Marc Casciani

Patience as a Habit

Historically, I’ve had trouble dealing with delay. I don’t like it. It’s especially challenging when I have to wait to get what I want. It’s as though my ego doesn’t allow me to see anyone else’s perspective, and I want what I want now. I don’t want to wait. I’m inherently impatient. That’s an unattractiveContinueContinue reading “Patience as a Habit”

The Habit of Doing the Right Thing

We are controlled by our habits. Some are bad and some are good. They form when our brain forms an automatic pattern response to a trigger. Our brain learns to remember the pattern because there is a reward at the end of the routine. The habit is a closed-loop cycle: trigger, routine, reward; repeat. ThisContinueContinue reading “The Habit of Doing the Right Thing”

Grit

I just learned that my grit score is 4.75 out of 5, which makes me grittier than at least 90% of the US population. I’d like to thank Bill Hybels and The Global Leadership Summit Podcast for telling me about the Grit Assessment, a research study and voluntary online survey published by The University ofContinueContinue reading “Grit”

Pressure vs. Stress

People often confuse pressure with stress. They are different. Pressure is a compelling force or influence. It is good for you. It will push you toward a course of action. It enables the right thing to be done. Pressure is a positive multiplier, the catalyst for maximizing your brain power. Pressure will always direct youContinueContinue reading “Pressure vs. Stress”

Mindwork

Top-of-mind is a term referring to something that occupies a privileged position in memory. It’s the first thing recalled. In marketing, it’s what brands attempt to achieve in consumer minds. Top-of-heart is a term referring to a bond of loyalty based on emotional factors in preference to rational or intellectual factors. I have this typeContinueContinue reading “Mindwork”

Take 2 “Gratefuls” and Call Me in the Morning

One of my good habits is my morning ritual. When I wake up each new day, I make a cup of coffee, sit comfortably in my home office, calm my mind, ask myself a series of questions and journal my answers. The first question is: What and whom am I grateful for today? I write downContinueContinue reading “Take 2 “Gratefuls” and Call Me in the Morning”

What Do You Stand For?

What do you stand for? Where do you draw the line? What principles will you adamantly defend? If you want to live life with clarity of purpose, then you must answer these questions. They define the framework from which you operate. Like a compass, they provide direction. Here’s what I stand for: I believe inContinueContinue reading “What Do You Stand For?”

Expect It

Imagine watching a football game with friends and family where you’re the only one that knows the final score. You’re team wins. Throughout the ebbs and flows of the game, while everyone else is riding the emotional highs and lows, you’re steady. You can confidently watch the game knowing the outcome everyone wants. You expectContinueContinue reading “Expect It”

A Differentially Tempered You

In his 1940 book, The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis states: Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say ‘My tooth is aching’ than to say ‘My heart isContinueContinue reading “A Differentially Tempered You”

Be a Mudder

A mudder is an athlete that performs well in muddy conditions. When I played football as a running back, I was a mudder. When conditions were perfect, I was not the best player on the field. I was above average. However, when conditions were muddy, I was exceptional. In fact, the muddier it was, theContinueContinue reading “Be a Mudder”