tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69391254683303459662011-07-30T17:11:18.596-07:00The Present Perfect captures how we were in the past; what happened or didn’t happen to us, what we hoped would happen and the possibilities of the future. I am a coach. I believe in the value of embracing what is perfect about the present moment, and using that platform to launch all the possibilities of the future. The path to that embrace comes from the self awareness of who we are and how we got to this present, perfect place. You don’t believe the present is perfect? Check it out.CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.comBlogger1091100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-5795951751860181172010-09-15T07:43:00.000-07:002010-09-15T08:09:12.508-07:00

During the course of the past week, my family lost a very dear long time friend. She had been friends with my mother since grade school, and in many ways, she was like a second mother to me and my siblings. We called her "Aunt," and she was far closer to us than most blood relations in all the ways that count.Our "Aunt" continued to have an exuberant, loving, nurturing and supportive spirit

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-75624108715543485852010-09-01T04:23:00.000-07:002010-09-01T04:30:17.165-07:00

For those who actually follow this blog, I apologize for what has become my annual summer recess. It's not intended; events always seem to sweep me along in the summer. And it is my intention to return -- soon.But for now, I cede this space to one of my favorite coach, Jill Geisler of the Poynter Institute. As part of her must-read series on "What Great Bosses Know," she talks about the

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-77193725332490015032010-07-12T14:03:00.000-07:002010-07-12T14:53:23.205-07:00

It's day 83 of the catastrophic oil in the Gulf of Mexico. After a long, sorry list of attempted fixes and failed containment solutions, the British Petroleum Oil Company this weekend decided to move toward a more effective way to cap the billowing flow of oil from the ocean floor.Unfortunately, this effort required BP to remove the ill-fitted cap that it secured to the well last month. According

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-79971279653297492012010-06-14T21:53:00.000-07:002010-06-19T06:25:37.255-07:00

Like millions of American women, I belong to a book club. Along with the monthly opportunity to share good food, good company and good conversation with a group of extraordinary women, I appreciate my club because it forces me to read literature -- fiction and non fiction -- that has nothing to do with the work I do during the rest of the month. Our selections reflect the wide range of interests

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-11257860056237791702010-06-03T19:23:00.000-07:002010-06-06T23:52:31.744-07:00

Daniel Pink thinks, writes and lectures about the way we do business, in this country and abroad. He thinks about capitalism and the assumptions made about how people work and what makes them work better -- more effectively, more creatively and more productively.A few days ago, I had the privilege of hearing Pink speak to a conference of more than 200 coaches in Washington, D.C. He was

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-68125558538355657752010-05-20T06:22:00.000-07:002010-05-20T06:29:33.388-07:00

I am lifting a post in its entirety from new media/social media marketing maven Seth Godin. When something is perfect, why mess around?Sentences, paragraphs and chapters It's laughably easy to find someone to critique a sentence, to find a missing apostrophe or worry about your noun-verb agreement.Sometimes, you're lucky enough to find someone who can tell you that a paragraph is

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-10511131112361705282010-04-26T16:55:00.000-07:002010-04-30T13:44:27.581-07:00

Environmentally conscious Americans can still feel the afterglow of this month's Earth Day celebration in Washington. April 22nd marked the 40th anniversary of the Earth Day observance in the United States.Although the volume of the debate over global warming rises and falls regularly, most people are in agreement about the risks of over-population and how the strain of those growing numbers

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-38835230129498556482010-04-19T13:03:00.000-07:002010-04-19T13:20:17.380-07:00

As we enjoy the colors of spring (despite the wild temperature swings), a friend was lamenting the return of a persistent cold that she thought she had beat.Her throat was scratchy, her nose dripped and she maintained a dull ached above her eyes. All of her favor cold remedies were failing her.I sympathized with her discomfort, since I was suffering with my reaction to the record levels of pollen

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-63540989873859957792010-03-23T13:59:00.000-07:002010-03-23T14:04:27.797-07:00

I can't even take credit for discovering this clever little video. However, I know enough to pass it on.Just check on the start arrow. Works for both professional and personal lives:My Anti-Creativity Checklist from Youngme Moon on Vimeo.

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-22508401202766298802010-03-17T20:45:00.000-07:002010-03-17T21:14:46.520-07:00

"You cannot find peace until you find all the pieces."Well, maybe not the quote of this specific day, but a good quote nonetheless.To provide some context: Oprah Winfrey recently did a show which featured super private investigator Troy Dunn. Dunn hosts his own show, The Locator, on WeTV cable network. Through his investigation and research, he helps people find and sometimes reconnect with long

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-61670638398847678262010-03-08T14:52:00.000-08:002010-03-10T12:28:58.181-08:00

The Academy Awards continue to dominate water cooler conversation, whether at the work place or in cyberspace. Movie history was made Sunday night with Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker pulling off a David vs. Goliath win over ex-husband James Cameron's box office-breaking Avatar. Bigelow is the first woman in the history of the awards to win in the Best Director category.Comedienne Mo'Nique's

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-13479669073400565982010-02-16T04:07:00.000-08:002010-02-16T04:50:33.136-08:00

Executive Coach and author Russell Bishop explores a concept that readers of this blog have seen before, the belief that there is the possibility of perfection within each moment. Even within times of challenge, Bishop writes that there is positive learning in negative experiences.It's an examination of the laws of attraction, yet from a different perspective than the current pop culture variety

