• The Story
  • The Blog
  • Contact Me

jimraffel.com


  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Story Teller | CEO | Traveler

You are here: Home / Archives for motivation

How I Settled On My 2021 Mantra

December 22, 2020 By Jim Raffel

Image of Mantra

For the last several years, I have been settling on a personal mantra which guides the way I live my life over the next year. I find each of these mantras become a part of who I am and stays with me long after the year has passed. As a result, I've learned to be careful about the words I settle on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Strategy, motivation, personal development

Letting go and finding the flow

January 1, 2016 By Jim Raffel

image of letting go and finding the flow

Over the last several years, my first post each January has explained my plan for the coming year. This year is no different; except I arrived at my 2016 plan in a different way. While it didn't start out that way, 2015 turned out to be a year of letting go and finding the flow instead of making … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Strategy, motivation, personal development, Writing

2015 Three Words

January 1, 2015 By Jim Raffel

Over the last several years, I’ve been sharing my annual plan for business success for the coming year. I start by choosing three words that define where I want to be 12 months from now. Then I turn those words into a visual map; which is the image I’ve included with this post. Before I get … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Strategy, goals, motivation, personal development

Why Helping Others Is An Awesome Business Strategy

August 19, 2014 By Jim Raffel

image of help others

Helping others can be a tricky topic because it likely has a different meaning for each of us. For you it might mean donating clothing or other gently used household items to a charitable organization. For others it might mean giving money to a charitable cause. It could also mean giving your time … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Strategy, motivation, personal development

My take on impacting the future

August 5, 2014 By Jim Raffel

image of impacting the future

Photo Credit Over the last few months my mantra has become: "Focus on what can be - not what is or has been - because you can only impact the future." It's pointless to waste your time and energy worrying about the choices you've made that got you to where you are today. Instead focus that time … [Read more...]

Filed Under: motivation, personal development

Finding your footing when business cycles change

July 22, 2014 By Jim Raffel

image of finding your footing when business cycles change

This is the fifth and final installment in "The Business of Hiking" series. The previous four installments focused on business strategies I was reminded of on specific hikes during a recent trip to the Smoky Mountains. This post discusses the more general topic of approaching life's ups and downs … [Read more...]

Filed Under: motivation, personal development, The Business of Hiking

Rainbow Falls: Take risks off the beaten path

July 15, 2014 By Jim Raffel

Image of Rainbow Falls Warning Sign

Every single one of us has a different tolerance for how we take risks. For example, we climbed right past the sign that read, "Warning: Climbing on Falls Hazardous Stay on Constructed Trail ..." not because we are stupid, but because as a group we have confidence in our hiking ability. Do I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: motivation, personal development, The Business of Hiking

Alum Cave Bluff: Knowing your own pace

July 8, 2014 By Jim Raffel

Image of Alum Cave Bluff Trail

Hiking with a group can be a tricky proposition, especially when the group is composed of young folks, older folks, folks carrying backpacks and folks stopping to take pictures along the way. Not everyone in the group will have the same pace on the trail, and that can be disconcerting to some at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: motivation, personal development, The Business of Hiking

Stone Cabin Trail: Knowing when to turn back

July 1, 2014 By Jim Raffel

image of sugarlands stone cabin

Photo Credit: Joe Kegley There is a difference between turning back and quitting. Quitting is something you do when you are scared of failure or just don't want to do whatever it is you should be doing because it's difficult. Turning back is something you do when conditions indicate there is real … [Read more...]

Filed Under: motivation, personal development, The Business of Hiking

It's about the journey not the destination

July 9, 2013 By Jim Raffel Leave a Comment

I just spent some time looking back through 800+ blog posts and realized I've never properly addressed the topic of life being about the journey not the destination. While I skirted around the edges of the topic several times, it doesn't appear I've ever approached it head on. Let the journey … [Read more...]

Filed Under: motivation, personal development

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 16
  • Next Page »

Get 30 years of business experience delivered to your inbox

Email Newsletter Signup

Each blog post will be delivered directly to your inbox, as well as unique content only for newsletter subscribers.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

About Me

Story Teller | CEO | Traveler
Click here to learn more

Search My Site

Copyright © 2025 James J. Raffel · jimraffel.com runs on the Genesis Framework