For 15 years, I lived on a small ranch in Southern California, just outside Temecula, which was an official stop on Butterfield Overland Stage, the southern stage line across the US in the mid-1800’s. Just off the corner of our ranch were the remnants of an old swing station for that stage line (with its own historical marker) which was …
Being Comfortable with the Uncomfortable
My friend and training mentor, Ian McKelvie, says, “If you can only have conversations with people who agree with you and feel the same things as you, that’s a very small sliver of humanity to access.” Another really smart guy, Mark Twain, is famous for saying, “When two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary.” Agreed. It’s hard …
6 Steps to Managing Unhappy Customers
Clarissa almost hated to hit the “send” button on her monthly statements. She knew from experience that by doing so she would trigger a cascade of unhappy phone calls to the office within 48 hours. “I’ve already paid my balance! Why do you now say that I owe $45 more?” “What kind of racket are you running over there! You …
Loosening Resistance
We have established many times that when we know what we do not want, we simultaneously can see more clearly what we do want. When we get this, it clarifies that we have a choice about where to put our focus. With all the events swirling around us in the news and in the world, I’ve recently come across a …
Thinking Your Way Back
You can never think your way out of something you felt your way into. Consider the last time you had an instant emotional reaction to something that someone did or said. Looking back, you can almost feel the moment your executive “thinking” brain was hijacked by a highly emotional response. Scientists have observed that it takes us 20-30 minutes to …
Today’s the Day!
Today was a milestone. Today, I hit “SEND” on my book manuscript to my publisher. I made my deadline of March 31st after over two years of solid work. Though I’m still months away from holding it in my hands, the heavy lifting is done, and now I get to enjoy a moment of pride and accomplishment. There is definitely …
I am ONE with that!
As I have been working day and night lately, completing my initial book manuscript for my March 31st submission to the publisher, I have been taking masterclasses on the side about how to launch and promote a book as well as how to market my services using a book. I’m a member of Sara Connell’s Thought Leader Academy and have …
Crisis Versus Drama
This week, I’d like to talk about the distinction between crisis and drama, because I think it is important. Tom and I used to live on a small ranch out in the country which was nestled just off a busy highway and just past a curve on which there was a great cowboy bar and burger joint called the Stagecoach …
Purpose and Passion
If only we knew how to have more courageous conversations in a clear, inspiring, and nonjudgmental way with people who hold a different opinion than us or with people from whom we desire a different result, then our world, our workplaces, and our families would be significantly better. I am passionate about this fact. I believe my purpose is to …
The Company You Keep
This past week I spent four glorious days with three of the best people I know… my Wild Women Book Club besties. As we have for the past 15 years, we marked the time off a year in advance, held the time sacred, and traveled from all parts of the country to have this time together. We always fill our …
