Do not expect a narrow-minded person to be open-minded. My most popular post! We can spend an enormous amount of energy trying to explain things to people who neither understand nor care to understand. It often leads to frustration, because no matter how carefully we explain, their world is too limited to take in what we are saying. The frog that lives in the well will never grasp the vastness of the ocean. That doesn’t make it a bad frog or a stupid frog. It simply means it is a well frog. Expecting it to see beyond its walls is unfair to the frog and exhausting for us. In life, some people simply cannot see beyond their own well. Instead of wearing ourselves out trying to make them, we can accept their limits, move forward, and invest our energy in places where it will make a difference. Life is good. Marshall

"I am most proud of the people I have helped and how well they are doing today." I have asked many retiring CEOs, "What are you most proud of?" It is NEVER about how much money they made, how big their office was, or how many awards they won. It was ALWAYS about the people they helped. At the end of the day, your most important performance appraisal will be conducted by the person you see in the mirror. This advice will help you get a great performance review on what really matters. Life is good. Marshall Please try out MarshallGoldsmith.ai. It is now being tested in 32 languages incluing Hindi and Hinglish. Please share it with people who might benefit. Like the CEOs I have interviewed, I am most proud of the people I have helped.

We live in an incredibly complex world. In this new world, one of the most important ingredients in successful strategic planning is perspective. I love the idea that “perspective is borrowed.” To design for the future, we need to look beyond our own experiences. We need to seek different views from customers, colleagues, communities, and other stakeholders. Each sees something that we cannot see. When we bring these perspectives together, we gain a clearer view of both the challenges ahead and the opportunities waiting to be discovered. Amos Winter and my wonderful friend Vijay Govindarajan have written a fascinating new book, Global by Design. It provides a valuable roadmap for designing innovations that can scale, travel, and make a positive difference in the world. In this new world, none of us can see the whole picture alone . Fortunately, perspective is one thing we can borrow - and we never have to pay it back! Life is good. Marshall

In our rapidly changing new world, get ready to fail MORE - not LESS. Quit pretending there is no such thing as 'failure'. Yes there is. Don't hide from it. The most successful people in the world have failed many times. That is how they learned! Do not be ashamed of failure or afraid of failure. Look at life as a series of experiments! Most experiments fail. They also lead to learning. I am often asked, "If you had to relive your life, what you would do differently?" My answer is "Absolutely nothing!" Have I made mistakes? Countless! Have a failed? Often! If I eliminate my failure, I also eliminate all that I learned from my failure. Looking at your life, assuming you are doing pretty well, do you really want to eliminate all that you have learned from your failures? Life is good. Marshall Please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai. It is getting better and better. It may still fail on occasion. That is OK. We are always learning.

Why do the great leaders that I work with have a coach? They want to improve! We can all get better! Anyone who thinks they have no room for improvement needs to work on HUMILITY. In many ways, the more successful we become, the more room for improvement we have! Why? More new great opportunities keep emerging - that we have not anticipated! In my own life, my work today is so different than it was even five years ago. I am now learning all about AI and its potential impact in the world (MarshallGoldsmith.ai). I have developed a new website, where I give away hundreds of my articles and videos (MarshallGoldsmith.com). I hope that some of what I am learning helps you! As Bob Dylan said, "He is is not busy being born, is busy dying." Life is good. Marshall

When we cling to the past, we do not stay still, we go backward. We have all done this. We hold on to the past, to old regrets, to mistakes we cannot change, or to problems that are not really ours to solve. What begins as responsibility slowly turns into burden. What begins as caring slowly turns into being dragged. Letting go is not about being careless or indifferent. It is about recognizing what no longer serves you, what you cannot control, and what is costing you peace in the present moment. When we let go, we create new space for learning, for growth, and for a little more peace today. For joy. Here is my question for you: What are you still holding on to that may be time to let go of? I would love your reflections and comments. Life is good. Marshall

Every year comes with lots of ups and downs. You do not have to. The Bhagavad Gita teaches that "One who is not disturbed by happiness or distress and remains steady through both can find freedom and peace. "While the language is ancient, the lesson is timeless and deeply practical. My wonderful friend Safi Bahcall, a wonderful thinker, author and entrepreneur, teaches a similar idea in modern terms. He often reminds executives, “When the stock price seems too high, your companywo is probably not that good. When the stock price seems too low, your company is probably not that bad.” The same wisdom applies to life. As you journey through the inevitable highs and lows, try to keep your balance. Do not let success inflate your ego, and do not let setbacks define your worth. You are never always wonderful. You are never always awful. You are always human. Enjoy your journey, through the 'ups and downs'. Life is good. Marshall Please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai and try it out. It is free and you may get some new ideas.

