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My second favorite thing to do while traveling is to stop in locally owned bookstores; invariably, I find a gem. My latest find is a children’s book called What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada. It’s a wonderful story about a small child who has an “idea” and not a clue what…

Most coaches would agree there’s a special feeling we get when a client has his/her first “aha” moment. That moment could be a new realization about an existing behavior or an insight about something new that’s needed to enhance life. With one of my clients, there was a palpable level of excitement with his newfound…

I’ve coached several executives on “imposter syndrome” or the sense of feeling unworthy. It’s not something with which I thought I identified, and attribute this to both my parents and grandparents. Through their unconditional love, they taught me that I am enough…perfect in the eyes of God. I do, however, understand about having doubts. As…

Every morning I sit at my desk and watch the squirrels tackle the “squirrel proof” bird feeder. Their acrobatics rival any of our world-class gymnasts … hanging, twisting, jumping, falling … stretching. They are lessons in desire, creativity, learning, endurance and resilience. Their desire to conquer the bird feeder is greater than any fear that…

There’s a typical “get ready” drill when you’re on a plane: stow luggage, buckle up, and hear instructions from a member of the crew. As I write these words, I realize I typed hear and not listen to. After all, most travelers know what the flight attendant is going to say; we hear the announcement…

The movie St. Elmo’s Fire has intrigued me since I was a teenager. Part of the draw was Georgetown University. I never went to school there; however, I did live in the Washington, DC area and got to drive past it often…such a majestic view from the Potomac River! And then there was that catchy…

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what motivates and demotivates us to make changes. Often when I’m in this frame of mind, I will pick up a book and be struck by words that relate to the matter at hand. This happened while reading Think Like a Freak by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen…

I have always enjoyed watching the Summer Olympics. While I like watching certain events, I appreciate the athleticism of all competitors. This was the first year I also watched the Paralympics; and the word appreciation doesn’t even scratch the surface. These athletes model courage, fortitude, perseverance, drive, focus, and creativity. These were just a few…

Influence doesn’t happen in a vacuum. I’ve coached numerous executives who want to be great at influencing. As we explore what it takes, it quickly becomes apparent that influence starts with paying attention to signals … signals that come from within you and around you. Influence starts with noticing signals or sensations within you. As…

The last time I was in London, I came across a giant chalkboard with the words “Before I die …” The board was filled with people’s thoughts – some happy, some painful, some sad, some aspirational, some inspirational. For all who wrote, I think it helped to release it on the board. There is power…