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-50542326063621999372010-02-08T05:42:00.000-08:002010-02-08T09:11:45.611-08:00

It's day three after the historic snowstorm in the Mid-Atlantic region. The sun is shining and the snowplows finally found my street today. Around the neighborhood, there is a feeling of optimism, at least for now.I grew up in the Midwest, so I know from snow. And I know how to deal with it, both driving and maintenance around the house. I've lived in the Washington area long enough to know the

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-13038307889715867572010-01-18T14:04:00.000-08:002010-01-18T14:06:31.321-08:00

Today's edition of Oprah features stark testimony about the dangers of texting and/or talking on the cellphone while driving. Her guests range from those who have lost loved one from the overconfidence of others, and even a mother whose son was killed while texting his girlfriend as he drove.You can see more details of the heartbreaking stories here.The Oprah Show leads me to report an old

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-10449806127402014332010-01-14T16:34:00.000-08:002010-01-14T19:05:38.643-08:00

image from dailymail.co.ukI boarded an airplane for the first time when I was 15 years old. I flew from Akron, Ohio to Miami, where I transferred to an Air France jetliner which would take me to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I would spend two weeks there as part of a group of high school missionaries, working with students at a Catholic school for handicapped children and making overnight trips to

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-44367657059365505072010-01-03T11:38:00.000-08:002010-01-03T12:47:50.165-08:00

Happy New Year New Decade!History/Civics/Politics buffs know that the year 2010 means the taking of the U.S. Decennial Census.As mandated by the Constitution, the U.S. government makes its best effort to count every resident in the country as of April 1. As written in the Constitution (amended in the 14th Amendment, section two): "The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-63810818167509180142009-12-31T19:37:00.000-08:002009-12-31T20:18:38.783-08:00

The New Year's countdown has begun, and as much as I hate to be trite, I am joining myriad pundits and commentators in expressing just how happy I am to move on the the new decade.2009 was a hell of a year, right? Full of challenges and losses and transitions and victories, writ large and writ small. I can't help but think about the loved ones lost during the past twelve months, and over the past

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-39566589397270431972009-12-24T21:49:00.000-08:002009-12-24T22:33:22.113-08:00

It's a few minutes after midnight on Christmas. I'm watching my son finish some last-minute gift wrapping, and thinking about how the frame through which I view Christmas has changed over the years.I guess the first Christmas I can remember was when I was three years old, although I'm not sure whether it's a real memory or one I've created through old photographs. My big brother is spiffily

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-62502916206432487252009-12-02T12:54:00.000-08:002009-12-31T19:24:47.722-08:00

The concept and the power of "The Story" is a central feature in coaching. I've made numerous references to people's stories in this blog -- how all of us create stories or narratives to make sense of our situations or environments, or the stories we carry from our childhoods or past experiences.Recently, a friend shared a video with me that gave me a new perspective on the power and the danger

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-79072516234504668112009-11-06T13:05:00.000-08:002009-11-06T13:40:29.284-08:00

This week, the New York Times posted its last segment of the blog "Happy Days: The Pursuit of What Matters in Troubled Times." As the Times described it, "Happy Days is a discussion about the search for contentment in its many forms — economic, emotional, physical, spiritual — and the stories of those striving to come to terms with the lives they lead."I have not been a regular reader of "Happy

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-76863097259813893052009-10-31T22:12:00.000-07:002009-10-31T23:15:54.979-07:00

After posting Albert J. Bernstein's list of 15 Signs Your Workplace is Dysfunctional, I worried it might leave the impression that most workplaces are so screwed up it doesn't matter where you land -- the workplace is doomed to equal dysfunction.That why I'm happy I came across a recent column by leadership consultant, coach and speaker John Baldoni. He's author of the book "Lead your Boss: The

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-84540789614039115592009-10-29T10:38:00.000-07:002009-10-29T11:25:36.810-07:00

A friend passed along this column by Albert J. Bernstein PhD, author "Am I the Only Sane One Working Here? 101 Solutions for Surviving Office Insanity."His list -- 15 Signs Your Workplace is Dysfunctional is so spot-on that many people will think he's been hiding in their office, taking notes. That certainly seems to be the conclusion of the readers who chose to comment on the page.Notice how the

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-17494929049912742032009-10-28T11:45:00.000-07:002009-10-29T10:38:04.833-07:00

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times chronicled the latest round of musical chairs among moguls in the entertainment industry. Too rich for my blood, but I paused to focus on this quote from Martin Kaplan, who chairs the Annenberg Norman Lear Center at the University of Southern California:"The era of lifelong loyalty is long gone. People don't have careers, they have jobs, and their

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-18475035205377889262009-10-27T12:58:00.000-07:002009-10-27T14:25:53.171-07:00

One of the things I most love about coaching is that there are about as many ways of being a coach as there are people to coach.There are life coaches, dating coaches and parenting coaches; career coaches and executive coaches; coaches who specialize in biotech research, law firms, philanthropic organizations; myriad variations that I could not begin to list here.I think everyone can benefit from

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-57000837774818760152009-10-18T15:14:00.000-07:002009-10-18T15:24:29.224-07:00

This clever video, produced for AARP, shows how you can take the same words, put them through a different frame, and come to a different conclusion:

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-78479412459897605982009-10-15T09:43:00.000-07:002009-10-15T12:14:34.464-07:00

The Washington Post website offers a series of of video interviews offering opinions on various qualities of leadership. Today's feature focuses on a personal crusade of mine: the ability to admit mistakes.Paul Schmitz, CEO of the nonprofit organization Public Allies, tells Washington Post business columnist Steve Pearlstein "why fessing up about your failings strengthens your role as a leader."

