My sister made certain choices about the life she wanted. Those choices include a steady job, a husband and children. But balance and stability come at a cost. It is harder for her to be spontaneous. It is harder to just up and leave.

No matter how many or how few people you have reporting to you, you must remember that as you climb higher in the ranks, your words will be taken as commands even if you're just thinking out loud.

During World War II, the pilot losses were staggering. In some bombing raids, as many as 80% of the planes that left did not return.

Knowledge is understanding based on what has been studied and learned. Wisdom is understanding based on what has been felt and experienced.

Most organizations only focus on WHAT they do and HOW they do it - tactics and strategies - and they aren't even aware that this thing called the WHY exists. Focusing on only two pieces of a three piece puzzle leaves an organization, or a career, inherently out of balance. Being out of balance, only operating on two of the three pieces, shows up in different ways - increased stress, loss of passion, obsession with what your competition is doing, being forced to play the price game, trouble differentiating. These are all signs that the WHY is missing.

The trick to balance is to not make sacrificing important things become the norm.

Focus on where you're going and you'll know what steps to take. Focus on the steps you're taking and you won't know where you're going.