What Did I Learn Today? 

If you follow me, you know I’m an avid learner. I’m always exploring new ideas, ways to improve, new processes, new tools and resources. I learn in a variety of ways, including listening to podcasts, reading, taking online courses, attending seminars, and joining in the conversations on Clubhouse. Learning and growing is something that is part of my daily activity, and though absorbing and retaining tons of information in a short period of time may not be the best learning method for every individual, everyone should focus on growth at some point throughout each day and at a minimum, during at least once each week. 

A few days ago, I came across a very informative article and wanted to share some insights with you (my learning and thoughts) on the information it provided, in order to support you on your learning and growth journey. Remember, learning is a journey, not a race — there's no finish line with growth. If development as...

Don’t be part of the 80%  — Stay the course

If you are like most people, me included, in January of this year, you made a few New Year’s Resolutions and set some personal and professional goals for the upcoming year. For the first time in many years, I really enjoyed the process of goal setting for this year. Why? Because with the help of my coach, I developed a lot of clarity around what I wanted to accomplish this year. But it was not an easy task, it took a lot of work to get my goals mapped out and a plan in place to ensure I would stay on task and accomplish the goals set before me — but staying the course is the harder part of this process.

Based on recent studies, we are at the time of the year that almost 80% of people give up on their goals for the year. The timing of giving up goals 3-4 months into the year can be attributed to a variety of reasons, including the fact that many goals might be too big — too aspirational and not focused...

Best Practices to Successfully Manage Remote Employees

Recently, I had an opportunity to speak to a group of industry leaders about the best practices to manage remote employees. As we well know, our clients are currently evaluating their workforce strategy, deciding how to structure their teams, and implementing what return to work looks like for their unique situation. The fact is, all businesses are facing these tough decisions right now — and at the center of this discussion is how to manage moving forward, especially if managing remote teams is a brand new practice. 

Managing remote teams can be difficult for many business leaders to answer, because they’ve never been faced with this challenge before. Throughout my time in leadership positions over the last 15+ years, most of what I’ve done is manage and lead remote teams — and let me tell you, it’s not always easy. I’ve made more than my share of mistakes, but at the same time,...

The Power of Intention

What is an intention? It’s a word that’s been thrown around a lot lately. But what is it really?  Intention is defined as having something in mind such as a plan, purpose, or an action to take, and intentions can be very powerful. Intentions should be focused and connected to something you are doing or some overarching goal you want or need. 

When setting intentions, leave any fears you have behind and hold yourself accountable for your planned intention. These are not like goals, they are simply used to help you change your mindset and switch from negative thinking to positive. You can also use them as food for your brain — good food! If you set your focus on being intentional, your brain will filter through all the other clutter at the moment and help you focus and achieve the intentions you’ve set! That’s why setting intentions are so powerful. Remember, your brain is always searching and filtering, and you’re...

Everyday decisions, BIG impact

According to research from Cornell University, adults make nearly “35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day” — which means on the average day that we’re awake for 16 hours, we make a choice every 1.6 seconds. Every 1.6 seconds. Reading that sentence — that was a 1.6-second decision. That’s a lot of choices (and a LOT of responsibility if you think about it), and each and every call we make impacts our lives and likely those around us, too.

We make choices in many different ways. Some are impulsive, like buying something you don’t need, but makes you feel good; while some are intuitive, you just feel in your gut it’s the right decision for you at that moment, like holding the door open for the person entering the building right behind you. Some are instinctive, like swerving to miss that big pothole on your drive to the office. 

Other decisions are driven by our emotions and how we feel in the...

The Future of Sales

For the past week I’ve been involved in a conversation on LinkedIn and Clubhouse about the future of sales. It’s been really interesting to hear the different perspectives from salespeople and sales leaders in a variety of industries, looking in on the current status of things from different vantage points. Obviously, every industry is different and there isn’t one right consensus to come to in this discussion… because none of us really know for sure what the future itself is, let alone what the future of sales holds. 

But nonetheless, the conversation really got me wondering — what IS the future of sales in our industry?

Have you thought about this question in light of recent events? Admittedly, our industry is being transformed right before our eyes! And though sales are down and sluggish, I’m excited about the future and the evolution our industry has already started — not just with products, but also with...

Your Greatest Gift
Staying present, choosing focus, & where to start

Have you ever pondered what the greatest gift is that you can give someone? You might immediately be thinking about something that could cost a lot of money, but what I’m referring to doesn’t cost a dime, in fact it’s free! What I’m referring to is the gift of your presence! Not just your physical, but also your mental and emotional presence. Dedicating your whole self for a block of time.

Now, I’m sure you're wondering exactly what presence is (and maybe why / if it qualifies as a gift). But before we look at that, let’s explore what your presence is not! Have you ever been on a Zoom call and you could clearly see that the other person was not fully engaged with you — it was obvious they were doing something else, even while on a call with you? What about on a phone call, where you could tell the person on the other end was distracted, or maybe just task-oriented and...

Be Extraordinary
Incorporating focus, kindness, imperfection, connection and joyfulness in your life

Well, it’s finally here. 2021 has arrived. If you’re like most people who’ve been waiting on a new chapter, a new January 2021 to get finally here — you’re likely feeling a sense of disappointment.  The dramatic change, shift, or mindset switch that you expected when the clock struck 2021 didn’t happen like you thought it would. All of the challenges you are facing right now did not just magically disappear when the number on the calendar changed. But what did happen (and it happens every day) is you got the gift to be better today than you were yesterday. You got the gift to be alive, make a difference, and to live an extraordinary life! 

What’s interesting about the concept of living life to the fullest is that most of us don’t think about “being extraordinary,” we just think about being the best we can be that...

What. A. Year! Certainly not the year that any of us anticipated or predicted. Each and every one one of us has been impacted by the events of 2020 — some more than others. I could write an entire column on all the bad things that have happened this year, but if you follow me and know me  — that’s not my style nor how I choose to live my life.  

Instead, I choose  — yes choose — to focus on the positive, the growth, and all the good that have happened in my life and business, even in the midst of a whirlwind year like 2020. Lately, I’ve heard or read so many memes, comments, and quotes about how bad this year has been and how we’ll all be glad when it’s over. To be completely transparent, there are days that I agree with this sentiment — 2020 has not been the year I wanted for myself, that’s for sure. It’s easy to jump on the negativity train, but the impact of that conscious decision to focus on...

Leaps and Bounds 

One day last week while scrolling through my social media, I came across a quote that stopped me in my tracks and forced me to take a pause and reflect. Now, that post is the focus of this week's column — so, thank you for inspiration, Instagram! Here’s the quote I came across:

“There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.” — Aldous Huxley 

The quote is powerful! It’s one that I haven’t heard or seen before, and it got me wondering — who is this guy Aldous Huxley? After some research, I discovered he was an English writer and philosopher who wrote 50 books (yes, 50, and since he only lived to be 68, that’s a book a year for his entire adult life!). Needless to say, this guy was an incredible talent. He also wrote a wide variety of essays, narratives, and poems, but upon moving to the United States in 1937, he became a screenwriter. He’s...