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-72494245837506049862009-10-07T11:50:00.000-07:002010-07-14T12:45:48.242-07:00

Human beings are rational, right? That's what separates us from other mammals, our ability to make rational choices, right?So why do people chose to cling to an opinion even after they are presented with verifiable but contradictory evidence?An article by Lane Wallace in The Atlantic Magazine examines research by multiple social scientists which shows that people often employ "motivated reasoning

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-75614018685407593062009-10-03T14:34:00.000-07:002009-10-03T15:07:42.686-07:00

"Point bein', even in the contest between man and steer, the issue is not certain."Movie fans reading this will recognize these previous words as a quote from the Coen brothers Academy Award winning film, No Country for Old Men.I'm a big fan of the brothers Coen, going back to the bizarre and hilarious Raising Arizona through Fargo and beyond. I love their ear for sharp, memorable phrases that

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-23987492249859414542009-09-28T07:32:00.000-07:002009-09-28T09:03:30.938-07:00

Reading this new essay by master coach Marcus Buckingham, I am reminded again why I am drawn to coaching as a vocation and its power to illuminate the basic truths that can lead to happier, more authentic lives.As part of a series of essays Buckingham is writing on Women and Happiness for the popular Huffington Post website, he poses these five critical questions to drill down on how to chose

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-89194283818814628542009-09-26T06:21:00.000-07:002009-10-31T23:24:56.594-07:00

This is another entry/salvo in the social media wars.A dear friend of mine is somewhat of a social media maven. She gives presentations to nonprofits and other groups about how they can utilize Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc. as communications tools to expand their message, their audience and their brand.Recently, she noted that while participating on a panel with other presenters, some of the

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-16768405130449200662009-09-08T15:19:00.000-07:002009-09-08T16:02:36.847-07:00

As a baby boomer, I grew up with more than a passing awareness of astrology. I know my sign (Taurus); I know the basic characteristics associated with the 12 astrological signs. I've even had my chart read -- more than once.Overall, I'm not much of a follower of astrology. I can't say that I even read my horoscope with any regularity. But there is one astrological phenomenon I track: Mercury

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-46551365632447067962009-09-07T11:33:00.000-07:002009-09-07T12:39:35.280-07:00

Happy Labor Day!At this traditional transition point of the end of summer and the start of fall's more serious pursuits, I thought it was a good time to revisit a theme that plays out in countless offices and households everywhere -- the myth of multitasking.Academic research deconstructing the multitasking myth continues to multiple. The latest was published about a week ago by Stanford

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-1697089839704743222009-09-02T11:15:00.000-07:002009-09-02T11:37:12.120-07:00

Management coach extraordinaire Jill Geisler hits the mark today in her regular podcast for the Poynter Institute. She's talking about how smart managers can benefit from creating a "Safe Venting Zone" for themselves.(A link to Jill's management blog, "Leading Lines," can be found on the left rail of this page, just a few scrolls down).Jill recognizes that everyone can get overwhelmed sometimes

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-20634879800981051102009-08-30T13:09:00.000-07:002009-08-30T14:40:07.305-07:00

This is a bear in trouble. Somehow, the bear got trapped in a Colorado skateboarding park and couldn't get out. After spending the night in the skating bowl, an employee of the Snowmass Colorado Parks and Recreation Department lowered a ladder into the pit which permitted the bear to climb out. You can see the whole sequence here.Ed, a coach friend of mine shared this image with me. I suggested

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-47876407637172427752009-08-28T07:51:00.000-07:002009-08-29T15:39:17.163-07:00

Time to 'fess up.Readers of this blog have noticed (hopefully!) the lack of activity over the summer. I wrote about it recently, attributing my absence to the heavy workload I carried over the past few months. That's true, but it's not the whole story.It's not just work that's laid heavily upon me. It's been more a question of mood, of atmosphere. A sense of uneasiness.Or just plain meanness. The

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-34161648077080048322009-08-26T10:34:00.000-07:002009-08-26T11:10:37.130-07:00

I Googled myself today.It wasn't the first time, by far. Curiosity had led me to that practice many times in the past.But I hadn't be so motivated for some time. Until today.It wasn't an exercise of vanity. Instead, it was a form of self-preservation.Washington Post writer Kathleen Parker prompted my search. Her column today details legal activity surrounding a Vogue model and an anonymous

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-8235600915009534982009-08-14T20:34:00.000-07:002009-08-14T20:56:01.087-07:00

Oh boy.I was afraid to see how long it had been since I'd posted to this blog.Wow.I'd think about writing something to explain my absence, but then it would seem lame and I was busy, so I let it go.The truth is a little more complicated, but not by much.I had a lot of work. A LOT. Which, in these challenging times, is a good thing.I would get up early and stay up late into the tonight to balance

