To get greater than 100% return on a growth step, give up defensiveness. Defensiveness stifles performance, and destroys relationships.

We change our behavior when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing. Consequences give us the pain that motivates us to change.

A good test of a relationship is how a person responds to the word 'no.' Love respects 'no,' control does not.

When you encourage someone, it literally changes their brain chemistry to be able to perform... sends fuel to the brain.

The human heart will seek to be known, understood, and connected with above all else. If you do not connect, the ones you care about will find someone who will.

In the end, as a leader, you are always going to get a combination of two things: what you create and what you allow.

Boundaries are basically about providing structure, and structure is essential in building anything that thrives.

The fool tries to adjust the truth so he does not have to adjust to it.

Whatever's happening today, remember it is only ONE SCENE in a long movie. Don't treat it like it's the whole story. Keep writing the story.

Leadership is not taken, it is given. People give leadership to those that they trust. They allow people that they trust to have influence over their lives.

Consequences give us the pain that motivates us to change.

If you are right, no one will bother you in this world. If you do not hurt anyone in this world, or you have no intention of hurting anyone, then no one can hurt you.

The most drastic and usually the most effective remedy for fear is direct action.

A population may be too crowded, though all be amply supplied with food and raiment. It is not good for a man to be kept perforce at all times in the presence of his species.

There are some things that can't be measured.

The trick is to make sure you don't die waiting for prosperity to come.

Let us look ahead as little as possible, keeping our eyes on … the world of beauty around us.

If you knew my wife, you'd be like, "Yeah, you're very married." She runs the household. I refer to her as "the greatest director I've ever worked with."

A novel means a new way of doing a story

Texas has no system in place, and what you have is chaos.

If I can get them to think, get them to feel, get them to see, then I've done about all that I can as a teacher.