Have you ever found yourself feeding off of someone else’s negative energy? Or, have you found yourself avoiding a person because of the negativity they bring into every conversation.

As humans, we often hold on to negative thoughts and experiences more than the positive ones?  Why is that?

When someone says, "artificial intelligence," or AI, no doubt the image that comes to mind is J.A.R.V.I.S, Ironman's computerized right-hand man, or one of the human-like hosts in Westworld. But from a technology perspective, AI is perhaps our greatest business friend and partner.

No matter what industry or profession you’re in, there will come a time when simply doing the work won’t cut it. If you’re truly in search of professional growth, you have to put yourself in a position where others can see you and hear what you have to offer in the way you want them to. Now more than ever, we have the opportunity to become visible to a large audience by way of the internet and connections we make therein, and it would be unfortunate to miss the opportunity for lack of branding expertise.

A company's mission statement tells you why they do what they do. They are often short, punchy, with plenty of actions words that provide a sense of direction and help the company stand out in a crowded market.

Did you know fashion designer Vera Wang started her label at the age of 40? However you define success, getting there is never a guarantee, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a try. Any of us, whether parenting, going back to school, climbing a corporate ladder, or starting a business of their own, can speak of challenges and discouraging moments, but that is what makes the journey all the more interesting.

Name a successful person and odds are he or she has a deep history of failure.

Many of us routinely set personal goals -- we may want to get in better shape, save more money, or learn a new skill.

Traveling is part of doing business, but many trips can disrupt your work-life balance by putting your normal work schedule and personal routines out of whack.

What does success mean to you? Do you have a picture-perfect vision of what that success will look like? Have you talked about your goals with others?

They say it's always better to give than to receive. While that may be true for the most part, it doesn't always apply to gratitude.

We often think of giving thanks to those around us during the holidays. But giving gratitude to your employees and team members should not be a one-time event. It should be practiced year-round.

Biofeedback is an emerging field of study that links psychological functions with physiological and neurological metrics. That might sound like a whole bunch of jargon, but it’s actually a pretty simple concept. When you’re stressed, for example, your heart rate and the brain waves you emit are a lot different than when you’re relaxed. What biofeedback does is allow you to recognize, with more than just a feeling, the state of your mind and body and how they relate to your performance. In the coming years, you can expect biofeedback to go from niche concern to widespread trend.

You are what you eat. That goes for both your body and mind. Your diet can have a profound impact on neuroplasticity -- the ability of your brain to work better. It can also affect your energy levels throughout your workday.

The importance of community is well understood. We have heard the many quotes before, such as:

“It takes a village to raise a child”

“Two heads are better than one”

“We all need somebody to lean on”

You can learn a lot from highly successful businesses. Begin with this simple question: What do they do that makes them stand out from the competition?

Behind every great athlete there is an even greater coach. There isn't a top athlete--from Muhammad Ali to Tiger Woods to Serena Williams--who did not need a mentor to help them reach the top of their profession.

I’ve worked for companies big and small. I’ve started businesses, sold businesses, and I’ve become an entrepreneur. And among the many incredibly important things I’ve learned through all of my experiences, there’s one common thread that stands out when I think about what works.

We may complain all the time that we need a vacation, but when it comes to actually taking off time, we tend to get cold feet.

Life is full of challenges. Whether it’s something small like a crossword clue that you just can’t figure out, or a larger issue like a particularly taxing project at work, we all have to deal with problems that frustrate us. When you encounter these difficulties, do you recoil and throw your hands in the air? If so, maybe developing a little more resilience could be a good thing.

They say all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. And it's true -- hobbies make you more interesting and fun to be around and keep your body and brain rested and renewed.