What is Absolutely True?

After 67 years of marriage, Floyd (age 90) and Violet (age 89) Hartwig died holding hands, on February 11, 2015, just five hours apart. Their children knew the couple were close to death and pushed their hospice beds together, gently placing their father’s hand into their mother’s hand. Their daughter, Donna Scharton, reported, “They were […]
What is Ubuntu?

In the Ubuntu tribe of South Africa, when someone does something wrong, they take the person to the center of the village. There the tribe surrounds the individual for two days, while members of the tribe speak all of the good that s/he has done in their lifetime. The tribe believes each person is good, yet sometimes people […]
Do You Chase Bright, Shiny Objects or Over-Focus?

Some distract easily; others over-focus and forget to take breaks. Either way, it can create problems when trying to get tasks done effectively. Distraction detours accomplishment, and over-focus fatigues the body and mind. So how do we best stay on task? Eric Evenstad, of Mountain Mobile, www.mountainmobile.net, one of my business accountability partners, told me […]
Three Essential Ingredients to Be Happy

“The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.” Allen K Chalmers This quote holds great truth. I would add, however . . . . . . our capacity to contribute, to give and receive love, and our ability to look into the future with vision and […]
Four Strategies, Four Obstacles, and Four Essential Steps for Effective Problem Solving

When we’re in the midst of a problem, we forget that it will be resolved in the future. Pausing to consider this reality allows us to take a breath, step back, and appreciate that we have incredible internal resources for problem solving. Trusting that we are created to problem solve brings great relief. We are […]
The Cumulative Power of Repetition

You’re heard the saying, “If you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve got.” This is absolutely true! And it’s GOOD NEWS! Usually this phrase is applied negatively to choices and actions that are not producing desired results – the implication that something different should be tried. But consider the power of […]
Time to Take a Break – the Power of Avoidance Coping

Today I want to make you smile and encourage you to TAKE A BREAK. The Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado published a study in 2013 in The Journal of Business Venturing that found that the ability to step away from the office – called “avoidance coping” – was an essential strategy used […]
Get Your “But…” Out of the Rut

If you are tired of what you’re doing in the workplace, it’s time to get your “But…” out of the rut. You deserve to contribute in a meaningful and satisfying way. If you’re not having that experience in your work environment right now, it’s time to stop focusing on reasons why you can’t find something better […]
You Can’t Deny That You Have Wings

“When she transformed into a butterfly, the caterpillars spoke not of her beauty, but of her weirdness. They wanted her to change back into what she always had been. But she had wings…” Can we un-change what we’ve changed? Oh yeah – just asked any yo-yo dieter (present company included). What we cannot change, however, […]
One Essential Ingredient to Be a Rock Star in the Workplace

“Showing esteem for others by doing the right thing at the right time.” I recently fired a painter because he showed up an hour and a half late, with no phone call or text. He apologized when he arrived, and he pleaded with me to let him do the job. He knew he had “screwed […]