There is this secret power in the world. Some people seem to naturally possess it, others have to fake it, and some don’t even know what it means: the power of humor. It is amazing how quickly humor breaks down barriers and makes you seem more approachable. I joined a new team today, and the first thing I did was send them a comic telling them I hoped they could start off the day with a smile. Instant rapport. I’m not saying they trust me with their lives or anything, but I do think it opened the channels of communication.
The Little Things
When we take on goals to improve aspects of our lives, we seem to focus on the big milestones. People who want to improve their marriages focus on the marriage conferences, date nights, and other big events. People wanting to improve their relationships with their kids often spend their efforts on the vacations. When working on leadership, leaders focus on the big events, like recognition parties. Continue reading
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A Mile in His Shoes
My experience working with virtual teams has increased the past year, and I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon. When talking to someone I’ve never seen, I always assume we are in the same age bracket. Time after time I’m shocked to hear he’s 47, she’s 52, etc. It made me realize how frequently we look at people’s actions within our perspective and fail to realize they aren’t coming from the same place. Continue reading
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Waiting for the Breakthrough
I like to call my generation the “microwave” generation. Instantaneous gratification. It’s even more so now. If you’re hungry, you can get food 24 hours a day. Need information? Smart phones allow instant answers. Need a tattoo? You get the point.
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Are Your Most Important Priorities Rocks, Sand, or Water?
I’m sure by now it’s an urban myth, but the story goes that there was a teacher who had a container. He filled it with rocks and asked the class if the container was full. They responded “yes.” He then took sand and poured it into the container. The sand filled the space between the rocks. Again he asked his class if the container was full. Again the class affirmed that statement. Finally he poured in water. The water filled the space between the sand.
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Power of Thought
One of my biggest frustrations is hearing people say things like, “Why should I bother? It’s never going to happen,” or, “I’m never going to be able to succeed at that, so why start?” I strongly believe in self-fulfilling prophecies. If a person believes they are not going to succeed or that they are never going to achieve something, conquer something, or obtain something, then they never really will succeed.
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Burn the Canoe
A disclaimer: this story isn’t mine. It was from a wonderful presentation I heard at a conference; however, it’s very timely with what I’ve been blogging this week.
There was a tribe of Native Americans that lived across the lake from an enemy tribe. The chief was preparing his braves to launch an attack. They rowed across the lake in their canoes. When they reached the shore, the chief ordered them to burn the canoes. They entered the enemy village and conquered the tribe.
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Signs of a Dream Killer
Beware the dream killer. The dream killer is a master of disguise, often masquerading as someone who loves you and proclaims to have your best interest at heart. The dream killer loves to tell you all the reasons why your dream won’t work or why you are foolish for following it. The dream killer insists that you should be more practical, safer.
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Why Good Isn’t Good
I’m not much of a gardener, but I do love roses. One thing I learned about roses is that you have to prune them back in order for them to grow to their full potential. Cutting them actually makes them grow more. Seems a little paradoxical. I realized it’s the same with life.
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Who Am I?
It’s not a riddle. I am made up of the experiences I have encountered in my life, and I firmly believe they are all leading up to something bigger. I think tough things happen in our lives to help us grow and push us. A person is defined by the choice they make at that crossroad. To overcome the obstacle encourages growth in wisdom, courage, self-confidence, and purpose.
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