Whether I’m painting, writing, or playing a new song on the guitar, I’ve always found peace and solace in the arts. But like most creative people, there have often been times where I simply can’t find the inspiration to put paint to paper, or pick to strings. As someone who values work-life harmony and building bliss in all spheres of my life, it can be particularly difficult when my creative outlets feel less accessible.

Placing principle over profits can lead to dedicated employees and customer loyalty.

Greek philosophers taught valuable lessons on how to live that are still powerful today to keep us motivated in our business.

Here are my five favorite ancient words of wisdom and how you could utilize them for today:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Whether your past is marked by privilege and abundance or poverty and struggle, every single one of us has a story to tell. It’s a safe bet that everyone you meet, no matter your first impressions, has gone through tough times. You’re not unique in that way, and it’s important to understand the turbulent nature of the human experience before you can really start to let go and move on.

One of my favorite quotes comes from the Dalai Lama is: "When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new."

It's never too late to take the time to reflect on our business and life successes and shortcomings, learn from them, and begin to plan for a new (and better) year.

Eighty percent of the New Year’s resolution gym crowd drops off by the second week of February per a study from the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association. This is why I don’t believe in resolutions because most don’t last. But the new year can be a good reminder to start making ongoing commitments to yourself -- which can happen any time of the year and should be an ongoing process.