In life, knowing how to finish is just as important as knowing how to get started. This spring I spent a day with ten remarkable, successful people. Each told the story of their life and career. It was fascinating to hear how their journeys unfolded. What did I learn from this wonderful session? Learn how to declare victory and move on. Many high achievers how to start. They know how to work hard, build momentum, and get results. Far fewer know when it is time to finish a chapter with gratitude and begin the next one. In the new world, you will probably experience many career transitions. The ability to recognize when a phase of life has run its course is an essential skill. Do not wait until circumstances force the decision. Do not stay so long that the joy disappears. Finish well. Appreciate what you have accomplished. Thank the people who helped you along the way. Then declare victory and move on. Life is good. Marshall

The key to success in coaching is not the coach. It is the great person being coached. I have received far more recognition as a coach and leadership thinker than I deserve. Why? Because I’ve been honored to work with many “Leonardo da Vincis” of leadership. My advice to other coaches is simple: work with great clients. Alan Mulally, former CEO of the Year in the United States, once told me, “Marshall, if you work with great, dedicated clients, your coaching process will always work. If you work with people who are not dedicated, your coaching process will never work.” That insight didn’t just change my career - it changed my life. Most coaches I meet are wonderful people with great hearts. But sometimes, they end up working with the wrong clients. This hurts the coach, the client, and the entire field of coaching. I have lots of readers who are coaches. My advice to you is simple, help great leaders get even better! Life is good. Marshall

Dear community, I have wonderful news to share. The Seismic Shift in YOU, which I co-authored with my great friend Dr. Michelle K. Johnston, has been named a 2026 Business Book Awards finalist! Michelle and I built this book around one simple idea: Connection starts with YOU. If we want stronger teams, relationships, and organizations, we have to start by looking at our own behavior. The book explores seven practical shifts in our perspective, priorities, calendar, meetings, conversations, language and energy. This started with a conversation in London. Michelle asked, "Will you be my coauthor?" I said, "Let's do it." Michelle, congratulations! I am proud of you and proud of this book. Thank you to everyone who has read it, shared it and put these ideas to work. I hope this recognition helps the message reach even more people. Life is good. Marshall

Great leaders do not let their personal preferences take priority over their organization's mission. My late friend, Dr. Roosevelt Thomas, was a world authority on helping leaders deal with differences in a positive and productive way. Roosevelt taught me the difference between a personal preference and a mission-focused requirement. He often used Phil Jackson, the former coach of the Chicago Bulls, as a powerful example. Jackson coached the legendary rebounder Dennis Rodman, who had a personal style that was clearly different from the norm. Rodman frequently changed his hair color and had an eccentric public persona. When asked how he tolerated Rodman's unusual style, Jackson gave a simple answer. He pointed out that he had two great scorers in Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Rodman was not hired to look conventional. He was hired to rebound, play defense, and help the team win. He did a fantastic job at that! Great leaders focus on what matters. If people contribute to the mission and live the values of the organization, their personal differences may not matter nearly as much as we think. Life is good. Marshall

One thing successful people have in common? They work! The world is more competitive than ever. Find out what you love to do. Work hard at it. Rest. And work some more! Success isn’t about nonstop motion. It’s about rhythm. You can’t give your best if you never stop to recover. The best leaders push hard, but they also pause. It's not because they’re weak, but because they’re wise. Don't give up when you hit a wall! Take a breath. Rest. Then get back to doing what you love. Life is good. Marshall Please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai and ask as many questions as you wish!

Life is too short to be serious all of the time. Most of you, my readers, spend a great deal of your lives learning how to achieve more. How to be better. How to work harder. How to improve results. Those things matter. But here is another question we we may not ask ourselves enough. Am I spending enough time just having fun? Fun does not have to earned. It does not have to be productive. It does not have to lead anywhere. Sometimes fun is simply a smile, a laugh, a shared moment, or a small pleasure that reminds you that you are alive. My mission is to help as many people as I can, includng you, have a little better life. You can help me achieve my mission! Sometime today, pause for a moment. Take a deep breath. Smile for no reason at all. Enjoy where you are. You do not need permission from anyone else. Just permission from yourself. Life is good. Marshall

Leadership happens in public. But much of a leader’s growth happens when no one is watching. Getting better is often not glamorous. It’s keeping what matters most to you top of mind - even when it’s inconvenient. It’s keeping your word even after you’ve made commitments you regret. It’s listening when you’re tired, apologizing when you don’t think you should have to, and doing the right thing when nobody’s grading you. The work no one sees is what separates improvement from intention. Anyone can perform when the spotlight’s on. Real leaders practice when the arena is empty. Growth doesn’t happen in the moment of applause. It happens in repetition, in reflection, and the choice to do better again tomorrow. Champions are made when no one is watching. Life is good. Marshall Please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai and ask as many questions as you'd like!

