There is a Season

There is a Season

“It’s when you’re acting selflessly that you are at your bravest.” — Veronica Roth   I know that it is the season of my life and my age that I am facing a rising level of illness, dying and death in my circle of family, friends, and acquaintances. Each loss...
Facing a Pandemic

Facing a Pandemic

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”  — Mister Rogers Each of us needs to decide who we will be when facing a crisis. I tend to stay really...
Are You Good in a Crisis?

Are You Good in a Crisis?

What is your first instinct when experiencing difficult, challenging, and even dangerous situations?   I don’t spend a lot of time worrying. I tend to take action on the things that concern me or need to be addressed. I know much of this behavior is my...
Leadership, Skiing, and Snowboarding

Leadership, Skiing, and Snowboarding

“Snowboarding is an activity that is very popular with people who do not feel that regular skiing is lethal enough.” ~ Dave Berry   As I age, one of my personal goals is to keep myself fit so I can continue to ski. I exercise all year with a special...
Take My Advice?

Take My Advice?

“Giving advice is like seeing an elephant in someone’s path and suggesting they remove it.Heeding advice requires forcing the elephant to budge. Huge difference.”  ― Richelle E. Goodrich This week, I found myself in a unique position. Instead of giving advice I was on...
Sugar is Not My Friend

Sugar is Not My Friend

No sugar tonight in my coffee No sugar tonight in my tea No sugar to stand beside me No sugar to run with me  — The Guess Who My colleague Randy and I were talking on New Year’s Eve this year. We shared well wishes, conducted a little work, expressed our gratitude for...
The Coconut Corner

The Coconut Corner

A multi- generational Hawaiian businessthat understands the power of the 4 Ps   “You’ll never have a product or price advantage again. They can be too easily duplicated. But a strong customer service culture cannot be copied.” – Jerry Fritz In 2002 a colleague...
Politics in Bed and Writing in the Tub

Politics in Bed and Writing in the Tub

    Politics in Bed and Writing in the Tub   “Even in the most peaceful surroundings, the angry heart finds quarrel. Even in the most quarrelsome surroundings, the grateful heart finds peace.” — Zoe Zantanmata   Talking about politics in bed might not be the...
We Were Dancing and then We Were Not

We Were Dancing and then We Were Not

About conflict with a colleague   “Rejections will redirect you to more exciting roads. When you think your life is falling apart, it’s usually falling together in disguise. Your search will throw you on journeys you never would have dreamt of, in your mind and in the...
Life is the Teacher

Life is the Teacher

Life is the Teacher   “Be a reflection of what you’d like to see in others. If you want love, give love. If you want honesty, give honesty. If you want respect, give respect. You get in return, what you give.”   ― Author Unknown   My day started with a strong...
Bathing in the Pool of Shared Knowledge

Bathing in the Pool of Shared Knowledge

      Bathing in the Pool of Shared Knowledge   “Your brain takes its shape gradually  from what you routinely rest your mind upon.” ~  Rick Hanson, Just One Thing I find myself sitting in a workshop as a participant and not a facilitator. The content...
Where do you take your inspiration?

Where do you take your inspiration?

     Where do you take your inspiration?   “In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion.” ― Albert Camus, The Minotaur   When I find I am alone with just myself, I seize that time to think about my values, my decisions, the people...
Walk on the Wild Side

Walk on the Wild Side

The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” ― Joseph Campbell   Have you ever taken an intentional trip to a place that would require you to let go of your cell phone and connectivity? A place so different from you own that it resulted in your slowly...
Of Clutter and Woundedness

Of Clutter and Woundedness

“Clutter is not just physical stuff. It’s old ideas, toxic relationships, and bad habits. Clutter is anything that does not support your better self.” Recently, friends and I attended a transition celebration for the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, the original, and...
Showing is Stronger Than Telling

Showing is Stronger Than Telling

 “If your actions inspire other to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” ~ John Quincy Adams   In sports, a coach is someone with applicable experiences who mentors a novice to improve by sharing past learning, observing...
When the Answer is the Question

When the Answer is the Question

When the Answer is the Question   In the middle of facilitating a day-long design for a community of families, patients, researchers, and physicians in the field of pediatric epilepsy who had gathered together to discuss the impact of surgery, I learned a lot...
Information is Power

Information is Power

I have an empowered, ‘smarty-pants’ watch   A stranger is just a friend I haven’t met yet.”  ~ Will Rogers   I love to laugh at myself and with others. I love the unplanned, serendipitous, funny moments that happen. And I love to retell the...
Holding Big Questions

Holding Big Questions

 “A valid answer comes when the question is lived.”  ― Elizabeth Vongsaravanh I just recently purchased a new home. It is bigger than the little cottage where I lived with my two very large dogs. It has a basement and attic which is a first for me. (I never wanted to...
The Lessons of my Father

The Lessons of my Father

    When the fog of grief from my mother’s death cleared, and I made my way back from exhaustion and imbalance, I was rewarded with fresh clarity. Since then, many of the challenges of my personal life have started to make sense. I don’t know if it is part of the...
Leadership Transitions

Leadership Transitions

Cultivating leadership is my passion. “Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” —Jim RohnI have come to learn that leadership is one of the most essential elements to organizational health and success — but not the only one. However, without...
Build a Community

Build a Community

I write to process my feelings. I post to share universal lessons that I think other’s will appreciate. I chronicle to remember what I was feeling, thinking, and doing in extraordinary moments. I journal to find my self-awareness and to clarify my feelings and...
Put Fun into Action

Put Fun into Action

Step Twelve: Put Fun into Action“People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.” — Dale CarnegieStart today, give yourself permission, try something new, and connect with someone who inspires you to have fun. Infusing fun into work doesn’t...
Become known as “Fun Loving”

Become known as “Fun Loving”

Step Eleven: Become Known as “Fun Loving”“Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the Game.”Michael JordanYou can decide who you want to bring to work each day. It is the attitude that you choose that will support you and create the reputation you have with your co-workers and...
Smile and Laugh a Lot

Smile and Laugh a Lot

Step Ten: Smile and Laugh a Lot“The human race has only one effective weapon – and that is laughter.” Mark Twain“Laughter is the best medicine.” “He who laughs last, lasts.” Science tells us that smiling and laughter release endorphins in our bodies which combat...