“There’s a reason why players that have multiple championships have multiple championships. There’s a certain characteristic and an understanding and knowledge and that’s not something that’s easily taught. You kind of have to go through it and it kind of has to be part of your DNA from the beginning.” – Kobe Bryant, NBA legend and Hall of Fame inductee

“The hunger [to succeed] is the same, no matter what it is that you’re doing. It’s like an unquenchable thirst to learn more, or to feel like you could have done more, and to be brutally honest and self critical, which is very hard to do. It’s easy, and human nature is to just blame somebody else. It’s very, very hard to self assess.” ~ Kobe Bryant

Here’s a recommended list of financial and life topics to cover with your family meeting.

Adult family members might be encouraged to review it before an initial conversation, and then use each item as a platform for discussion. Think of it as a conversation starter:

1. Do you have an updated will. Attorneys usually recommend that all adults have one, not just senior family members.)
2. Are there specific family heirlooms you would like to give to specific family members, or is there something special you would like to receive some day? These decisions can be included in a will.
3. Do you have guardians for minor children?
4. Do you have a durable power of attorney?
5. Do you have a living will and/or a medical power of attorney? You have a legal right to specify the level of care you wish to receive if you are incapacitated. Most importantly, you can designate the individuals responsible for making such decisions.
6. Are your life insurance, pension, IRA, and annuity beneficiary designations current?
7. Are all your important documents in one place, such as a safe deposit box? Are designated family members’ names on the signature card?
8. Do you have an available list of important information? This might include bank accounts, retirement accounts, other financial accounts, life insurance policies, and other assets, as well as the names and contact information of your attorney, accountant, New York Life agent, and other professionals.
9. Do you need to contact your attorney to update your will, or do you need to contact your life insurance agent or financial advisor to review your life insurance and other financial concerns?

Managing family financial information
Sometimes it’s difficult to have the answers to these questions right at your fingertips. But it’s important to know your loved ones can find your life insurance policy or will, should something come up. So, we have come up with something to help.

Your ability to communicate persuasively determines whether your opinion is actively sought out or you have to fight to get your voice heard.

The ability to influence others can set you up for career and personal success.

The most powerful communicators are thoughtful professionals who’ve learned to leverage their perceptiveness strategically. They understand psychology: how people think, what drives their choices, and how to present ideas to get seen, heard, and paid.

Persuasive communication is a learnable skill. Here are three strategies to get started.

1. Lead with your bottom line

Decision-makers are busy and overwhelmed. When you take too long to get to your point, you risk losing their attention, and you may inadvertently signal that you don’t have a good handle on your own message.

Contrast this with someone who can articulate their key point in a few crisp sentences. That level of clarity suggests expertise and confidence.

To be more persuasive, start with your conclusion, request, or recommendation, then follow with supporting evidence as needed. This might sound like:

• “I recommend pushing the product launch to September. The three factors driving this are ….”
• “We need to consider redesigning our app’s navigation by Q3 to stop losing users. The data shows ….”
• “Can you review this report by Thursday? I need your input specifically on X and Y.”
• Before your next meeting, write down your main “take-home” message in one to two clear sentences. That constraint forces you to filter out the fluff and focus on the information that matters.

2. Sell your idea as a way to solve specific problems
Persuasive communicators have mastered the art of translation. They reframe their messages through the lens of their audience’s needs.

People in power don’t just want clever solutions. They want good ideas that speak directly to their pressures, pain points, and priorities. Make that connection and you’ll gain a competitive edge.

To be more persuasive, start with your conclusion, request, or recommendation, then follow with supporting evidence as needed.

For example, instead of saying, “This new system will improve data processing efficiency by 40%,” you might say, “This solution will help you deliver quarterly reports three days faster, giving you more time to prepare for board meetings.”

Even when you need to defer or push back, the same principle applies. Jazz up a simple “I’ll get back to you,” by saying instead, “I want to make sure I give you the most useful answer for your quarterly planning. Can I have until Friday to gather the specific data you’ll need?”

3. Speak with authority

Small shifts in your word choice can dramatically change how your message lands, especially with senior stakeholders.

Consider the difference between saying “I think we should …” versus “In my experience …” One signals uncertainty, the other expertise.

Or how about “I’m trying to …” versus “We’re implementing …”? The first suggests struggle, the second implies purposeful action.

Look for opportunities to swap weak verbs with more powerful ones. For example:

• “Had to” can become “decided to,” “chose to,” or “opted to”
• “Helped” could be replaced with “guided,” “directed,” “led,” “advised,” or “oversaw”
• Don’t get caught up in fancy words or corporate jargon. This is about choosing more precise language that reflects the scale and scope of your actions.

Melody Wilding, LMSW, is an executive coach, human behavior professor, and author of ”Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge.”

Source:  https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/10/how-to-influence-people-and-succeed-at-work-executive-coach.html

No one on their deathbed has ever looked back on their life and said, “I wish I had just spent more time at the office.”

But people do look back and say, “I wish I had pursued my dreams.” Or, “I wish I had spent more time with my family.” Or, “I wished I had traveled and experienced the world.”

Only you know what matters to you and what you value the most; and only you know your dreams, ambitions and goals  — just make sure that’s what you’re pursuing and devoting your time, talents and treasure towards.

However, you might be thinking, “Easier said than done!” And yes, you’d be absolutely right. But the things worth doing and pursuing, the treasures worth finding and the things worth doing, are always the most challenging to do.

But, the reward is embedded in the process and journey.

“Success in life comes from holding a good hand, but in playing a poor hand well.” — Denis Waitley

Not all hands in life are dealt fairly or evenly. Yes, some people are born on third base and think they’ve hit a triple, while others are born on the outside of the ballpark and have seemingly insurmountable challenges to even get in the game. But the wonderful thing about life is that you’re able to change your circumstances.

So if you don’t hold the perfect hand, focus on the strategies you can play well right now to get you through to the next round. You can set ambitious goals, maintain a positive attitude and mindset, take responsibility for your choices and responses to circumstances, develop productive habits, and always be grateful. Eventually, you’ll succeed and win the whole damn thing.

Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do in a situation is to simply step back and let people walk away with their own narrative.

Cutting someone off, not to punish or create drama, but because you recognize that their version of the story is just that—theirs—is a form of emotional maturity and self-preservation.

There’s a certain peace in letting them leave with their delusions intact, knowing you no longer have to fight for your truth or your space. It’s not about winning an argument, but about protecting your mental and emotional energy from people who will never see things from your perspective.

Letting go of the need for closure or resolution in these scenarios is liberating. It’s a quiet form of control, choosing to invest in your own peace rather than engaging with someone who refuses to accept accountability.

In the end, their delusional story will fade, and you’ll be left unburdened, free to move forward without the weight of trying to change their mind. It’s a top-tier move because it demonstrates that you’re not interested in endless conflict—only in reclaiming your sense of peace and self.

— Balt Rodriguez, author of Choose Yourself