So often I have clients come to me saying something like: “Can you coach her so she can fit in here?” “I’m unhappy at work and I don’t know how to fix it.” “I got feedback from my boss and I want to fix it.” There is nothing to “fix”! None of us are broken. So often we compare ourselves to some other standard believing it is how we should be. Or we want someone else to “improve”. Whether it is in their relationship with others, the work they do, their behaviors, or even just the words they use. I… read more →
Recently there has been much talk about Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella’s comments about women and raises. He has apologized profusely for “projecting” his experience on more than half the population… good for him! As the dialogue has unfolded, it reminded me of a lesson I learned at the first company I joined after college… I graduated with an engineering degree from a highly respected college (Lafayette). However, it was a recession and it was before the days of internships so I did not have “relevant” experience. I was fortunate to be offered an entry-level job at $5.00/hr. That’s right, engineering… read more →
Are you one of those people who worries about your kids when you’re at work and then worry about work when you’re with your kids? How crazy does that sound? You are not alone… it happens to everyone! Let’s see how to break this insanity down a bit. We’ll start with what “worry” means. One definition is “To feel uneasy or concerned about something.” What does “something” mean? If we look at the context of being concerned about a possibility that “something” may be happening to “someone”, “somewhere” at that given time or at “some point” in the future. That’s a whole lot of “some”s… read more →
If you know the story of the Good Samaritan, you may think it would be hard to imagine any good deeds like that happening these days… It seems we live in a very self-centered, instant gratification world. Well, I have to tell you what happened to me recently, helped me open up and remember there are so many kind, generous, loving people out there that we have forgotten about… I was up early on a Saturday and heading downtown to a charity event. On the way, I had a flat tire but was able to get to the dealer. I… read more →
When you tend to resist what life is having you go through, it becomes harder with every moment. Consider the following two scenarios (based on true stories): 1. You are traveling overseas to get to a meeting. Your flight is cancelled that afternoon. You are frustrated, angry, struggling with how you are going to delay all your plans by one full day. There is no other flight that day to get you where you need to go. The next morning you get to the airport and find out your flight is delayed again… you may miss the connection for the… read more →
I recently came across a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson that struck me, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” How many of us have pursued a career because we were trying to live up to someone elses expectations, a parent, spouse, teacher? How many of us have listened to others who came up with all of the reasons why IT won’t work? Has your creative spirit been squashed because you believe your company culture would frown upon your idea? Think about how you’re living your life and whether you… read more →