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-30831039375281662992009-07-06T12:25:00.000-07:002009-07-06T12:43:24.109-07:00

Are you familiar with Tim Toady? I just made my acquaintance today. Tim Toady is someone all managers and leaders should know. In fact, we call can learn from Tim.Actually, "Tim Toady" is not a He, it's a phrase. More accurately, it's a acronym for a philosophy. TIMTOWTDI.Which means "There's more than one way to do it."Rumor has it that the phrase originated with computer programmers praising

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-17649432349553411842009-06-18T16:21:00.000-07:002009-06-22T06:56:01.392-07:00

"Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." Satchel Paige US baseball player (1906 - 1982)There's sitting, and then there's sitting.A growing number of elementary school teachers are experimenting with a different seat for their students -- a stability ball.Yes, those ubiquitous personal fitness devices, found at gyms and work out studios everywhere, and finding their way

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-16915958572368759162009-06-17T07:56:00.000-07:002009-06-18T11:00:55.097-07:00

Readers of this blog know that if I hear or see a good idea, I will share it. I claim no pride of authorship; good information should be shared no mater what the source.Today, I have to be honest: I wish I were Melinda Beck.At least, I wish I had written the excellent article Melinda Beck posted Tuesday on the Health page of the Wall Street Journal website.Beck's article exposes the Inner Critic

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-67190250285070500212009-06-11T12:10:00.000-07:002009-06-11T15:36:08.239-07:00

I've been saving a link to a Washington Post article published last month that analyzed social networking and other communications choices against dating profiles.Reporter Monica Hesse writes: "Today, you can be a phone person, an e-mail person, a text person, a Skype person, a Facebook wall person, a Twitter person, an instant-messaging person, or you can just stare creepily into your webcam

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-75862683128124670992009-06-11T10:49:00.000-07:002009-06-11T11:51:15.521-07:00

A common feature in many offices is an unspoken culture of "illness stoicism" -- you know, the unsaid assumption that unless you have a fever north of 104 degrees, you WILL be at your desk.It's a requirement for executives, managers and rank-and-file employees. It shows your commitment and loyalty. And especially in these times of recession and layoff -- who wants to take the risk of missing

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-80255358172591047932009-06-04T16:49:00.000-07:002009-06-04T17:08:02.106-07:00

I am not a big sports fan, but I have enough sports fans in my life so that I can fake a certain amount of knowledge when major sporting events come up. And I can match a respectable amount of sports "smack" for my beloved Cleveland professional sports teams.(And no, we cannot talk about the NBA. Not now. There's a large reserve of resilience that's required to be a Cleveland sports fans, but I

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-11715599938944260802009-06-02T09:16:00.000-07:002009-06-14T10:18:34.603-07:00

This is one of my favorite commercials right now. Not that I am endorsing Sprint or Nextel or any other wireless company. My favorite moment comes about seven seconds in -- you might call it Words To Live By:

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-91526129815066973502009-05-24T04:29:00.000-07:002010-03-12T19:15:21.032-08:00

I write this the morning of my son’s college graduation. The sun has been up for about an hour. A smattering of clouds lessens the sun’s intensity and may threaten the outdoor commencement ceremonies planned for later this morning. Yet, I am looking out on a perfect day, one of the most perfect I have known.Most of my close family has gathered in New England this morning, safely negotiating the

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-38350704263645807822009-05-13T09:53:00.000-07:002009-05-13T10:12:48.377-07:00

This panel from Dave Coverly's "Speed Bump" comic made me chuckle. It also has special resonance for me as a coach. The truth is that in most instances, people actually save themselves from mistakes or bad choices. Other people in their lives -- family, friends, mentors, co-workers, therapists and coaches -- can shine a light on the opportunities, options and choices available to all of us. But

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-75979623049739198322009-05-11T15:54:00.000-07:002009-05-11T16:23:20.094-07:00

In a post on this blog last month, I mentioned the phenomenon of workplace bullies. Now, a recent article in the New York Times focuses attention on a special form of work place bullying: women who bully other women.Reporter Mickey Meece provides context in her article by noting the special challenges that women face in achieving higher rank within the work force, and also how stereotypes held by

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-40871543978259931952009-05-09T21:10:00.000-07:002009-05-10T04:08:46.291-07:00

One of my good friends, Elizabeth, is probably the most erudite, cosmopolitan person I personally know. Another daughter of the great Midwest, Elizabeth is a world traveler, fluent in several languages, successful in a variety of vocations. She also is a creative, instinctive cook; a fluid writer and a gracious hostess with a distinct style aesthetic that can be seen in every room she inhabits.

