Great article on the staying power of bad habits, from my esteemed psychoanalyst and business consultant colleague, Dr Alexander Stein (a testament to LinkedIn networking!) from Fortune Small Business.

I nodded my head emphatically at his words. This is familiar territory for me when working with a pragmatic get-it-done client who is more comfortable avoiding conversations about feelings and fixing problems than really looking at what's under the hood!

And I particularly like Dr. Stein's concluding advice about where to begin making the effort to change old unproductive behaviors:

Recognize that your personal history plays a central role in shaping your behavior.

Revise any prejudice against emotional inquiry. Accept the fact that fear, rigidity and avoidance are corrosive -- and that reaching an understanding about yourself can reap rewards.

Admire psychological complexity; don't let it intimidate you. Decode your mind to harness its natural ingenuity.

Respect the gargantuan force of your emotional life. Emotions can propel you to success. They can also impede and even straitjacket you. No matter what, you can't ignore your emotions and still hope to prosper in business or in life.

Nice encouragement, Dr. Stein!