Purpose – Thought Changer

There was a magnificent rainbow out my kitchen window recently. It was one of those breathtaking ones where you could see the entire thing from beginning to end. We’d been hit with torrents in Los Angeles; and, this hopeful vista was an organic reminder that there is an end to the storm; it represents a gateway to things better and brighter. It got me thinking about how “Rainbow Thinking” in terms of career, and life for that matter, might go along way toward keeping us focused on what matters. I bloody love metaphors and rainbows are the mother lode. Stop and think about it for a moment. What do rainbows mean to you? Some may say it’s just a sign the rain has stopped. Well, even that simple statement is full of metaphor if you’ll let yourself go there. Other rainbow meanings that come to mind: it’s a sign of… Read more →

One event that never fails to happen when visiting my parents, naturally happened again over the holidays. It’s an event that causes chuckles and shushes from the backseat of the car as Mom and Dad yet again try and conquer the map directions in the front seat, with Dad driving and Mom navigating. And, I use both verbs loosely because no matter who is behind the wheel, they both “drive” and they both “navigate,” equally and at the same time. And, to add hilarity to the situation, last year they bought a GPS navigation system, named her Gertrude and figured “she” would bring peace and harmony to their journeys because Gertrude would carry the navigation burden. But, no! Somehow they found a way to second guess Gertrude as they settled back into their tug of war bliss. I say bliss because my parents have been happily married for 50 years… Read more →

Let’s begin the year with an admission. I like themes. What can I say, I’m one of those sad sacks who likes (pause for effect) theme parties. I’ve been known, in years past, to host nerd parties, dress-like-your-favorite-dead-celebrity parties, mystery dinner parties, bad prom/bridesmaid dress parties, etc. That scary confession aside, I do think it’s effective to give yourself a theme for the year. In good storytelling the theme is the through line from which the main message is derived, or the main questions are answered. When it’s a successful theme all key aspects of the story connect back, in large or small measure, to that premise. When you give yourself an annual theme it becomes a touchstone statement for you to keep coming back to all year allowing your intentions to remain alive. My annual themes invariably have to do with either a mantra that motivates me, an area… Read more →

Maria Shriver has called this the “year of the woman.” This causes me to think about those who have left their mark. They are remembered for their gifts. One of Eleanor Roosevelt’s many gifts was fearless outspokenness; Jackie Onassis is revered for her grace under pressure; Mother Teresa’s selfless heart set her apart and there are countless others. You may not think you stack up to these women in history, but, you can learn from your own herstory or history. This year instead of making a list of resolutions, putting focus on what you don’t have, try making a list of revelations about the remarkable gifts you already possess and how you’ll make them work for you in 2010. As you zero in on your unique talents, you’ll discover your potential for success. Set aside some quiet time and answer these questions to help re-discover your gifts. A part of… Read more →

WYSIWYG, or What You See Is What You Get, is most commonly an acronym referring to web content displayed during editing that appears very similar to the final output (as defined in Wikipedia). I like “WYSIWYG” kind of people. The personal attribute that comes closest to this acronym is TRANSPARENCY. I’ve been thinking a lot about this quality lately. Transparency, I believe, is one of the most prevalent characteristics in great leaders, yesterday and today. It sprung to mind again this weekend with the passing of Walter Cronkite. His iconic “That’s the way it was…” nightly sign-off embodied an entire day, or a human story, or an experience in one simple sentence. Mr. Cronkite was known and loved for being the real thing. He took his job as a reporter seriously in his straight up, this-is-what-you-need-to-know style of imparting the world’s news. But, it was his most human, uncensored, and… Read more →

Today I’ve been sitting in the sweet aftermath of a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and these Michelle Shocked song lyrics keep running through my head: “When I grow up I want to be an old woman…” And, when I’m that old woman, what I want to reflect on the most are my life’s connections, both the fleeting and the lifelong connections that made up the rich, elegant and profound fabric of my being. This takes me back to this recent weekend, which was full of just that – connecting; connecting to dear, old friends, to interesting new friends, and to faraway friends and family. And, on Saturday morning I volunteered at Operation Gratitude which is a wonderful organization that sends care packages to the troops. I went hoping to contribute something in a small way and walked away with an amazing feeling of global connection to the 4,000 men and… Read more →

The memory of the original 3 R’s takes me back to grade school, when “Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmatic”, meant the basics in education. The idea was if you nailed the 3 R’s you had a good foundation for learning. And, undeniably, you couldn’t effectively learn other subjects if you couldn’t read or write. Wish it were still so simple today! Now, in an ever-changing era of career re-invention and diversifying industries, the following 3 R’s describe essential qualities you must possess to stay current in your career. § Resilient – bouncing back from a layoff, or watching an industry transform before your very eyes, means you must be ready and willing for the change. Resilience involves building your coping skills, including stress management and a willingness to look at change as opportunity. Robert Brooks and Sam Goldstein in their book, The Power of Resilience, call it a “resilient mindset” because… Read more →