Reader, I've been stricken with vacay brain. My eyes pop open. Dawn is breaking. I grab my phone to see 6:00 a.m. on the dot. I pause to take stock following my 36-hour round trip to St. Louis by car. Do I need more sleep? Am I ready to start my day? I feel good, and walking with my dogs at the park sounds invigorating. My feet hit the floor and I start my day thinking about all the productive work I am going to accomplish. I walk the dogs, grab a light bite, make my morning posts on social...
9 days ago • 3 min read
Reader, this gets a little personal. Over the winter, I started playing pickleball. I love it! I'm having so much fun. Summer is now officially here with a daily heat index topping 100 this past week. In past years, I have avoided being outside in such dreadful heat. This year, I'm taking two or more showers a day to cool off and wash away the sweat. Yes, I'm a prolific sweater. One of those people who always looks like they just ran a marathon after any exertion in the sun. I could choose to...
16 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, last week I got to do what I love twice! I delivered talks at two conferences — one in Texas and one in Louisville. I know that interactive learning is the best, so my presentations include some type of "pair and share" element whenever possible. In Texas, I invited the participants to reflect on their happiest and least happy job experiences, then share the stories with their partners. Here was the punchline from the debrief: Was the experience you shared about compensation, tasks,...
23 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, I bet you can relate to Paula's story. Paula is a highly educated professional. She works in an organization filled with experts who frequently lack emotional intelligence and leadership skills. She's feeling frustrated because the managers above her only recognize her leadership by giving her more tasks. In her recent annual review, she received only the typical increase, despite the volume of extra work she had taken on. Her dissatisfaction is stealing her joy, and she's wondering...
30 days ago • 3 min read
Reader, you're here! Thanks for opening this email. In 2022 I published my book, Show Up Positive. It's a simple playbook to increase the positive experiences in your life by choosing daily actions that foster positive behaviors in the world around you. It is a battle plan to feed the good wolf* inside you. *A grandfather describes to his grandson a battle between two wolves within oneself. In this metaphor for inner conflict, one wolf is kind and good, the other is mean and bad. The boy...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Reader, stop pushing the boulder. My client: "The two new city managers are doing a good job of holding people accountable. I'm not sure some of the team members like it. We might lose a few, but they've got to take swift action to get the revenue up." Me: "You know that's the hard way. Managers don't want to be babysitters. This isn't generating job satisfaction for them or their staff. But there is an easier way that realigns, reengages, and recommits the team to working together."...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Reader, have you ever felt so seen that it made you cry? My youngest daughter is a high school senior. We've done all the things--senior pictures, senior prom, college decision. Last Friday was Senior Luncheon, a tradition where parents and students gather to hear school faculty members speak about the students. Faculty members select the students for whom they speak. Sports coaches often spoke for the members of the team they coach. Extra-curricular and specialty subject teachers also choose...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Reader I bet you can relate to this one. It's Wednesday morning pickleball in my neighborhood. There are only four of us, and the other three are seasoned players. My internal narrative about not being good enough and letting my partner down starts playing. I focus on my breathing and remind myself to play my game: stay present, accept your errors, celebrate others, have fun. We are rotating through the same partner pairings. Everyone is making their fair share of missed shots. I'm working on...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Reader did you watch the Kentucy Derby? Friday is a bit of a holiday in Louisville, so I spent part of the day with my hands in the soil of my front flower garden. I March I spent a day clearing out dead leaves and weeds, as my spring bulbs started pushing through the ground. I also added a new layer of mulch. It has been a glorious bed of blooms throughout April. Yet despite the deep cover of mulch, weeds were showing up: wild violets, dandelions, clover, wild strawberry, maple seedlings,...
2 months ago • 2 min read