It was October 2018 and one month prior to taking my sabbatical. I sensed we were approaching the end of our chapter in Arizona and that the momentum was about to pick up on a potential move to Florida. Read more
(#3 in the series: Trust is an Essential Element)
When you first declared that goal for yourself (whatever it was), it seemed like there was more than enough time to reach it. Whether it was January or the first day of Spring, the time in front of you seemed expansive and your plan was doable. But then… inevitably… things came up: expected things, interruptions, distractions, problems, complete curve balls, and some good things, too, including potential opportunities that you stopped to investigate. Everything that vied for your attention has brought you to now. You may be left to wonder: Is what I was aiming for still possible? Read more
(#2 in the series: Trust is an Essential Element)
Today’s feature continues the theme introduced in: Trust is an Essential Element. I wrote this article in 2006; the now-ubiquitous quote from Steve Jobs aptly addresses the question of trust and clarity. Rixt Kuiper, the friend referenced below, tells me how much it affected her when I first shared the idea of trusting decisions you’ve made “in the light.” She says it’s something that has stayed with her to this day. Read more
All nature is in a constant state of transformation and we are especially reminded of this now, as the spring blooms begin to appear. Likewise, each of us is always transforming and at times quite intentionally, whether seeking to bring about a change in our careers, fitness level, relationships, or finances. We are programmed to evolve. Yet the moment we identify the desired change, there it is: the anxious realization of our current state. We want to be there but we are here. How do we move? Read more
“In the midst of winter,
I finally learned that there was in me
an invincible summer.”
— Albert Camus
Upon moving from Connecticut to the Valley of the Sun in 2006, I quickly learned during our first winter that just one night of frosty temperatures could seriously harm trees and plants. After a three-night frost two years ago, the damage was evident all over town. Badly affected were two of my favorite hibiscus plants in container pots. Now after nursing them back to health and patiently waiting, they have produced blooms galore this spring. Delighted by the abundance of their colorful flowers, I appreciate the vivid reminder that resilience is part of our nature, too. Read more
When I was in my twenties and working at my first corporate assignment, a manager shared a rule of thumb for planning your career: Aim for advancing to the next level once you have mastered 80% of your current job. While I considered this idea interesting, it went against my natural inclination which was to hold on to any current assignment, like a bulldog clenching a bone in its mouth, until I not only had mastered the job but also digested every last lesson there was to learn. Read more
Have you ever worked toward something and wondered if your efforts were paying off? Read more