Are you feeling bored? Do you want work that interests you? I have worked with lots of people who say: I’m bored with what I do. I’ve lost interest in ____. I’ve always done the same thing; I don’t know where to begin looking for something I’d love to do. If you’re one of those people, pay attention! My father was a small town pediatrician. When I was a teenager … Read More
On Your Mark, Get Set . . . On Your Mark, Get Set . . .
Growing up in the hot South, I spent hours at the swimming pool. I learned to dive from the side of the pool and soon graduated to the “low board”. In those days before concerns about legal liability brought it to an end, there was a “high diving board” at the pool, some ten or more feet above the water. I remember going up the high board for the first … Read More
Seeing Patterns
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results – Einstein. My coach, yes and I do have one, gave me an exercise. Every morning, I take a few minutes and review the previous day. Still in my nightgown, on the sofa or back porch, I just jot down quick responses to the following questions: What worked yesterday? What didn’t? How is my … Read More
Declaring YOUR Independence
July 4th is the Declaration of Independence of the American colonies from England declaring their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It goes on to list all those actions taken by the Crown to limit the Colonies. In honor of Independence Day, you can free yourself. What are YOU going to declare your independence from? A job which stresses you without rewarding you? A prejudice towards new/different … Read More
Making Gravy
A newly wed wife came home from work one day to find her husband had prepared a roast. She was thrilled, but puzzled: he had cut the ends off the roast before cooking it. In her sweetest possible voice she asked, “Sweetheart, I notice you cut the end off the roast. Any particular reason why?” Busy preparing the rest of the meal, he replied, “That’s the way you cook a … Read More
Beer Goggles Decisions
What is a Beer Goggle Decision? Two smart entrepreneurs were bemoaning a couple of hiring mistakes they had made. Curious, I asked, “What led you to hire these guys in the first place”? “They seemed like good guys who would fit into the company”, they replied. “What about the specific skills and experience they brought to the table?” I continued. “Well, they were the only two candidates we had, we … Read More
Facing Into The Storm
Instincts of bison tell them to face into the storm Bison are magnificent animals that roamed our Western plains in huge numbers, until over-hunted by white hunters more than a century ago. The weather on the plains can be harsh, blowing snow by winter and wind-driven dust storms in the spring and summers. Yet these mighty beasts persist. When faced with a storm they turn into it. Their instinct tells … Read More
Hike Your Own Hike
Eight years ago, my friend Jeff invited me and a few others on a 60-mile hike in Glacier National Park. It was a magnificent and memorable trip. So, when he called in December to invite me to join him and his family for a hike in southernmost Chile (Patagonia), I jumped at the chance. Parque Nacional Los Torres is as spectacular as it is remote – immense glaciers, awe-inspiring peaks, … Read More
This is NOT Just for Baby Boomers
Your Life Calling is the name of Jane Pauley’s monthly show produced by AARP. Before you start thinking, that’s for old people. It’s not! Although it profiles people over 50 who have made dramatic career changes, the lessons we can draw from them are relevant regardless of age. You’ve no doubt heard, “follow your bliss”. Perhaps you have done that and are now struggling to make a living doing it. … Read More
The Boys Aren’t Being Nice to Me!
Why Being Right Doesn’t Always Mean Being Happy Most people would rather be right than happy. We all have theories about the world and then unconsciously act in ways that confirm the theories, even if it makes us miserable. Jessica, a new client, brought me a three-inch stack of email correspondence from her two business associates saying she needed protection from them. She had funded a project and they weren’t … Read More