When you are in an executive or entrepreneurial position, it can be super hard to know what to do and when. There are a million extra decisions when someone else isn’t structuring your work. It can be wonderful to have autonomy, but if you’re not always sure how to manage yourself, you can be…
Unrealistic and unexamined expectations are at the root of some of the gnarliest (and most common) problems that we face as entrepreneurs, leaders, and helping pros. Our behavior is impacted by the expectations that we and others hold, so if we don’t clearly assess these expectations, we can make choices that aren’t in our own…
Becoming a successful helping professional would be so much easier if you were told exactly what to do to make it all work out. So often we get thrown off course by the growing pains or obstacles that are actually fairly predictable. Here are some of the common growing pains I see at each…
As children, our initial instincts are to trust whole-heartedly, with naïve abandon. Our very survival requires that we have trustworthy caregivers to nurture us as we grow. However, over time disappointments and betrayals can build up, making us very cautious with our trust. “Do you trust me?” This isn’t a question we take lightly. So…
This summer has been filled with observing excellence, almost every day. It was awesome! I was definitely sad to see the Olympics come to a close. (Although I’m glad to actually be getting to bed at a reasonable hour now…) While watching the coverage every night, I found myself paying close attention to these amazingly…
We need to stop running! I’m not talking about all those amazing marathon runners – you all keep up the good work. I’m talking about the busy-ness and chaos that ensues when there’s too much to do and no time to breathe! OH MY GOODNESS!! It feels like so many people I’ve talked to are…
The process of understanding yourself can be challenging. Sometimes we aren’t honest with ourselves. Sometimes we don’t see the whole picture. Sometimes we see exactly what is there, but fight against it. That being said, it is important to do your best. Only when you know what makes yourself tick, will you be able to…
“I’m so burned out!” “I’m exhausted.” and “I just need to make it to the weekend.” These should be red flags, but are often just the response to “How are you doing?” Burnout is rampant for so many people. How do you avoid it? How do you recover? Take care of your health. Now, I…
So, 2014 has started. The ink on our New Year’s Resolutions have dried and we’re trying to make them work in the real world. The holidays are over and we have no more excuses. Determined folks are still soldiering forward, seeing how long they can sustain this new and exciting motivation. On the other hand…
For whatever reason, the past couple weeks I have been talking to a number of folks about jobs that just weren’t a fit for them. There are mixed stories. Horror at being fired or waiting too long to leave and triumph at leaving early enough to avoid pain and suffering. How do you know if you are…