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Yesterday, we talked about the importance of knowing yourself.  And we started off with a few questions to help us thinks about how we are feeling and what we have to contribute and learn.  The thought behind us knowing ourselves is that not only would we be aligned with our strengths, but it will help us in our relationships with others. I want to continue our self-inquiry process with...

May I Ask You a Question, Part 1 of 5 Understanding Who we are is important in order for us to operate from a place of strength and to be able to utilize our talents and skill set to serve other.  Knowing ourselves takes some intentional action on our part.  If you have ever been a part of a leadership training course or coaching course, one of the first things you go through is a process to under...

When I was much younger I learned a song about the value of a spark.  Some of the lyrics say "It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up to it's glowing...I wish for you my fried, this happiness that I've found...spread love to everyone, you want to pass it on." As I have reflected on the intent of this podcast, it really is about sharing what I have lear...

In a time when there is so much pretension and pretending, the importance of being real, authentic, and sharing vulnerability seems to be making a comeback.  Perhaps, it actually never really went away.  The social and world events of the last few years have helped to highlight the need for a strong relationship with reality in our work and personal lives.  Dealing in the truths of...

Knowing what you have to offer as an individual or as a business is important.  This is known as a value proposition.  When we know the value we have to offer it helps to ensure our interactions are in line with the value we bring.   A  simple example of this might be a pawn shop.  The other day i was watching an episode of a pawn shop series where an individual brought in...

Yesterday we talked about understanding Why and knowing your Why.  Today is just a quick reminder that our "why's" can be individualized based on our life experiences and goals. When I taught in Biola University's Organizational Leadership program, helping students to understand that behavior did not always equal the same motive and intent was always one of he aha moments in the semester. &nb...

Shout out to David, Iris, Rachel, Mona, Jeanne, Kristi.  Thanks for sharing the message so others can benefit from our collective experience Today I want to talk about knowing Why and Knowing Your Why. For many years, I would help with the onboarding process, and i would always encourage new folks to understand they why to a process.  We often times hired experienced people used to appro...

In a world that seems some focused on 'likes" and 'excess", remember that Contribution is more important than Consumption.  Certainly, we've heard he saying that there is a time to sow and a time to reap.  The sowing make the reaping possible.  The hard work makes the celebration possible.  Our contributions and actions shape our future. Sometimes we think we have little to giv...

Most of the time when someone gives you advice, they are well intentioned.  Nonetheless, the advice they give you is largely based on their frame of reference and experience.  That is why it sometimes seems that people who should be encouraging us and cheering us on, may come across as naysayers who question our trajectory.  They unconsciously share their self limitations in an effo...

Here's a bit of truth, everyone can use a word of encouragement - especially the strong ones and the encouragers.  Sometimes, we make things a bit harder thatn they need to be.  Sure the more specific someone is about encouraging a specific skill or talent, maybe even providing some guidance and direction, is great.  However, so is a simple, "You got this" or "I'm rooting for you" o...

Repetition is important  - it helps us remember - Keeps things from atrophy - Creates opportunity for improvement: modify or replace - understanding and application are enhanced - see patterns and connections - increases expertise - creates bonds, comfort, familiarity, foundation Have you disregarded some of the value in repetition?  Think about the repetition in your life, if it's good...

Sometimes we can look at the same thing and see it very differently based on our experience and sometimes based on what we are looking for. The other day i was watching a TV show where some hunters were tracking game.  I found it really interesting that one of the hunters was able tot distinguish the type of game, the likelihood of when it was last there and of course there was then expertise...

You've probably heard about the concept of active listening.  Active listening is when we really attempt to pay attention to what is being said and confirm understanding by sharing back in our own words what we have heard to confirm we have understood before moving forward in the conversation.  When we are listening actively, we try to avoid planning a response that fails to demonstrate...

Over time, gestures and behaviors add up and can have a tremendous impact.  Kindness is a perfect example of a gesture and behavior that can have a short and long-term impact.  Today let's talk about some of the ways to be Kind. To provide Clarity is kindness Empathy Tough Love Opportunities to learn and grow Giving Encouragement Honesty and truthfulness delivered with caring and compass...

Authenticity and Connection in Community Authenticity has no rivals.  Authenticity is alignment with the greatness within.  Authenticity does not have to prove itself - it is genuine, and one of a kind! Connections that are true - compliment us, and build us up.  Let this be a measure of good connections.  Connections may be short or long, but if they are good they help build u...

When we start something new, it is natural to look for examples, mentors, and coaches to help us develop a new skill set and even grow that skill set.  But what about when you have reached a level of proficiency - is there still a need for a coach?  Sure, if it is a team sport it makes sense that someone needs to take the administrative lead.  But if you are good, really good, do yo...

Juneteenth commemorates and celebrates when the last slaves in the United States located in Texas, were advised of their freedom.  The notification came two years after slavery was to have been abolished! Lessons I take from this piece of history: - Keep the faith, sometimes things take longer than they should or than we would like.  But change will come if we keep the faith and keep mov...

This week we've talked about acknowledging the consistency of Change, Fearing Change, Compounding Change, Being the Change, and we wrap up this week with Perspective Change. The thing about our perspectives is that they should always be changing if we are open to growing. Our perspectives may be strengthened by experience that supports a current line of reasoning and understanding OR they may...

Be the Change.  We wait for change to come to us, to happen around us.  We see things that would benefit from change - we may even know what change is needed.  Why not be the change?  We talked about Fearing Change earlier this week - one fear is what the change may cost us.  Even though the change might be beneficial - what will it demand of us in the process, are we up t...

Sometimes we are in a hurry for the end result of our change.  We want the quick fix. However, change is something that usually compounds over time to realize desired results.  This is not to say that change can not happen quickly, it certainly can.  There are lottery winners - though I have heard that many lose their fortunes because there was not a mindset change to accompany the...

Like many of you, I have been guilty of fearing change.  I like to know what lies ahead so that I can prepare and navigate.  However, sometimes, we let the not knowing become an obstacle to our forward momentum.   Change does involve that we give up what is for what can be.  Sometimes that is giving up the current state of evolution for a more matured state.  Sometimes, it...

Change seems to be at odds with comfort, yet everything is constantly changing. Perhaps instead of looking at change as discomfort, we would do better to focus on change as a process, think exchange.  When we exchange something, we trade it in for something that will provide us more value at the moment.  That can be something we consume, something we learn, or something we physically uti...

As a child I played sports and I loved them.  I liked being a part of the team.  I liked seeing everyone accomplish a little bit more and get a little better each time the team came together.  Even in the losses, there can be big and small wins of advancement.  But I didn't always see it that way.  When I first joined the team, I was the only girl on the team and with litt...

How you show up has everything to do with your identified intention.  If you have no intention, you risk being easily influenced or swayed by others.  So, how do you want to show up in life - how do you choose to show up in life?  You'll need to intentionally think about this to develop a picture - and don't be afraid to start with a partial picture and fill it in as time goes on. &...

Think about a good conversation you've had.  What made it a good conversation?  Was it a colorful name you were called or maybe a clever backhanded insult handed your way?  Maybe what you said was not acknowledged and the other party said something that was a great idea...an idea you mentioned 10 minutes earlier?  Perhaps, it was that conversation where you only had to nod and...