LESSONS FOR
Individuals
A Roadmap to Create a Business Plan for your Personal Life’s Work
Howard’s Gift is a collection of lessons that have been adopted by organizations and embraced by individuals.
It is a timeless resource for the C-suite to the new professional — from the graduating student to the mid-career inflection point. Here you will find samples of content featured in Howard’s Gift that have helped individuals chart a career and life of satisfaction and success. Be intentional about your life’s work.
START AT
THE END
Be Intentional.
Invest time up front to develop an aspirational picture of your future that will serve as a guide for the decisions you make throughout your career and life. Time invested up-front pays dividends over the long journey that is one’s life and career.
Surround yourself with an IBOD - an individual board of directors - to help you do so.
LEARN TO
JUGGLE
NOT TO BALANCE
Balancing is static.
Life and careers almost never stand still. Most of us are juggling–careers, families, friends, hobbies–most of the time. The things we’re trying not to drop? What is the metaphorical egg, tennis ball, sharp knife, bowling ball, or crystal vase?
The most important object is the one that is falling. Give it the attention it necessitates.
STRIVE FOR A
DECENT
AVERAGE
GRADE OVER TIME
School is a fake construct
where one might earn “straight A’s” in every subject.
You can’t maximize all the dimensions of life at the same time. Identify your seven selves - family, social, spiritual, physical, material, avocational, and career - and intentionally decide where you need or want to excel at any one particular moment.
Strive for a “decent” average grade over time.
Continue the story.
Howard’s Gift is not just a book. It’s a philosophy and community. Inspired by almost 20 years of collaboration and the reception to Howard’s Gift, Howard and Eric founded a company named Pravi – an innovative firm that helps organizations grow and employees reach their full potential.
Pravi capitalizes on uncommon wisdom from Howard, Eric, its two other co founders - entrepreneurs Al Pizzica and Yann Borgstedt - and an extraordinary collection of thought leaders from the world’s top universities and most innovative organizations.
The future of work is here. Pravi helps organizations develop strategies to successfully navigate it; attract, retain, & optimize human capital; and generate revenue. You’ve never met a company like Pravi before.