Leading technically gifted people is a recipe for success. Pretending to be one is not. Many years ago, I had the honor of working with Jim Barksdale (former COO of Federal Express, CEO of McCaw Cellular, CEO of Netscape) What an amazing leader and great human being! Anyone who has ever met Jim will tell you that he is very unassuming and modest. Jim managed some incredibly gifted people (including a young Marc Andreesen). I asked Jim, "What is your secret for managing such brilliant people? There is no way that you can know as much about what they are doing as they do." I will never forget his anwer, "Never fake it. They will know in five seconds, and you will lose all credibility." The next time you feel the need to share your 'wisdom' with professionals who know more than you, breathe, remember Jim Barksdale's advice. LIfe is good. Marshall Thank you for reading my reflections on leadeship, coaching and life. I hope that they are helpful for you. If you have a chance, please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai and try it out.

The only people who never fail are the ones who never try. Too many people spend their lives worrying about failure - as if it is something to be ashamed of. But any venture that involves risk also carries the possibility of failure. In fact, the more ambitious the goal, the more likely we are to stumble along the way. Failing is not a weakness. It’s a sign that you had the courage to try. Sometimes failure teaches us to try something new! At age 16, I was cut from my high school football team. I was devastated. I went home and cried. I felt embarrassed and ashamed. But looking back? It was one of the best things that ever happened to me. That moment helped me accept that I wasn’t going to be a pro football star - and it gave me the push to take school seriously. I started getting A’s. I found a new path. And eventually, I ended up writing this story for you. Life is good. Marshall

Make peace with the hand you have been dealt. Then take responsibility for how you play it. None of us gets to choose all the cards we are dealt in life. We do not choose our parents, our early circumstances, our natural talents, or many of the challenges we face. Wishing those cards were different does not change them. What we do control is how we respond. This is OUR choice. Some people spend their lives complaining about the hand they received. Others gamble recklessly, driven by fear or greed. And a few play with intention - calmly, thoughtfully, and with purpose. Making peace with reality is not giving up. It is accepting what is, so you can focus your energy on what matters most. Responsibility begins the moment we stop blaming fate and start choosing our actions. You may not have been dealt a perfect hand. None of us has. But every day, you decide how carefully, how wisely, and how courageously you will play it. The quality of our lives is shaped less by our cards than by our choices. Life is good. Marshall

It is great to learn from the past. It is not great to live there. Reflection matters. Experience matters. Memory matters. But none of them should become a place where we get stuck. Feedback is a wonderful tool for learning about what you did and why you did it. At its best, feedback helps us understand patterns, choices, and consequences. It helps us become wiser. Yet feedback has a limit. It looks backward. Feedforward exists for a different reason. Feedforward is designed to help you move on. It shifts the conversation from what already happened to what can happen next. It invites ideas, options, and possibility. The past can inform you. It cannot carry you forward. That work belongs to the present moment with an eye on the future. Life is good. Marshall Please stop by and visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai. My AI will be happy to talk with you.

The Great Western Disease is “I will be happy when…" When I get that degree. When I get promoted. When I find the perfect partner. When my kids graduate from college. When I make enough money to retire. At age 77, I probably understand one thing a little better than you - we all have exactly the same when. Peace and happiness can never be found 'when'. They are can only be found now. Now - in the middle of the chaos at work. Now - in a conversation with your less-than-perfect friends. Now - even with all of your crazy relatives. Now - in the small moments of daily life that we too often overlook. The Great Illusion is that happiness is waiting for us just around the corner. It is not. If you cannot find peace and happiness now, you will not suddenly discover it later. All we really have is now. Make peace. Enjoy it! Life is good. Marshall Please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai. It may have some great ideas to help you have a great life.

Do whatever you can to create an environment that supports your mission. Only you can determine your purpose in life. Only you can define what achievement means for you. Only you can decide what happiness looks like for you. If you want to live a great life, create an environment that supports what truly matters to you. Our surroundings quietly shape our behavior every day. If you want to be more positive, do not spend your time with people who are consistently negative. If you want to eat healthier, do not fill your kitchen with unhealthy temptations. If you want to focus on meaningful work, reduce the noise, distractions, and interruptions that pull you away from it. In my #1 New York Times bestseller, Triggers, I explore how our environment influences our choices. And how, with intention, we can design our environment to support the life we want to live. When we take responsibility for shaping our environment, we spend more time achieving and less time complaining. Life is good. Marshall Please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai for lots more ideas.

As we aquire more wisdom, we often feel an excessive need to share it with others. Whether they want to hear it or not! As you can imagine, this is one of my greatest challenges! I have millions of frequent flyer miles. In many cases, the person who sits next to me asks, "What do you do for a living?" Five hours later I am still sharing my wisdom, with an unfortunate person who cannot escape! The next time you are tempted to 'help others' by 'sharing' what you know, ask, "Whose needs am I taking care of here?" Life is good. Marshall Please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai to get lots of ideas! Pl Please visit MarshallGoldsmith.ai. It can answer lots of your questions. Unlike me in person, you can just turn it off and I will not feel bad. Life is good. Marshall