I was thinking about saying goodbye last week. I’ve been in groups where people slip away. Yes, they leave without saying goodbye. That’s not my style. In my family, we stand around and hug and kiss everyone for a while. It takes a few minutes to say goodbye. In Mark’s family, after we hug and […]
How Do You Say Goodbye? Read More »
I often think about the worst thing that could happen, as a way to manage risk. That’s one alternative. Sometimes, when I’m stuck on a problem, I think about the worst thing I could do. Not as a risk management approach, but as a way to create more options for solving my problem. Here’s a
What’s the Worst Thing You Could Do? Read More »
If you’re like me, things don’t always proceed as I planned. Sometimes, my plans turn out better. Sometimes, worse. If I want to make them better in the moment, I need to be more adaptable. That means I need to practice my adaptability. Here’s an example. I have many immutable truths in my life. (You
How Do You Build Your Adaptability? Read More »
I recently met a digital nomad. She literally travels the world, writing in various places. She has many chances to experience various cultures. She is open to many possibilities. I said to her, “I can’t do that.” She asked, “Why not?” She’s not the only person who’s challenged my thinking around possibilities or choices. The reality
How Can You Change ‘I Can’t’ to Why Not? Read More »
I like structuring my work. Some structures don’t box me in. I use timeboxes and a daily structure to organize my time. I have a default set of book and article organizations. Sometimes, that means my Groove Turns Into a Rut. More often, the structure enhances my creativity. I feel more creative because I don’t have
When Can Structure Enhance Your Creativity? Read More »
I meet many managers, coaches, and consultants who say that people “resist” their ideas. I meet too many people with vertigo who say they “resist” their problems. They don’t use assistive devices such as canes or rollators. They fall over. I have a friend who is a diabetic who still eats sugar and carbs. She
Do We Have Resistance or Denial When We Need Resilience? Read More »
We live in a world filled with constraints. Sometimes, those constraints are on where we can travel or be. Sometimes, those constraints are about our physical capabilities (such as my vertigo or my height). Many constraints we impose on ourselves or allow our organizations to impose on us. Often, we fight against those constraints inside our organizations,
When Do Constraints Help? Read More »
I rented a car last week for a 2+ hour drive from Portland to the Oregon coast for a workshop. I used a GPS app on my phone to get the directions. I expected the phone to tell me when to turn. It didn’t. No noise, no directions, nothing. I had no reason to disagree
What Clues Did You Miss? Read More »
I have a high rate of throughput. In addition to my writing, I offer online and in-person workshops. Plus, I have coaching and consulting clients. I’m busy, just like you. One of my clients asked, “How do you get it all done?” He paused. “I bet you have rules for getting it all done. Care
What Are Your Rules for Getting It All Done? Read More »
I’ve been taking online and in-person workshops for several years now. I took a week-long in-person writing workshop last year and learned a ton. We had writing and technique assignments. Our instructor told us to complete the writing first and then write the techniques. I did the writing and didn’t complete one of the technique
What Does Success in Learning Look Like to You? Read More »