I don’t know about you, but I find it hard to relax. I like and take vacations, but when I’m home I cram as much as I possibly can into weekends and evenings. I need a break. Apparently, I’m not the only one. We Americans don’t seem to know how to relax, even though...

I had the privilege of working with some great leaders at ADKF in San Antonio recently, and at the end of the class I asked everyone to please take their buttons and pass them on to colleagues who hadn’t attended. These buttons had positive affirmations on them, and...

Years ago, I was recommended by Dun & Bradstreet to teach a presentational skills class to all employees of a very large bank in Manhattan. It was a really big opportunity and the head of HR asked if I could give her a 20-minute preview of how I...

Have you ever said something to yourself like, “If my boss really valued me, then she’d say so” or “If my brother-in-law really wanted to spend time with me, then he’d do something I like.” We can fill in the blanks endlessly with relatives, spouses,...

Were you ever unlucky enough to have a bad boss or teacher? Someone who kept reminding you of what you weren’t good at? Naturally no one is great at everything; it’s never how smart we are, it’s how we are smart.  When we’re of a certain age or in a...

As a youngster I loved to tell scary stories. I’d often have friends over and we’d spread sleeping bags out in the basement, bring down all sorts of snacks, and turn off all the lights. Then the stories began. They were fun and we’d laugh and scream and eventually get...

Many years ago, I went on a date from an online dating service. We had connected online, and when I met him he was smart, charming and good looking. And then he began talking. I was so amazed at how he never came up for air, never asked me a thing about myself, that I...

Remember when you were a little kid and you suddenly had a growth spurt and everyone around you commented “Look how big you’re getting, my goodness.” If you were like me you preened, you were so proud of outgrowing childhood. Finally! Now imagine you could...

Talking to a client recently who was stressed over the holidays, she talked about having to do things that didn’t really feel right to her. She didn’t like the holidays and resented doing what she felt she had to do. This reminded me of author Martha Beck’s best...

William James, often called the father of American psychology, once said that when people think they’re thinking, they’re just rearranging their prejudices. And the same might be said for all of us if we make sure we go to the same people, same channels, same news...

Have you ever befriended someone while camping, hiking, bowling, or any activity where the status of career wasn’t the primary concern?  Then later you found out they were in a profession that really surprised you and definitely would have swayed your judgment on...

Pierre Pradervand in his book, 365 Blessings to Heal Myself and the World, says he starts his day by saying “Yes, thank you” at least seven or eight times as he gets out of bed. The idea--whatever comes his way that day he will not only be appreciative of, he will be...

There was a time, many years ago, when I was furious with a client and left her a message telling her she was a liar. Did this help the situation? Unequivocally not. Instead, it took much longer to clear up the issue. Regardless of her behavior my job was to pause,...

My brother visited me recently and we had a blast bouncing back and forth between current reality and memory lane. What was especially fascinating to me though, was the icebergs we uncovered. Some beliefs are so far below the surface we aren’t even aware of them, and...

If you’re a gardener you know the value of repotting. The roots get stunted, the plant starts to lose stamina and strength and if left unattended, will often wither. Humans are the same. To consciously allow your roots to rot, says the Educare Unlearning Institute, is...

Do you work with a great boss who never tells you what a good job you’ve done because he/she doesn’t realize it matters? Are you in a relationship with someone who thinks actions speak louder than words so you never get gifts for your birthday but they will fix...

According to Forbes, in an article on the nine characteristics of people who get promoted, the number one characteristic people need for promotion is to have the ability to command a room, and exude confidence. In other words, they need great presentational skills,...

Stephen Covey had a special presentation he used when talking about priorities. He would ask a participant to try to fit everything into a bowl, including a pitcher of water, big rocks, small rocks and sand. The majority of time there would be a mess, things just...

I’ll spend endless hours with my son trying to explain the obvious; he’s wrong and I’m right. And he’ll counter with a statement like, “I don’t know how a woman who is as smart as you can be so dumb when it comes to politics.” Obviously, we don’t agree. ...

I’m guessing you’ve heard or read the saying “People don’t care how much you know when they know how much you care.” We all know those words have merit, but with busy lives it doesn’t mean we have time to put that philosophy into practice. Well, I’ve a friend who...