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Communication

There is Something Freeing About Saying “No”

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For the longest time, I would say “yes” to just about everything. I wanted to be seen as a collaborator, supporter, and making things easier for others, putting myself second. I was slow to realize that for everything I said "yes" to, I would be saying "no" to something else. That started me thinking about what it is I was saying "no" to, and found  it was much more effective for me to say "no" to things to make the space to fully say "yes" to those things I really, really wanted. 

I ran across…

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You're Invited to a Compassionate Conversation

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In January, I wrote about taking some time away to reimagine, reflect and reevaluate my journey. Along the way, I started to study meditation with Deepak Chopra and earned my meditation instructor credential. These sessions eventually led me to contemplate on a deep question: “What is compassion and how do I show it?”

Around the same time, I was also accepted into a year-long program on Applied Compassion Training at Stanford University. This intensive learning program requires us to develop a …

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How I Found My Gutsy

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The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. ~ Alice Walker

Have you ever had someone say something to you that shook your world and made you feel worth less than what you believed you were worth? Well, I have and here’s what I did about it.

Early in my career, I was working in business at an international company. It was January, the dreaded “Personnel Management Performance Review” time. I walked into my boss’ office, and sat at the round table where…

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The Real Power of Personal Power

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“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power.” – Lao-Tzu

In my work, I talk about power. Power in living authentically, power in using your voice, stepping into your power, and even using power poses. But what does power mean? Sometimes when I mention power, people will say, “Oh no, I don’t want to be powerful.” And when we dig a little deeper I find a lot of people are afraid of power because they have the …

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How to Get the Impact You Want

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"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
~ Mark Twain

I once told someone this was my favorite quote. Finding it again brought up the many reasons I love it. All during my life, I have encountered people who were nay-sayers and tried to belittle my ambitions. There was a time when I truly believed those who told me: "You can't do that!"; "That's too big for you to do."; "Who d…

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Leadership & Learning Are Indispensable To Each Other

"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other."
~John F. Kennedy

The above quote and title of this post is from a speech that John F. Kennedy, our 35th President never delivered.

"He was scheduled to deliver a speech in Dallas on November 22, 1963. He never spoke these words. He was assassinated on his way to the event and died before he spoke these words."

When I saw this speech, I grabbed a fresh cup of coffee and sat down to read it. It was the message I wanted to deliver to…

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Finding Your 'Cause for this Pause’

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“You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.” – Richard Branson

The worldwide ‘pause’ that Covid-19 has forced upon us has allowed me to have a lot of reflective time. I kept saying, “I am so amazed at how little I’ve accomplished with so much more time.” And then, I realized I have been very busy reflecting and taking a look at ‘What’s Next' as a lot of you might have been, too.

I picked up my book, Gutsy Women Win and read the following excerpt. I…

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Transitions

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"The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become." ~Charles DuBos

Transition is the process of letting go of the way things used to be and then taking hold of the way they subsequently become. Sounds easy, but in reality, it is really hard letting go of the comfort of sameness.

We resist transition not because we can't accept the change, but because we can't accept letting go of that piece of ourselves that we have to give up when and…

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Up Leveling You and Your Team’s Development

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When I left my full time corporate job in IT many years ago, I had no idea what I was going to do next. I just knew it wasn’t what I always did before. When I reflected on what I loved doing in my Corporate work, I enjoyed developing my people and in doing so, developing myself. Therefore, I stepped into my work as a leadership coach. And here I am in the same fulfilling profession of developing people into better leaders. 

As part of my own development, I study with experts. I am currently stu…

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Giving Great Feedback

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"Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary." ~Margaret Cousins

"Can I give you some feedback?" Why is it when we hear that question, we freeze and tell ourselves something bad is coming?

I have grown to really appreciate feedback...at least the type of feedback that is very constructive with suggestions on how I might change my behavior for the better. I believe we always have the choice to listen to the feedback and sta…

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