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It's no secret: to learn new things is not only critical to your success in business, it's critical to preserving your mental health as you age. But not everyone has positive associations with learning new things. If you’re like many people, you went through a lot of school growing up, sat in a lot of classes, listened to a lot of lectures, and did a whole lot of homework. Maybe along the way you even learned something.

Have you ever worked with a client and seen clearly the changes that would allow them to become more successful only to meet resistance when you outlined an action plan? I know that it has happened to me many times, and it has often been the source for contemplation on the nature of change and why it seems to be so difficult.

I’ve been doing a lot of business traveling over the last few weeks. In fact I’m heading out to a client site again this week. With last month being a holiday week in both Canada (July 1st) and the US (July 4th), I’m sure there will be more than the usual number of travelers at the airport and on the plane.

When I was growing up I used to love to build things. I would design them in my head and then try to turn my designs into reality. Unfortunately for me my parents only half-heartedly supported my interest, and as I grew older it faded into the back ground. I know now that this activity is one of my natural talents, but the lack of support transformed a developing natural talent into a dormant opportunity.

After years of being on the road and working from hotels and client sites, I basically have a love/hate relationship with technology.

Recently a friend of mine who runs a retail business asked me to look over an email exchange that he had with one of his suppliers. My friend had produced a marketing campaign that the supplier felt was an attack on his products. My friend wanted me to analyze the interaction and tell him what was wrong with the supplier.

My wife and I were invited to a party to celebrate the beginning of the New Year. On the face of it, it was a pretty homogeneous crowd. There was little racial, ethnic, or cultural diversity to be found. But talking to my fellow guests revealed a great difference in our views and beliefs regarding subjects such as schooling, the economy, politics, etc.

Have you ever offered to help someone with something they had just complained about and had them completely miss the offer? I really know better than to “coach” on the fly, but when a choice opportunity came my way last week I couldn’t help myself even knowing beforehand what the outcome would be.

When your natural gifts and skills lend themselves to a moment of grace, you experience a profound change. It can feel mysterious and awesome all at the same time. The key is to discover and nurture your natural gifts and skills so you are open to these breathtaking moments of grace.

There, I’ve said it.  It’s out there in the universe now and it’s real.  My decision wasn’t made in haste, it’s based on a recent purchasing experience, and grounded in the belief that as a consumer, I don’t have to settle for less than the best. For me, sending a gift of flowers is a planned purchase.