When the U.S. shut down its economy in March 2020, shuttering businesses and telling all nonessential workers to stay at home in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, I was working as an independent trainer, coach, and consultant. Suddenly, my business came to a screeching halt and I had no income. Two weeks turned into two months, then more. Disappointment spiraled into discouragement, dejection, despair, and ultimately demoralization. To help make ends meet, I signed up to help make widgets at my husband’s employer. As I drove the 25 minutes to the factory every day, tears dimmed the sp ..read more

When was the last time you took a significant, scary risk? What was the result? Spectacular views? New opportunities? Increased confidence?  Ten years ago, when I left a stable income to pursue my passion, it was a considerable risk. I wasn’t a polished speaker nor a great writer. Nevertheless, faith guided me through excruciating darkness and nauseating twists and turns.  This week I delivered a two-day Business Writing class for the Office of Budget and Management (OMB) at the Executive Office of the POTUS (EOP).  With over 500 employees, OMB, the largest component of the Exe ..read more

From the time I was a little girl selling Girl Scout cookies, I’ve desired to be above average. During college, I pushed myself to graduate with a 3.85 GPA. When I was working for big companies, mediocre was never option, only a nagging possibility that kept me focused on the high performance goals they set before me. Here are a few tips that I’ve practiced throughout my career to become above average. It starts with being interested in others, meeting them where they are and setting aside our personal agendas. Listening to learn their needs, showing empathy, and taking small steps to demonstr ..read more

Hello, Friend, I hope you are staying safe and healthy. Since we are living in crazy and uncertain times I thought I’d take a moment to provide you with a little positive encouragement and a few smart, savvy ways to grow stronger during difficult days. Be grateful. No matter how difficult our days or our circumstances, there’s always something to embrace and cherish. I’m thankful the pandemic hit in the springtime, for budding trees, walks outdoors, and warm sunshine. I’m grateful, for the many connections I’ve made over the years, including YOU.  What are you thankful for ..read more

Since government shut down my small business during COVID-19, when my husband’s company asked family to step up and help produce electronics used in medical equipment, I raised my hand to be Rosie the Riveter for a few weeks. More than 50 percent of their production employees can’t come to work because of quarantine, vulnerability or childcare. The products they make are vital to keep hospitals and other essential services operating. It’s a small sacrifice to support the troops in the viral war against an invisible enemy ..read more

A coach challenged me to think of 20 things I’d like to do 20x in 2020. Here’s my list. What do you want to do 20x in 2020? Achieving our goals and dreams is the sweetest form of victory we’ll ever taste. Life is short. Live with purpose ..read more

You start your day with a well-planned agenda. You’ve scheduled meetings, time to work on a project, and to walk at lunch with a friend. You’ve set aside time to respond to emails and address issues that arise. You need to leave by 4:30 p.m. to get your son to his soccer game. Then you get disrupted … A disgruntled employee threatened a co-worker. A distressed staff member walked into your office in tears because of a devastating personal situation. A disenfranchised worker filed an EEO suit against the organization claiming harassment. A disillusioned employee disputed her performance evalua ..read more

In a previous blog, I wrote about stress in the American workplace and provided a few ways to build resilience so that when our days are disrupted with things beyond our control, and they will be, we’ll have the confidence and courage to bounce back. Here are a few more smart and savvy ways to grow stronger and build resilience. SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFESTYLE – Do you really need the bigger house or fancier car? Bigger houses require more upkeep. Fancier cars are more expensive to maintain. Both can rob you of time and money, and cause anxiety to keep. Do your kids really need to be involved in every ..read more

Want to work on building a more cohesive team this fall? It’s a strategic choice. As an accredited facilitator of Patrick Lencioni’s Five Behaviors, I can help you. Reach out to me.  Look at this team from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Aren’t they having fun!  ..read more

Why is it that when I make cake frosting, full of sugar and butter – two of the most amazing ingredients ever created – the kids always fight over who’s going to lick the beater? Could it possibly be that the icing is the sweetest part of the cake? In my family, we think so. A fun little moment happened to me. I was wondering if I’d know anyone at the HR meeting where I was presenting. Shortly after I arrived a young professional woman approached me and introduced herself. Many years ago, her Mom was one of my biggest Longaberger Basket customers. The confident woman in front of me was a littl ..read more