I don’t know about you, but transitioning from the lazy days of summer back into the full swing of work is never easy. Over the past few weeks, the weather has been gorgeous, and the call of my garden was far stronger than the call of my office. But the change of seasons always resets the equation. On Monday, it was 95 degrees at the pool; just three days later, it barely cracked 64. Thank you, weather gods, because that … Read more…
I believe the more discerning we are, the more successful we feel—and become. It’s a radical belief, isn’t it? Most people want to be more discerning but don’t allow themselves to be. They fear it will have disastrous effects on their lives or businesses. Just the other day, I had a client facing this exact dilemma: a prospective project that was financially rewarding, but neither exciting nor personally fulfilling, at least as it was currently scoped and proposed. In this … Read more…
It’s not uncommon for a prospect to say, “I can’t afford that” or “We don’t have the budget for that” when it’s decision time. The truth is, many organizations don’t specifically budget for coaching—and most of our individual clients don’t either. And we know that budgets are getting tighter in this economic climate. But that doesn’t mean people won’t find the money to work with us—if our work feels essential and the value we bring clearly exceeds the investment. And … Read more…
Many moons ago, I took a six-month program called The Beauty Way with the late, great Elaine Jaynes. It was based on a Native American body of work anchored in the Four Directions. In this tradition, each direction corresponds with a season: The East represents Spring—the dawning of the new. This is where birth, idea generation, and innovation live. The South represents Summer—a time of action and production. We make hay while the sun shines. The West represents Fall—a season … Read more…
When the economy is in flux or experiencing a downturn, services that aren’t considered essential often get put on hold or cut. It’s a natural way for organizations to try to weather the storm. The unfortunate truth is that decision-makers often don’t realize the true impact of those cuts until after they’ve made them. Sometimes the consequences are immediate. Other times, they unfold slowly over several months. Right now, we’re witnessing essential services being cut all around us—simply because their … Read more…
In today’s world, it often feels like there’s more to do than is humanly possible. How many times have you looked at the clock and thought, “I think I have time to get one more email out before [fill in the blank]”? It can feel indulgent to take the breaks we need to rest, rejuvenate, and keep our energetic gas tank full—but more and more research supports the idea that taking breaks throughout the day significantly boosts performance. The Science … Read more…
