Thought Changer

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Welcome! If this is your first visit or if you’ve been here before but haven’t had a chance to subscribe, would love to have you as a part of the Thought Changer community which has moved to Substack! Just sign up in the box to the left. You’ll get a welcome email from me at Substack. Don’t forget to click the confirmation link. Thought Changer looks at everyday life metaphors. We explore new ways to think about what we do, improve our mindset and live more consciously. And, if something moves you, please share! Thank you and enjoy this Thought Changer.

It’s always fascinating to examine the biggest power mongers in any industry. I’m particularly intrigued by Hollywood. These top agents and managers wield of TON of the stuff. These people control a huge percentage of the decisions that result in either green lighted projects or dead ended dreams. Here’s the latest newsletter on http://whorepresents.com. Follow the link to read the rest of the article. They’re all listed! “To measure a talent rep’s achievements, look no further than the deals he or she has made. Our first-ever Top 25 gives the insider’s perspective on who made the best deals on behalf of their clients over the past twelve months. Whether negotiating a multi-picture contract, or working to bolster an entire company in a volatile market, the measures taken by the representatives on this list have been bold, inventive and profitable…” Read the rest HERE. 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 →

Trivial Pursuit, Guesstures, Taboo, Texas Hold ‘Em, Pictionary. You name them, my family and friends have played them. Our past family gatherings have included competitions between the girls and guys, between the age groups, between the siblings, etc. And, it gets competitive, sometimes insanely so! Some of us are more competitive than others, and after knowing each other all or most of our lives, we know those competitive buttons to push and those to stay a mile away from. Does any of this sound familiar? It got me thinking about competition in other areas of our lives, when it shows up and when we go looking for it. When is it healthy and positive and when is it not? When is it limiting and when does it help us soar? I believe in our careers and work environments the healthiest way to address competition is to research and learn about… 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 →

This is a whirlwind time of year when it feels like we can’t cram one more thing into our holiday infused schedules. There was a story on CBS Sunday Morning this week about the world of nutcrackers, which will be forever associated with Christmas due to the ageless Tchaikovsky classic, The Nutcracker Suite. Nutcrackers used to be placed on the dinner table for the final course of the meal, the nuts. This is where the phrase “from soup to nuts” came from. It got me thinking about my own soup-to-nuts this year. And, wow what a feast of activity it’s been! When things get to be so busy every year at this time, it’s easy to get lost in the minutiae of the to-do list instead of taking stock and appreciating everything you’ve accomplished in the last 12 months. A dear friend reminded me of this last week as a… Read more →

The challenging words Ronald Reagan uttered 22 years ago, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” still echo today, even 20 years after the actual fall of the wall, this week marking the two decade anniversary. But, who would have guessed then that the “wall” would still exist today for many people in Germany? That being the “wall in the mind.” An article by NBC news producer Doug Adams brings to light how many people in Germany, both in the East and the West, are unable to tear the wall down in their minds. They are locked into the East vs. West mindset where, as Kipling said, “never the twain shall meet.” All sectors, from media to business to government, still compare the two sides which in and of itself fosters the lagging dividing line between them. This particularly clicked in for me after coincidentally visiting the Reagan Presidential Library over… Read more →

“Good leaders know when to follow and when to lead.” ~ Bob Proctor, Author & Business Coach Recently I spent time in Las Vegas with nearly 200 amazing entrepreneurs and business leaders at a conference led by powerful business coach David Neagle. And, throughout his teaching he quoted Bob Proctor several times, crediting Proctor as his own mentor and teacher. “It’s lonely at the top.” I heard a former boss utter that one day and it left me cold. But, it got me thinking recently about where that sentiment came from and if it is indeed true. Was the person who first coined that phrase a good leader? Does someone with that frame of mind create a moat around themselves, isolating themselves from further growth and therefore from creating a greater impact as a leader? In today’s most effective business language, that of being transparent and partner-minded, the second you… Read more →

Strokes of genius, flashes of brilliance, inklings of inspiration. Do those phrases intimidate you? Here’s the thing. We all have those moments when a thought or notion comes seemingly out of nowhere and sparks a new idea, gives a fresh perspective to a task you need to complete or sends you off in a direction that provides a solution. So, then it’s all clicking and perhaps you get some recognition for your great idea or perhaps it even becomes something huge that really changes the course of things for you. What happens next time you come up against a problem you need to solve or you’re ready for the next project to be born. Do you feel pressure to continue to have those flashes of inspiration for another great idea? Does that stop you sometimes from moving forward? My friend Brian told me about a wonderful talk that author Elizabeth… Read more →

I got an email from a woman who said the message from last week’s ezine hit her inbox at just the right time because she was going through some of the same issues I addressed in the article. I get similar emails each week, which is beyond gratifying because it’s reason I started sending them in the first place! But, it really got me thinking about common grounds. Finding common ground with people is the impetus for creating valuable relationships. Our commonalities are what make us accessible and relatable. The common ground is the equalizer. It tethers a connection with a person or people for the moment, the meeting, the present, or perhaps the future. “The longer we listen to one another – with real attention – the more commonality we will find in all our lives. That is, if we are careful to exchange with one another life stories… Read more →