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-68724264740553341642009-05-06T05:05:00.000-07:002009-05-06T05:13:01.318-07:00

I am fascinated by the HBO series “In Treatment,” and particularly actor Gabriel Byrne’s portrayal of the empathetic, insightful, flawed therapist Paul Weston. Each episode is compelling, in large part because of the exquisite, subtle and nuanced writing. The producers do not rely on some huge revelation or patient breakthrough by the end of each half hour. The audience, the therapist and the

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-79682106082539021422009-05-05T07:26:00.000-07:002009-05-05T07:56:22.647-07:00

This week's Science section in the New York Times has a good article on the new book Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life, written by Winifred Gallagher and referenced in this blog last week.The Times article offers additional support for Ms. Gallagher's conclusions about the myth of multi-tasking by noting recently published research in the science journals Nature and Neuron about the process of

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-51160606557372403882009-05-01T20:17:00.000-07:002009-05-04T05:10:42.489-07:00

I was on a short Southwest flight last week – not enough time to really do any work of my own, but just enough time to browse through the airline’s well-written inflight magazine, Southwest Spirit. Which offered a tale of unparalleled leadership from an unexpected source.The April issue’s cover features Cameron Hughes, a rather nondescript middle aged Canadian who makes his living as a

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-1624501306925931232009-04-29T13:16:00.000-07:002009-04-29T13:20:38.411-07:00

Last year NPR’s “Morning Edition” ran a series of reports on the myth of multitasking.In part, it deconstructed the entire idea of multitasking, saying that instead of doing everything at once, people really are rapidly shifting from one task to another. Executive functions governed by the brain’s frontal lobes allow us to prioritize what we want to focus on, and when to make the shift.But no

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-41536903142479383142009-04-26T08:09:00.000-07:002009-04-26T08:24:52.420-07:00

“Worry is not preparation.”I came across this quote a few months ago and it rang so true for me that immediately posted it here.(I think the source is author C.S. Lewis – if anyone can confirm, let me know.)Now I have met an executive who illustrates what I think should be the corollary to that quote: “But worry is better than denial.”Bryant runs internal training and development programs for a

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-85461097750243460262009-04-21T13:23:00.000-07:002009-04-21T13:50:36.657-07:00

Even the occasional reader of this blog knows of the affection I have for TLC Cable network's show What Not To Wear. For the uninitiated, each episode features hosts Stacy London and Clinton Kelly surprising some unsuspecting fashion victim and offering to trade $5000 worth of new clothing for the contents of the victim's closet, with the pledge that all replacement clothing will fit the shopping

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-49706765710838843072009-04-16T05:36:00.000-07:002009-04-16T08:34:54.421-07:00

Once again, Jill Geisler at the Poynter Institute perfectly captures the challenges and struggles for leaders during these turbulent economic times. Her current column focuses on newsroom managers, but she is speaking truth to leaders in all types of organizations.This is important information for employers and employees. Read it.The Private Hell of Managers Facing Newsroom Cuts

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-62364645410292566122009-04-13T14:34:00.000-07:002009-05-11T15:54:15.689-07:00

Spring is the harbinger of the award season in American journalism. In broadcasting, the College of Journalism and Mass Communication at University of Georgia already has announced the winners of its George Foster Peabody Awards for work done in 2008. Columbia University will reveal the recipients of the 2009 Pulitzer prizes next Monday. Midway through the season comes the Medill Award for

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-490775461809558952009-04-07T18:05:00.000-07:002009-04-07T18:34:35.977-07:00

Bea Fields, a leadership and business coach I really respect and admire, uses her blog about Millennial Leaders ("Millennials" being defined as those Generation Y 20-somethings who are moving into the workplace in increasing numbers) to caution about the pervasiveness of bullying in both schools and the office. Bea (along with another great coach, Scott Wilder and other contributors) literally

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-50944300449419942002009-04-02T13:26:00.000-07:002009-04-03T14:17:20.660-07:00

Music has been a constant in my life. From the 78 rpm Count Bassie LP's my parents would play, through my siblings' Motown 45's; classical and pop music concerts, vinyl LP's, CD's and music downloads. An eclectic variety of music presented in multiple formats. While the music has been a constant, its variations and its delivery change continuously. I am reminded of that reality by two very

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-82932930987572198532009-03-28T06:56:00.000-07:002009-03-28T10:21:59.221-07:00

Since the beginning of the year, I've had the privilege of coaching groups of workers in transition. Most are journalists, many have been laid off, all wonder about their employment future in these turbulent economic times.These days, everyone has heard the post-layoff cardinal rule of job hunting: network, network, network. Tell everyone you know that you're looking. Reach out to people you know

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-48154297755257837842009-03-20T12:56:00.000-07:002009-03-20T13:50:32.916-07:00

This must be my week for gifts of inspiration. This gem comes from another Washington area coach: Bruce Ervin Wood. Brings to mind the Abraham Lincoln example of "A Team of Rivals:"Adapted from Blues Ain’t Nothing But a Good Soul Feeling BadBy Sheldon KoppMarch 14 Some people assume that when a co-workers argue, their ability to get their job done is impaired. Paradoxically, it is

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-51673484974509183512009-03-17T13:32:00.001-07:002009-03-17T13:43:58.661-07:00

Once again, Jill Geisler from the Poynter Institute for Media Studies hits it out of the park. More evidence of why I keep a link to her column on the left rail of this blog.Jill lovingly breaks down some of the best qualities of good journalists and why employers should want them. This is an exercise that anyone can do, no matter what their profession or job function. Breaking your work down to

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-26327837766879265332009-03-14T18:31:00.000-07:002009-03-14T19:20:24.596-07:00

Professionally and personally, it's been a busy week for me, with more time spent away from my computer and my desk than normal.At week's end, a dreary day turned into a rainy, chilly day, with little extraneous distraction. I could stay at my desk, catching up on the correspondence, the websites and the blogs that make up my usual reading.It has been a busy week in the worlds of business,

