PURPOSESCAPING : Build confidence to reinvent and find purpose in midlife

Do you remember your favorite teacher from when you were in school? Or a teacher who could make a subject you usually didn't like come alive? Or better yet, a teacher who could break down a subject in a way that could make you understand even when others couldn't?   And they may have been saying the exact same thing or reading from the exact same textbook as all the other teachers who taught that...

I recently attended an organizational effectiveness training retreat for an organization I'm a member of. One of the most powerful things I learned was how easily an organization's culture can get off track, and how possible it is to get things BACK on track.   So think about an organization you're a part of, or even a relationship you have with someone to make it easier to imagine. If you have on...

Harlem BY  LANGSTON HUGHES     What happens to a dream deferred?         Does it dry up       like a raisin in the sun?       Or fester like a sore—       And then run?       Does it stink like rotten meat?       Or crust and sugar over—       like a syrupy sweet?         Maybe it just sags       like a heavy load.         Or does it explode?    

How do you show up when you come to win?   For some reason, we all know how to prioritize our work assignments, our money, our kids, even our health - but when we think of our gifts we go blank.   We get ourselves out of bed and out of the house every day, but suddenly can't figure out how to motivate ourselves to get started.   We multitask, manage multiple calendars and juggle conflicting schedu...

Why does it even matter whether or not you package your genius?   Who cares if you explore what you're meant to do?   What difference does it make if you don't share your genius with others?   Those are the questions I want to explore with you today. Because before I can make the case that you should package your genius, you should first understand what's at stake if you don't.   I believe the man...

If I handed you the deed to the land that contained a diamond mine, how would you feel? Maybe you'd feel excited thinking about your good fortune and your riches, but after you thought about it, would you know what to do with it? Would not knowing overwhelm you? Would it make you walk away?   No way.   You'd do some research, call an expert, and figure out what one does with a valuable diamond min...

Sometimes you have to take a different route to get where you're trying to go. And while you may not like the idea of alternate routes - especially if you're a recovering perfectionist like me - you must admit, the route doesn't matter all that much. Because if you end up still reaching your destination, who cares how you got there?  I had to learn (still learning!) to give myself grace when the j...

No season lasts forever, but in every ending there's a chance for some new beginning - if you keep your eye out for it. Whether you're watching something come to an end, or you're ready to start a new chapter, what is it your season to do? Meico Whitlock who I interviewed on Episode 41 - (How to harness your focus and set priorities) and Epis ode 63 -  (How to Create a Vision for Your Life ) taugh...

Sometimes your genius needs a break.  And you shouldn't feel bad about it. In fact, you'll likely move further ahead, instead of falling behind as you may imagine. Rest helps you work smarter not harder - and I'm with that! I learned this summer not to beat myself up for needing and taking rest - but to celebrate what happens to my mind, body and relationships when I take a step back and nurture m...

Change is hard, especially if you like tradition, routine, or growing accustomed to the way things are. Change can also be hard when it's public-facing. You have all those prying eyes to consider. What will people think? How will this change their perception of me? But what I've learned from experience is this: when you make a big change - say your hair color, or even your job - it may register br...

I've seen a few posts recently about saturation - one post about there being too many courses. Another post about there being too many coaches. Both posts discouraging people who'd never coached or created courses to even try.   Because saturation.   But saturation doesn't matter when it comes to having a better solution. A more convenient solution. A more you solution.   When you think about coac...

Today is the first day of July, the first day of Q3, and the official halfway point of the year. Since we only have six months left in 2019, if you've had time to reflect on the six months that have passed, you may be lamenting on how far you are from the goals you set in January.   (Or you may have crushed your goals completely, to which I say, yay you!)   But if you are nowhere near where you th...

Making yourself visible means nothing if you're not willing to close the deal. And yet, I see so often high achievers who are willing to teach others what they know, but unwilling to let people know how to take the next step and pay them. But if you want to grow your brand, increase your salary and add commas to your business revenue, you have to sell yourself. You have to sell yourself in meeting...

Visibility is important, but I don't believe in visibility for visibility's sake.  Media interviews, speaking engagements and social media content have been my method of creating inbound opportunities - opportunities that come to me.  In the last few months, visibility has yielded the following: a bulk book order from a Fortune 100 company's subsidiary a semi-conductor company invited me to develo...

We all know we should say something to be seen and heard, but...what? How to find your thought leadership ideas is a topic I'm extremely passionate about, as most people are so close to their brilliance that it's hard for them to see how they can package it for other people. Here are a few ways to know what you have to say if you're "too close" to your genius" AGGRAVATION. Look at what irritates y...

I've said it before - and I stand by the statement. You have to make the case for what you've done in order to get what you want now.   Simply having the epiphany that you want to use your skills differently is not enough - you need receipts to back up your claims if you want people to pay you.   But where I see most people getting stuck is they fail to look at the evidence and results they're clo...

In my book Package Your Genius , I break a successful personal branding process down into 5 steps - get clear on your genius, make the case for what you bring to the table, define your big ideas, make yourself visible, and last sell yourself.   Today I want to dive a little more into that first step - getting clear.   In terms of getting clear on your genius, I've talked a lot about following your...

Yesterday I talked about the power of speaking your dreams into existence, and how IF you've verbalized your desires, your mind subconsciously sets you on a path to achieve the things you want to do, even if you've lost your nerve or don't feel confident.   Well looking over my written goals for 2019 has given me a window into how powerful writing your goals down can be even if you don't set out w...

If you've been listening to the podcast, you know I've been in Italy for the past week or so, and it's been an amazing trip, I've had a great time. But I was reflecting on the fact that I almost didn't come. About six weeks ago,a friend asked me to join her in Italy since she'd be traveling here for a conference. I did something I normally don't do - I didn't hesitate. I said yes.   I've been thin...

On episode 100, I briefly shared the concept of being an activator or a maintainer.   Understanding whether you’re an activator or maintainer can help you figure out the best way you’re called to serve others if you’ve decided to package your genius by working with people.   Do you know which one you are?   As a start, activators tend to feel very energized up front; they’re excited and often have...

Drumroll please... I've just reached a major milestone. I've recorded my 100th podcast! I'm so excited! This podcast has evolved over the 2.5 years I've been doing it, and there have been some bumps and bruises along the way. But for the most part, I'm very happy with the journey and where I am now as a podcaster. Thank you for being here! On this special episode, I come to you live from the stree...

Muscle memory is defined as "the ability to reproduce a particular movement without conscious thought, acquired as a result of frequent repetition of that movement." From Wikipedia: "When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort. This process decreases the need for attention and creates max...

An old story - everybody has one. Typically old stories are framed by absolutes - "I never..." or "I always..." or "I'm not someone who..." But we have the power to change our actions, and in doing so change our stories. I want to change the story about myself that I'm not adventurous; I don't travel. I'm broadcasting this episode from Italy where I am in the midst of an adventure - an impromptu t...

If you're a high achiever who's anything like the people I work with most often, you're always thinking about the next step, and pondering how you'll get to your next level. You may be making gains in your career, or putting in the work to build your credibility and your personal brand in the process. But what happens when all your hard work takes you exactly where you wanted it to, but you don't...

It's not always easy to hear other people's opinions about how you can improve - let's face it, we all have egos.  But in my journey, rarely has my next level of success been on the other side of praise and flowery feedback. It typically only surfaces after I've heard something that I didn't want to hear.  Ouch. I talk to professionals of all stripes who find themselves in one of two positions: on...