Author Archives: Frank Borelli

Leadership Lessons from Chaos

As with so many things I see each day, this was brought to my attention via a post on social media: 15 leadership lessons from General Mattis – call sign Chaos. I’m going to list all 15 but only comment on a few. They are the ones that are applicable far beyond military leadership; the ones everyone should read and heed (in my opinion, and most especially if you’re in a leadership position with ANY company). His words are underlined. Continue reading →

To Keto or Not to Keto

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Warning statement: I am not a certified nutritionist. The information contained herein is based on my own research and understanding. Before pursuing any diet or nutrition program, or any exercise program, consult with your physician, dietician, nutritionist, cardiologist, etc. Continue reading →

Thrive on Your Lifestyle

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Somehow, somewhere along the way, we as a society seem to have come to the belief that every person perceives every experience in the same way. The fact of individual experience, individual knowledge, individual background, individual resilience… these things all seem to be dismissed in favor of the belief that if X happens to little Johnny and it’s hurtful to him, then if X happens to little Mark it must also be hurtful to him. As adults we see people assuming that if X happens to someone and causes them stress, then it must cause stress to everyone who experiences it. Continue reading →

The Middle of the Road?

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I just recently saw a quote about nothing being in the middle of the road except for double yellow lines and roadkill. My first thought was that you usually don’t see roadkill in the middle of the road but in the travel lanes instead. The double yellow lines are what separates traffic going in different directions. The mental image I have is of a two lane road with one lane going in either direction. “It’s a two way street,” is the phrase that comes to mind. And as long as the traffic stays on its own side, it flows smoothly. But what happens when the yellow lines get ignored? Continue reading →

Perception Controls Work Environment

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Just last evening I was conversing with a friend of mine who commented on my (bad?) habit of posting photos to my Facebook page when I’m working “in my outside office.” I have a gazebo attached to my rear deck that enjoys views of the surrounding trees, sometimes the lake across the street and quite often the wildlife that comes around. My friend made the comment that when he’s at work (in a machine shop) and he sees those posts he thinks, “Frank… you’re being an @$$hole.” He may be right, but the conversation started me thinking about work spaces and what we make of them. Continue reading →

Three Life Rules Worth Repeating

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I know that we all have heard these three rules before, but it seems like every time they pop up in my social media feeds or they get referred to by someone I know… I’m reminded of different parts of my life and when I learned these lessons. It’s interesting (to me) to see where they have been applicable and proven to be of benefit, even if it’s in some small way. Continue reading →

What is Your Outlook on Faith?

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“Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.” – General Marcus Aurelius Continue reading →

What Do You Live With?

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Hardly a day goes by that I don’t speak with someone who is trying to figure out how to make it through the day. Now, keep in mind, most of them are exaggerating when they say they don’t know how they’re going to make it. What they really mean is that they are tired – mentally, physically or emotionally, or some mix of all three. Maybe they legitimately need a break, or maybe they just need to take a minute to see some of the positive side of their life. Some of the folks I talk to seem bound and determined to see the negative side of everything even though their average day is full of blessings. Given that happenstance, I thought I’d take a minute to focus on the meaning of a few things that can help us all see the brighter side of each day. The question I asked, to select these things was, “What do you live with?” I mean each day, day in and day out. What’s good in your day? Continue reading →

The Strength & Necessity of Journaling

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Somewhere in my house (and I know exactly where) there are a series of notebooks full of my journal. Some of those entries date back to when I was as young as twelve years old. I refer to this collection of writings as a “journal” and not a diary, quite honestly, because in my adolescent years I felt that keeping a diary was something only girls did, but keeping a journal… that was something done by every good leader and even way back then I had some aspirations to do and be more than just an average person. (For the record, I still feel very much like an average person; like I can do more with each day.) Continue reading →

Sunday Evening Self Conversation

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When I was in my teenage years, I remember my father, almost every night, sitting on his bed, just staring into space… or at least, that’s what I thought. When I asked him about it one day he told me he was meditating. When I asked why and what about he told me that he felt it was calming for his mind. He was a district court judge and questioned his own judgment quite frequently. He’d sit and review cases and testimony in his head and try to confirm for himself that he’d made the right decisions, or if he had to make a change in the outcome somehow. He’d also ponder what the days ahead might hold and try to get himself “mentally in the game” as he put it. Continue reading →