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-53934271454280127562009-03-07T07:31:00.000-08:002009-03-07T08:33:07.346-08:00

I have spent the past week climbing out of computer hell. Holla if you feel me.The week started with a resolution to fix, once and for all, a long-standing wireless connectivity issue. I had made so many attempts to get identify and correct the problem that I must have made my way through the entire warehouse of Dell tech support technicians. Each time, it would seem we had achieved success --

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-78800832665347608712009-03-01T08:30:00.000-08:002009-03-01T11:22:09.356-08:00

Would you be willing to erase bad memories? Just wipe them off your hard drive? What memories would you choose? The pain of injury? The pain of loss? Embarrassment? Failure?Recently, there have been news reports about a pill that allegedly could erase or at least minimize painful memories. Amsterdam psychologist Merel Kindt presented research on the concept to the science journal Nature

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-15232234964535707922009-02-19T09:14:00.000-08:002009-02-19T09:22:17.056-08:00

This week’s issue of Newsweek features an essay written by Chelsey B. “Sully” Sullenberger, the US Airways pilot who executed that miraculous landing of Flight 1549 in the Hudson River last month.http://www.newsweek.com/id/184605All I Wanted Was to Talk to My Family, and Get Some Dry SocksI am among the millions of people who have watched this graceful man accept adulation, admiration and

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-53038455897899291632009-02-12T11:10:00.000-08:002009-02-12T11:16:52.670-08:00

"Worry is not preparation."Love this. If anyone can give me the origin of this quote, please share. It may be C.S. Lewis; I'm happy to attribute proper credit.

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-70068147319928724802009-02-10T19:05:00.000-08:002009-02-10T19:36:27.579-08:00

Yesterday I let go of a friend. I fought it all the way.Yesterday my friend was buried after a short but extremely ferocious battle with cancer. We were the same age. Sandee had passed away one week before. None of us were ready. Not her sister, nor her father, nor the extensive network of friends she had accumulated during her extraordinary life.And certainly not her son, the light of her life,

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-14718579102748117282009-02-03T23:06:00.000-08:002009-02-04T12:33:29.239-08:00

Our new president has completed his second full week in office. And although he still enjoys approval ratings upwards of sixty percent, I'm guessing that he's glad to have day 14 behind him.President Obama arranged to make himself available Tuesday for a series of interviews with the news anchors from the major broadcast television networks. The appearances were part of a plan to build support

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-20500995621670363602009-01-27T06:59:00.000-08:002009-01-28T09:39:09.086-08:00

Why Incentives Are Effective, Irresistible, and Almost Certain to Backfire | Fast CompanyPosted using ShareThisJill Geisler, faculty member at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in Florida, points out this important article in Fast Company magazine. It clearly illustrates the law of unintended consequence. I also appreciate this piece because it drills down into some of the reasons for

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-5785900402573730512009-01-25T11:22:00.000-08:002009-01-25T11:42:01.912-08:00

Fans of the HBO series "Sex and the City" may remember Miranda's "skinny jeans." The episode focused on Miranda's triumph when she successfully got back into a pair of blue jeans she favored before her pregnancy with her son. The jeans were more than a piece of clothing; they represented the pre-baby story she maintained about her appearance and her life.Most women I know have graduated wardrobes

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-7056795901106201262009-01-21T19:59:00.000-08:002009-01-21T21:23:53.967-08:00

I'm blurry as I write this, after a day of goodbyes and departures as family heads home from the events of Tuesday, January 20, 2008.I was down on the National Mall, in the thick of it. Freezing temperatures, overflow crowds, hours waiting, whatever. Didn't matter. It was history, and I wanted, NEEDED, to be present, even if I could barely see the West Front of the Capitol far off in the distance

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-62674411060436182782009-01-12T09:07:00.000-08:002009-01-12T09:27:43.775-08:00

If you or someone close to you has experience with 12-step programs, you know the significance and the philosophy of the phrase "One Day At A Time."In a nutshell, it says that every day offers the chance for a fresh start.A friend of mine who has achieved a long period of recovery from a substance abuse problem told me that he does not believe in New Year's resolutions. He says that the time to

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-27381977062870127462009-01-03T10:43:00.000-08:002009-01-03T10:43:16.743-08:00

My first post of the new year is not new. Actually, I first explored this metaphor a few years ago while thinking about the process of transition.A word of warning/disclosure: some of the language is a bit crude. And please forgive the euphemistic spelling. But sometimes you've got to use the perfect vehicle to deliver the message.Reflections on Release:As we consume food, our bodies extract

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-84484491177264620002008-12-31T00:30:00.000-08:002008-12-31T00:30:00.832-08:00

I've been thinking about the end of 2008 for a while. Truthfully, I've been looking forward to it.It's been a year that's brought amazing events and celebrations, some that I've dreamed about and some beyond my imagination.It's also brought enormous challenges and losses that continue to test me, my clients and those I love.As I wrote in a previous post(_http://presentperfectcoach.blogspot.com/

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-12463028362639090862008-12-29T21:37:00.000-08:002008-12-29T22:00:25.603-08:00

“I don’t want to be jealous, but I think that maybe I am.”This admission came from a vice president at a national non-profit organization. In the past year, he had moved from running the main communications arm of the organization into a more specialized role, designing specific strategies to move his coalition into the 21st Century.“Michael” has the most fascinating background of almost anyone I

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-1791991987296113932008-12-24T11:23:00.000-08:002008-12-24T11:29:03.741-08:00

Once again, we’re on the eve of a major holiday. Some people consider it to be the biggest day on the calendar for spiritual and religious reasons. For others, it’s a time when (most) commercial work shuts down and families spend time together.Christmas always has the potential for exponentially more stress than Thanksgiving. The expectations are so much higher – gifts, decorations, traditions.

