I invite you to listen to this year-end edition of our Crossing The Line podcast. In this episode, I reflected on the interviews that we conducted throughout 2023. I was amazed at the nuggets of truth and wisdom that came from each guest. This short podcast is one great way to think back on your past year. Take a moment and listen and reflect.

The holiday season is here again. With it comes all kinds of celebrations and gatherings. As a society, we collectively participate in the rush toward the end of December when we are supposed to slow down, gather with friends and family, and… do what? The answer to that question is different for everyone. It means something different from family to family and from person to person.

It was the basketball playoffs for a small college team. The winner of this game would play for a championship. The team was down by one point, and as the clock ran out, the guard took a last-second shot. The shot was off-target, and the team lost the game. At the press conference, the young man who missed the final shot was devastated as tears ran down his cheeks.

I learned a valuable relationship hack recently. It is something that I can use immediately with others in my life. It’s called the “yes, and...” rule. It requires strong listening and then taking a conversational route that might not be comfortable for you. Instead of defending or justifying your behavior during a conversation, listen and then respond with, “Yes, and...”. You will be shocked at how this can improve your communication skills.

Our parents (the eldest living generation in our family) have demonstrated what it means to be a family. They are not perfect, and we have, at times, learned what not to do, but the vast majority of their past experiences have been valuable examples of how to love one another. These senior adults have consistently been there for one another. When one experiences a difficulty, the other siblings step up to support and love. This looks like staying with their sibling in the hospital when needed, offering emotional support, consistent phone calls to check on each other, and offering unconditional, non-judgmental (most of the time) care for each other. Most importantly, it means always being there for one another.

I challenge you to try something different this year. Be a thanksgiving blessing for someone else. Instead of the normal routine of thinking about all that you have to be thankful for, create a reason for someone else to be thankful.

I have a pet peeve. I hate it when someone complains about something and then refuses to do anything about it. That victim mentality drives me crazy.

Steve Riat was in a situation where he could have become a victim. He refused. Instead when he wanted to change his predicament, he looked for action that he could take to improve his circumstances. In this case, it meant walking across a parking lot to find a new opportunity that would change his direction.

I don’t fully understand. I can’t. While I have relatives who have served our country in times of war and peace, I have never served in the military. That’s why I can never fully understand the cost, the sacrifice, and the commitment our veterans give to make sure that we live in a democratic and free America. I do know that it is a lifelong decision. The love of our country, the willingness to defend her with their lives, the honor of fighting for our flag, and our freedom never dies.

Last week we sent out Part One of the conversation. Today, we drop the rest of his story. Mosheh knew things were not where he needed them to be both professionally and personally. He made a bold decision to do something about it. He started a new venture, a podcast called Mo News. It now has over a million viewers/listeners and is truly disrupting the news media arena.

Mosheh has found great success in the news reporting world. He is an Emmy, Murrow and Webby Award-winning Executive Producer and has led teams at Fox News, Bloomberg TV, CNBC ad CBS News. Recently, Mosheh has founded a ground breaking news podcast that reaches millions of listeners.

Those who possess a high level of empathy are rare. Kay is one of those rare individuals. She is in her mid-seventies but she has the energy of someone who is much younger.

I knew we needed to change. What we were doing was simply not working. The problem was that I did not want to deal with the disruption that the change would cause. So I did nothing.

The discipline to persevere and the determination to do the hard work are essential ingredients for relationships and life. There are no “3 keys to success” or “6 quick steps for instant growth”.

It hit me like a punch in gut. I went through a range of emotions: shocked, angry, scared

It should be easy as A-B-C. But instead, it is the opposite. Gaining trust in today’s culture is incredibly hard and losing trust is incredibly easy.

He told me that Ben causes frustration with how he interacts and engages others. He dominates and always points the conversation to himself. He speaks in demands instead of asking questions.

He exceeded my expectations. In a time where underperforming is becoming the norm, he did the opposite. Francisco is a young entrepreneur who is building a business the right way.

It was fun recently when I saw his eyes light up and he took a trip down memory lane. I was showing him a picture of a 1966 Chevy Pick-up.

She was going through some stored boxes when she ran across the award. It was the John Phillips Sousa Award given to the outstanding music student in her high school.