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Like most of you, every day I’m learning something new about what it really takes to be a great leader.  I’ve invested a staggering amount of time and money reading and taking classes, I’ve applied what I’ve learned successfully and not so successfully, and – as cliché as it sounds – I’ve learned most from…

We are overwhelmed and consistently inundated with so much data that we overthink almost everything. We find ourselves trapped in our heads – virtually disconnected from our bodies, and consequently not engaged in enough feeling or intuiting as part of our process of interacting and deciding. We find ourselves somewhere other than the present. And…

In my moving-fast, “get it done” plan of action for this week, I once again overlooked a fundamentally important element of that plan – I forgot to take the time in my significant relationship to share our mutual intention. It then seems less like an intention and more like me, barking orders or giving suggestions…

It starts with the Declaration of Independence, moves to the Protestant work ethic, and is followed by Hoover’s “rugged individualism.” Let’s not forget class ranking, top sales reps, and all of the other things that focus on individual effort, achievement, and an overall emphasis on independence rather than interdependence. It helps me understand the statement…

Spring officially arrived on March 20, and I am already getting spring fever with the latest crop of nice weather.  The sunny days, warm temperatures and budding flowers not only make me feel more energized – they make me feel like I have a clean slate, somehow. Like the flowers every year, they make me…

Charles Bruxton once said, “You will never find time for anything.  If you want time, you must make it.” Time is a consistent topic in many of my coaching meetings, and often a conversation with myself – whether it’s “I don’t have enough time,” “Time is going by too fast,” “People are taking my time,”…

Have you ever had the pilot light of your stove or hot water tank go out? What did you do? If you’re like me, you initially called your father, but ultimately you lit a match to reignite the flame. This reminds me of a saying that a former boss used to share regarding problem solving,…

The English language is full of idioms.  Remember this one? “Plastic Smile” Definition:  a fake or forced smile, when someone appears to be happier than they really are I remember it from high school. My friends and I would be walking to our next class and pass someone walking in the opposite direction; there would…

How could widening YOUR vision improve your relationships? The Urban Dictionary defines tunnel vision as “Limited vision, as in seeing only your own point of view.” It’s often referred to as being short-sighted, or having a narrow viewpoint. Whether in work situations and relationships, or assessing your own possibilities, talent, development, and potential, do you…

I am often surprised at how I can complicate things, whether in business or life. We get so busy planning and doing that we sometimes forget why we are doing it in the first place. There is so much to do, so many places to get to, so much to accumulate, that sometimes we are…

People – we, all of us – are trigger-happy, and many of us don’t even know it. Simply by virtue of living, our triggers have accumulated and taken up residence in our lives. Triggers are specific experiences, events, and feelings around people and relationships or situations in our lives that ignite specific and consistent feelings…

The past couple weeks, for many of us, have been smattered with cold and snowy weather.  The heart of winter is here and it is a season of driving slower, trying to stay warm, and dealing with delays. During the winter season especially, I feel like I need to look for the joy – in…

One of my friends sent me an e-mail the other day entitled “Fresh starts are in the air…”  I love this time of year and the buzz of creating goals, starting new challenges, and the focus on physical well-being.  But a conversation with another friend prompted an interesting question: Isn’t every day a chance for…

Remembering to take time for yourself is the best gift you can give yourself and others. That time includes not only caring for your physical health, but your emotional and mental health as well. People often wonder why they feel tense or stressed or just off balance; I believe it is because we do not…

We have all heard the phrase “slow down and take time to smell the roses”. In our busy lives many of us would like to slow down, and make time to develop and focus on ourselves, nurture our relationships and enjoy life. I think generally we all look back on the week and say to ourselves,…

This week we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.  It’s a tradition in my family, as in many, to share what we are most grateful for and what makes us happy.  On Gratitude. Gratefulness expands every aspect of our lives:  family, friends, work, health, and our spirituality. This quote by best-selling author, Melody Beattie, resonated with me on the power…

I will never forget my first promotion, moving from sales representative to team leader, supporting a team of three inside-sales representatives. It was an exciting time, and I couldn’t wait to dive right in. After the first week in my new role, my excitement was replaced with doubt and my dive-right-in attitude turned into hesitation.…

Life can move at a very fast pace, and studies have shown that although we say we do not have enough time, we actually have much more free time than any other generation before us.  The difference is we have more activities to fill our time than ever before.  We feel pressured to do everything…