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-31548404447790367452008-12-13T11:07:00.000-08:002008-12-14T17:48:17.575-08:00

There's a recurring theme on my guilty pleasure television show What Not To Wear http://tinyurl.com/33e7h (see my previous post for background)It's people who punish themselves about their bodies. These are folks who have put on a few pounds over the years, or whose shapes have changed after the birth of children, or illness or just the passage of time. Some of these people have plans to diet or

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-8478522543237417172008-12-12T08:25:00.000-08:002008-12-12T08:28:22.383-08:00

For everyone who has wished for more time (and who hasn’t?), you’re about the get your wish.This momentous year of 2008 will NOT end at the stroke of midnight. Instead, a “leap second” will be added on to the last minute of the year.According to the Daily Telegraph of London http://tinyurl.com/6yk3f2 , this tweak is being done because the earth is gradually slowing down as it spins on its axis.

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-32181996018825511312008-12-10T19:14:00.000-08:002008-12-10T19:22:06.115-08:00

10 Questions for Ron Howardhttp://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1864441,00.htmlWhat was the most difficult part about making the transition from actor to director? Matthew Peterson HOT SPRINGS, ARK.For me it was learning to not control everything. When you're directing, of course, you're supervising everything, but if you don't trust the artists you're collaborating with, you wind up

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-86610240280133564222008-12-05T16:57:00.000-08:002008-12-05T17:03:50.035-08:00

We all have our guilty pleasures. One of mine is a reality television show.I LOVE “What Not To Wear” on the TLC cable network.http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/whatnottowear/whatnottowear.htmlFor the uninitiated, WNTW follows the untiring work of two fashion “stylists,” Stacy London and Clinton Kelly, as they ambush nominated fashion victims, secretly videotape their fashion faux pas, expose them

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-5964235855582985242008-11-26T06:51:00.000-08:002008-11-26T07:00:37.416-08:00

It’s the morning before Thanksgiving and I’ve been up for awhile because I have a lot do: more food to get, more cleaning to finish and more cooking to start. I’ll be running around for most of the day, like people all over the country.Fortunately, I’ve got a good start on the number one thing on my “to do” list.Giving thanks.My thanksgiving began in earnest last night as each of my children made

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-45413496945381882822008-11-19T08:50:00.000-08:002008-11-19T09:03:12.916-08:00

It was one of his first public appearances in his new role. He’d been named to head up the regional office of a national not-for-profit organization, with a focus on social services and urban policy.His audience was made up of members of a national service organization. He’d been a member since college. Before him was an array of local community, business and political leaders; people who could

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-19780549147198074862008-11-12T19:19:00.000-08:002008-11-12T19:25:20.736-08:00

Every working person has had that moment where you wonder “What am I doing here?”In fact, the question usually surfaces hundreds of times during the course of our working lives. Sometimes it’s a nagging thought, sometimes it’s like a stalker and sometimes it reaches critical mass, hitting us upside the head like a ball peen hammer.The question can be sparked by any number of circumstances, alone

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-81572874626281386972008-11-05T05:51:00.000-08:002008-11-05T05:58:10.589-08:00

About a half-hour after president-elect Barack Obama made his speech in Chicago's Grant park, my college senior son sent me a text message:"I love this country."And because I live in a country where my son can make that statement with complete conviction, I love this country, too.

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-26003894611318399012008-11-03T12:17:00.000-08:002008-11-05T06:00:08.379-08:00

It’s Election Eve in America, and I’m attempting to take a break from all the hyperbole and hyperventilation that has surrounded this marathon. Most people I know are extremely invested in the presidential race, and I admit I have a strong preference about the outcome.But in these few remaining hours before everything becomes focused on Election Day turnout, and before people become consumed by

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-38792987279757355172008-10-16T23:36:00.000-07:002008-10-16T23:50:21.772-07:00

It was appropriate that the client was calling from his car. By any definition, Julian was a man in motion, in transition.The formal subject of our conversation was a job offer. Julian had traveled across three states to meet with his longtime client. Their ten year relationship was built on mutual respect and appreciation, and now the organization wanted Julian fulltime. Not just as an employee,

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-19675621857705459192008-10-01T06:00:00.000-07:002008-10-01T06:00:01.622-07:00

You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.Charles Buxton1823 - 1871

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-84088580772784459592008-09-28T06:25:00.000-07:002008-09-28T06:25:00.101-07:00

“Take care of yourself.”Of all the instructions or guidance I share with my clients, this is the one that meets with the greatest resistance.An experienced senior manager -- struggling to balance a difficult client and his aging father’s latest health crisis – almost bit my head off as I suggested that his first focus should be self-care.A high profile entertainment personality, juggling a

