If you ever learned to ride a bike or a wave, you know there was something you had to learn that no one in the world could teach you. Sure, you had to learn how to shift your weight and how to keep your eyes locked forward. But the most important thing to learn others could only tell you about. What is it and how does it apply to business, life, and internships?

There is no limit to the number of things you can be grateful for in business and life, once you get started thinking that way. Why? Because the more grateful you are, the more here in the moment you become. You then start to see things as they are and realize what a gift your life truly is.

There is a curious phenomenon in business and life that is so powerful that scientists have to take it into account, even though they don’t know exactly how or why it works. The medical profession has been on to it for hundreds of years, so they have instituted all kinds of ways to control for it. Let’s take a look and see how much it applies beyond the doctor’s office, shall we please?

The definition of mainstream is “the ideas, attitudes, or activities that are regarded as normal or conventional; the dominant trend in opinion, fashion, or the arts.” While attitudes are “a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person's behavior.” So, what is your attitude or stand regarding the mainstream?

Doesn’t it feel like you work in a lane? If you are a solopreneur, you have felt that from the moment you dove in. If you are in a large corporation, you found this out quite some time ago when you realized there’s a deep end where your feet never touch bottom. All of us are in a lane swimming until we see the “T” marker at the end. But what’s beyond this shallow view?

There are 8 places in the U.S. named Springfield. They are located in the following states: Massachusetts, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Vermont. Its origins are interesting and tie into a new phenomenon today.

I imagine every reader was in a crib at some point early on in life. What a safe comforting space to get rest and feel prepared for what’s next. At the time, we may have been restless - perhaps a touch moodier - so we may not have appreciated the moment as we might now. The source of our rejuvenation was overlooked then and often is now.

Doesn’t it feel like clouds are becoming more and more integral to business and life? For decades I have felt that trend. In my youth the big cotton balls of low flying clouds were a source of joy and wonder. There was comfort to be found in seeing them in the air. Today, it is different. We must think about clouds more deeply. So, here we go…

My internship at Agile Rainmakers was exhilarating, scary, and in the end, refreshing – much like the big splash at the end of a log ride on a hot summer day. But a lot happens before reaching the final drop. Let me tell you about it…

Summer is finally here and it feels like the beach is the place to be. Beaches are so calming to be on that just imagining a beach for a few moments can be relaxing. I just let out a deep breath picturing a white sandy beach. Beaches have a very strong connection to business and life.

In business and life we often expect things to go smoothly. Somehow we feel that everything should go according to plan. Then, we find something getting in the way and we are left feeling down. But what if the twists and turns and stoppages actually served a purpose? Now that would be an interesting perspective – and that’s what we found.

A flight attendant asked recently if anyone wanted sparkling water. It got me thinking, just what exactly is sparkling water. I mean, water is water, isn’t it? What else could it be? Then it got me thinking about interns. I mean, an intern is an intern, aren’t they? What differences could there be, really?

Heavy in business and life is how things feel lately. No matter where one sails, one finds significant challenges spanning numerous aspects of life simultaneously. To succeed in business and life, regardless of circumstances, I have found it important for me to lighten up. It takes some of the weight off. Besides, when it comes to business and life – just like water – you would rather not be unnaturally heavy.

Tomorrow is World Water Day. Let’s celebrate! The theme this year is Water For Peace. Why? Because sharing water resources leads to peace while hoarding water can cause the ultimate water damage - war. Apparently, water never got the memo that the world is split into nations with borders that are taken very seriously. It is a curious thing. We have erected borders to compartmentalize a natural world that – come hell or high water – won’t cooperate. How is compartmentalizing business and life impacting you?

It rained in Chicago last week. It felt like outside was anything but a happy place to be. Yet, if it never felt that way, if it never rained, we wouldn’t enjoy the lush greenery we see every day in this incredible city. I have found resisting rain to be unfruitful. Water is needed for life and without rainy days from time to time, things do dry up. Learning to embrace rain consistently is where the magic begins.

Did you know it takes about 90,840 drops of water to make a gallon? And, a milliliter is made up of 20 drops. So, a drop ain’t much. Yet, somehow drop by drop, things can change dramatically in business and life. With each droplet something different starts to emerge – for better or worse. When you stop and think about it, these tiny collections of water molecules have everything to do with business and life.

A fishing town in Portugal has a very famous beach. It is where monster waves come right up to the beach before crashing. There are few places in the world that rival Peniche. Some incredible barrels there lead to surfing so good the beach is worthy of an international competition held annually. Never heard of it? I assume you haven’t. I hadn’t either until recently. After all, there are millions of beaches around the world. Sometimes someone has to tell you about something spectacular so you can discover it.

The experience of your experience matters. How you think and feel later about how you thought and felt back then is what you dwell on over time, isn’t it? Look closely at the holidays of near or yesteryear and see what you find. Found what I speak of? Where are these thoughts and feelings? Though we can’t yet pinpoint them medically, they are somewhere in you – your soul, your mind, and your body.

Imagine Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, and Whoopi Goldberg are teamed up against Chris Rock, Anne Hathaway, and Joaquin Phoenix in a water polo imbroglio. You might call that “Star Wars”, right? But no…that would be the Space Movie Drama that has nothing to do with pugnacious stars. So, what’s in a name?

On December 12th, Intern Management: Principles for Designing an Exceptional Internship, the second book in the Agile Internship Book Series, will be released in the Amazon. So today we share from its Acknowledgments section. Esteemed Japanese author Ryunosuke Satoro said, “Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” That ocean is bound together by kindness and acknowledgment.