Reader, these tips are 🔥 This week's #ShowUpPositive Spark, BEHOLD, is inspired by my colleague Gary. Childhood was my introduction to the word behold. The contextual use was something of magnificence or splendor. Thus, I always interpreted behold to mean see something amazing had to be present. Then I met Gary during one of my early LinkedIn audio events, Talk Me Off the Ledge, and he opened my eyes to a whole new perspective. BE = Present, attentive; HOLD = Pause, be still. BEHOLD was not...
11 days ago • 1 min read
Reader, are you getting enough rest? I'm not just talking about sleep. Rest is space from people who zap your energy constant demands grinding at your computer all-day the hampster wheel of productivity back-to-back meetings cleaning up someone else's mess overwhelming commitments being enslaved by obligation masking your true self I don't know about you Reader, but just reading that list makes me want to curl up in a ball and hide. And here's the truth -- the holidays are just around the...
25 days ago • 1 min read
Reader, thanks for pausing to celebrate with me! This week's #ShowUpPositive Spark, WISDOM, is inspired by my age. After walking upon this earth for five decades, I have definitely gained some wisdom. There is no denying experience is a mighty teacher. With each success and humility, there is an opportunity to garner more wisdom. Reader, I also notice that much of this wisdom goes unnoticed until it is shared with others. In telling our stories and collaborating with others, we access the...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Reader, I have great news! This week's #ShowUpPositive Spark, GERMINATE, is inspired by my newly planted tulip bulbs from the Keukenhof Gardens. Moonblush Tulip Bulbs My husband and I recently took advantage of the cooler weather to plant the bulbs I purchased during my trip to the Netherlands this spring. The instructions assured me that my bulbs already contained all the nutrition to germinate. All I needed to do was plant them at the appropriate depth in loose, well-drained soil. We...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Reader, I know we are supposed to hate change, but do you ever think it would do you good? This week's #ShowUpPositive Spark, RECALIBRATE, is inspired by my seventeen year old daughter. Here's the story. Sarah is a competitive equestrian rider and works on a horse farm. She has a whole circle of people in her life who are unknown to my husband and me. So when one of these folks asked her to stay at there farm and take care of the animals while they were away on vacation, we were a little...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Reader, I've got three words for you: mindset, meaning, and MacGyver. It turns out that MINDSET + MEANING + MACGYVER is the secret to this week's #ShowUpPositive Spark, RESILIENT Let's start with MINDSET and break it down. The first common trait shared by resilient people and companies is their staunch acceptance of reality. Rather than adopting a baseless optimism and being disappointed repeatedly, resilient people accept the reality of their situation, no matter how brutal, while...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Reader, have I got a story for you. I never know what inspiration will strike me. This week, I can't stop talking about the #ShowUpPositive Spark: FRESHEN. At the front of my property, I have a large perennial garden. Each year, the pasque flowers and bulbs bloom, followed by day lilies, calla lilies, crocosmia in a spectacular red, coreopsis, and balloon flowers. Unfortunately, the weeds like to grow, too. Crabgrass, violets, clover, and dandelions constantly seek a home in my garden. And I...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Reader, it's going to be a long eight weeks. This run-up to the election may feel like your own journey through the seven circles of hell. So, this week, I thought it might be helpful to talk about the #ShowUpPositive Spark: TOLERANCE. Tolerance is not acceptance, agreement, or condonment. Consider this definition: a fair, respectful, and permissive attitude or policy toward people whose opinions, beliefs, practices, racial or ethnic origins, etc., differ from one’s own or those of the...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Reader, on Saturday, I gave the eulogy at my dad's funeral. He was a good man of deep faith whose life was a lesson in wisdom I'd like to share with you. I hope you are inspired. My Dad taught me the three secrets to a life well lived, and I want to share them with you today: give freely, love deeply, and live fully My Dad called himself a simple farm boy. He was known as one of those Alvis boys up on Colt Ridge. He never liked school because sometimes the education system fails to see and...
2 months ago • 2 min read