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-43660233710457408092008-09-25T09:22:00.000-07:002008-09-25T09:22:01.075-07:00

In an unusual turn of events, a trip with my daughter to a trendy clothing store also ended with a purchase for me!A miscellaneous accessory bin had a notepad of pages entitled “Things You Do That Really Piss Me Off.” (copyright 2007 by Who’s There, Inc., http://knockknock.biz/) Clearly, this was too good to pass up. And at $7 for 60 pages, it was a bargain!Beneath the title are four columns of

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-90730515055084376852008-09-23T10:33:00.000-07:002008-09-24T20:25:17.279-07:00

Anyone who knows how to click open an email or hit "send" has been exposed to all varieties of spam, whether from deposed Nigerian executives, or people promising to enhance body parts and functions, or acquaintances offering stale jokes and mindless cartoons.I have had a personal email account for at least 15 years, and I have received some of everything. Among my least favorite messages are

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-87398707183945522232008-09-15T07:32:00.000-07:002008-09-15T07:45:19.184-07:00

“That should be my job!”The young woman before me spoke with conviction and sincerity. Yes, there was a measure of ambition mixed in with her comments. But as far as I could tell, her assessment was correct.“Monica” is a contract worker with a national communications company. She had been a fulltime employee a few years ago, but the downturn in the economy forced layoffs, including Monica. She’d

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-5836331072030758622008-09-06T06:44:00.000-07:002008-09-06T06:44:00.608-07:00

Another Brian post:Brian had me doing another strength/balance exercise. As I held on to an upright support with one hand, arm extend out straight, I slowly lowered a weight towards the floor with my other hand. I did this while bending from the waist, extending one leg straight out behind me as I lowered the weight. When I returned to an upright position, one leg stayed planted as a pivot point

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-4190137791652181282008-09-05T06:27:00.000-07:002008-09-05T06:44:32.269-07:00

The yellow buses are rolling again, a sure sign of the transition from summer to fall. Children are returning to the familiar rhythms of the school calendar, whether they welcome it or not.However, the transition from the relaxation of summer to the busyness of fall is bringing anxiety to a lot of households. The national outplacement firm of Challenger, Gray and Christmas reported this week that

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-84522852420581928082008-08-26T20:10:00.000-07:002008-08-26T20:18:46.492-07:00

“I want them to see what I can do; not just want I have done.”My client was describing her vision of what she wanted to convey to potential employers. She knew that she had an impressive resume of accomplishment in a male-dominated field. She had the ability to take scientific knowledge and theory and explain it in a way that made sense to consumers and marketers. She had the agility to shift

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-68944178055552759632008-08-18T22:42:00.000-07:002008-08-18T22:58:32.850-07:00

At this moment 21 years ago, I was sitting in bed with my feet propped up, too hot and too pregnant to have any hope of finding comfort for more than a few minutes at a time.I’d worked a full day, even though I was three days past my due date. Congress had just concluded its televised hearings on the Iran-Contra guns-for-hostages scandal, and I’d spent the last few months watching and reporting

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-60259207616289978912008-08-14T10:23:00.000-07:002008-08-14T14:25:33.070-07:00

This is another Brian column.As I previously wrote, Brian is a personal trainer. One of the reasons I enjoy my work with him is because of his ability to explain and demonstrate his exercise choices, and the purpose behind them. Sometimes his explanations have such profound applications outside of the gym that I interrupt our workouts to write down his wisdom. Examples:“Hold on to your center

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-51169648473410100942008-08-05T15:02:00.000-07:002008-08-06T19:13:30.790-07:00

I'm doing a hand-off for this post. I know when I can't add to a perfect product. Jill Geisler, who heads up the Leadership and Management Group at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, nails it with her list of the top ten things great bosses know.All I can say is Amen.Here's the link to her column:http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=34&aid=147740

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-49338756280869107742008-08-01T13:33:00.000-07:002008-08-01T13:54:48.355-07:00

I try to keep a practice of physical training at least two times a week. Most weeks I keep that commitment, maintaining a routine of aerobic and weight training at my neighborhood gym. Sometimes I treat myself to additional support from a certified personal trainer, Brian. I use the word “treat” for my work with Brian, and I mean it. He always pushes me beyond the comfort zone I’ve created within

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-10604370878975533182008-07-29T13:07:00.000-07:002008-07-29T13:11:35.755-07:00

I was getting ready for an event while attending an out of town conference. A good friend who also had come to the conference was kind enough to wait for me in my hotel room as I finished dressing.I pulled out a relatively new purchase and slipped it over my head. You can imagine my disappointment as I realized the garment had shrunk in the wash.“Damn,” I said. “I just bought this thing and I

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6939125468330345966.post-28070930536666080432008-07-25T09:21:00.000-07:002008-07-25T09:33:13.626-07:00

I’m just back from a mini vacation with my family – a little time at the beach house of a friend. To get there, I had the startling yet satisfying experience of being chauffeured by my almost-age-of-majority son. He offered to take on the driving because the route includes a very long, very high suspension bridge and I must sheepishly admit that driving over that span makes me nervous. So it was

CoachWritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717624903691968102noreply@blogger.com0