I experienced a situation in my younger work life – one I remember because it was my ‘Aha Moment’ to realize that transitions choose you, not the other way around and that there are signals to tell you it’s coming. My moment came during times similar to what’s happening now in the economy. I was a struggling worker on the ladder to success and I had much to learn.  I didn’t know my life was supposed to change. Suddenly, without warning (really?), I found myself laid off from my job and career! It was my first time to be ‘rejected’ and I am very fortunate that circumstance happened early in life, because it taught me to see the signals for an upcoming transition. My bosses were sorry and no one wanted to see me go, but I failed to notice these signals. Transitions are the process of change and they can be challenging. You may think it’s unlikely that a job layoff will go so unrecognized today. But even when we know some things, others aren’t so obvious. Do you recognize what’s changing in your life? What are your signals? Because transitions (and change) choose you, most people are uncomfortable [...]

  Your boss has just walked in and she gives you the ultimatum: “I want you to take over this project because we only have three days left under this contract and Sally (your coworker) is out sick; BUT, (and here’s the clincher) I need you to meet that deadline for your report, otherwise we lose that client. You feel your face reddening, or maybe your breathing changes, or you turn white with the thought of how unfair this is! Coupled with the fact that you now cannot go to the hockey game with George because you have to work late every night this week, you want to explode. What do you do? Well, according to communication experts, most people fall into two styles for communicating while challenged or under stress: Reactors/verbalizers Avoiders/withdrawers While there are style variations and ‘shades of grey’ in between, both styles, when taken too far, won’t serve you in building your career and life path forward.  Thankfully, there are ways to stop yourself from making the ultimate relationship or career killer by either over-communicating your cause, or under-communicating it. If you’re the first type you may not be the one to raise your voice or [...]

It’s a fact that much is known and written about the qualities of what makes a good leader. It’s also very easy to see leadership in practice, on the field of protection or play, in the office, in our institutions, organizations and at home; every day we see what works and what doesn’t work. Oftentimes, though, we just move from experience to experience, not recording what we have learned. It’s time to pause and revisit what makes a good leader. I took the time recently to reflect and found what I consider to be recognizable qualities all good leaders demonstrate – hallmarked by their own distinctive style. These are qualities you can cultivate, first by becoming aware of them and then by putting them into practice. This is your first step towards leadership excellence. Here we go. Listed below are the ‘top 10” leadership qualities based on observing good leaders; ones I have had the pleasure to know or serve: Be Ethical  This embodies integrity, honesty, authenticity and doing what’s right without thinking twice. The golden rule … “Do unto others…” is the same for business. Period. No more explanation needed.   Know yourself; know others   Sun Tzu in [...]

Fair warning – this post is about a serious subject – it’s about safety and people being connected to each other. A sometimes somber topic, but stay with me please, because it’s important. Recently, I was working happily on my computer at home and out of the corner of my eye I saw something or someone, I wasn’t sure, outside in the common space of my yard. There he was, a “yard guy”. Normally this is not alarming to see, but this day it was. Why? Well, for one thing, he was ON STILTS! Walking high as can be on rickety, wooden stilts with leather leg straps tying his legs and his life precariously to these devices. As if that wasn’t alarming enough, he was wielding a gas-powered extended BUSH SAW, yes, a power saw…. ON STILTS! I am not kidding. You read that correctly. My first thought was: “Thank God that man isn’t MY son!” The fact is, though, he’s somebody’s son, which was my next thought. As I looked on, I realized he was cutting the high tops of the bushes that lined the stucco barrier between common spaces. And just to be clear, I’ll say it again; [...]

My purpose: Be a catalyst to shine light and beauty into people’s lives by helping them become aware of themselves, be life creative and take action towards their happiness. This topic has had a lot of attention paid to it because whatever you call it: purpose, reason for being, calling, or life meaning, understanding more of what your purpose is will get you to a happier, more successful life – one imbued with love, peace and yes, purpose!  In this two-part series we will follow a three step process of: Think, Plan and Act, so you can enact your purpose. In the first step, the ‘think’ part of this process, you will create a way to describe your purpose; or your Purpose Statement. This is a description of what you think your purpose is right now, at this time in your life. Let’s start with what it’s not. Purpose is not necessarily the thing you do for a living. Similarly, hopes and dreams are not what your purpose is either, although they are clearly connected. While these things may have components or expressions of your purpose, they don’t represent it entirely. What it is: Purpose is what you are uniquely [...]