Empowerment

Several years ago, I did some postgraduate work in the neuroscience of leadership. While on this journey, I became more and more in awe of our brain and its workings. This mere three-pound organ has over 100 billion nerve cells that each makes thousands of connections.

And as more brain research becomes possible as technology progresses, we're finding that there's much more complexity in how we as humans operate.

Throughout this work, I learned about regulating our emotions and how impactful …

“Personal power is the ability to stand on your own two feet with a smile on your face in the middle of a universe that contains a million ways to crush you.”

― J.Z. Colby

Let’s talk about personal power. I use the term power frequently in my work. Power in authenticity, power in using one’s voice, stepping into your power, and even Amy Cuddy’s power poses.

But what does power mean? Sometimes when I mention power, people, especially women, will say, “Oh no, I don’t want to be powerful.” A…

Most of us divide up our life experiences into those we like and those we don’t. But the Taoists masters teach us to look deeper. In the flow of yin and yang everything is constantly changing into its opposite. The more we live with awareness of the inevitable tides of Tao, the more it seems superficial and misguided to reject some experiences and try to hold onto others.

It is better to accept the wholeness of life. A traditional Taoist story illustrates these teachings. When an old farmer’s …

When I first met Courtney Ruby she was the elected City Auditor of Oakland, California. She was confident, humble and very clear about her philosophy in life. She felt that in this journey of our lives “we either deal with our fears or they deal with us.” I just knew that I wanted to find out how she did what she did and asked her if I could interview her for consideration in my book, Gutsy Women Win. Without hesitation, she said yes.

When I asked her what it was she yearned for in her life and…

When you decide to play a bigger game in your life, the good news about your decision is that you don’t have to do it by yourself. Not only that, you cannot do it by yourself because it is not a bigger game if you do. That would make it a self game.

The allies you have in your life can be your supporters; the champions who support you in your game or the cheerleaders who voice their encouragement. They might be co-players too; someone who is right alongside you playing the same game.

Naysayers…

“Women upset everything. When you let them into your life, you find that the woman is driving at one thing and you're driving at another.” George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950) “Pygmalion” (1913)

I spent many years of my career climbing the proverbial ladder in Corporate America. I did what I think is typical of so many women who want to succeed in their careers and be promoted into leadership positions.

I looked at who was above me, modeled them, was mentored by them, and got promoted by them. Th…

Fail fabulously. I first heard this term when I was attending coach training, and I disliked it from the moment I heard it. What was fabulous about failing? Failing was failing, and you couldn't convince me that it was a fabulous experience. I had never experienced it in that way.

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Admit it: We all make mistakes. It is a big part of being human. But failing for me used to be fatal, or so I thought. That's why I spent a lot of my life avoiding making mistakes by playing it safe. We…

I am.

I am smart.

I am giving.

I am dynamic.

I am learning.

I am wise.

I am kind.

I am courageous.

I am a good human being.

I am deserving.

I am changing.

 

I am.

 

And that’s good enough. No, that’s more than good enough. That’s awesome!

 

A call to action: Tell us who you think you are.

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