—Join the Top 5% of the World’s Most Productive People

by Parker Houston | Jul 15, 2021 | 10x Your Productivity

“If something is going to get done, it must occupy a physical space in your calendar.” —Stephen Covey Now this sounds really simple—but how often do you say you...