West Side Story

When I was 10 years old, I experienced my first Broadway musical. My parents had scored some tickets to “West Side Story” at the Muny Opera in St. Louis. We had great seats….maybe 10 rows back,dead center.

From the moment the lights came up and the Jets and Sharks started dancing, I was mesmerized.

I remember, after the curtain fell, sobbing to my mother, “Why can’t Tony and Maria be together?”

Ah, ever the incurable romantic.

I was crazy about “West Side Story.” My parents gave me the album for Christmas and I wore the grooves out of that LP listening to it over and over again.

“West Side Story” began my love affair with live theatre.

Shelagh Delaney once said, “You can remember the second and the third and the fourth time; but there’s no time like the first. It’s always there.”

So you can imagine my excitement to see “West Side Story” again when its Broadway revival tour came to Des Moines. This time I scored great seats and we settled in to experience the performance on Saturday night. I loved every minute of it.

One song I had forgotten about was the scene when Tony and Maria act out their wedding vows. “One Hand, One Heart” was so simple and sweet.

So here is my Valentine’s Day wish for you. May you always remember your “firsts”…and savor the love when it comes back round again.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the song, here's a beautiful rendition from the TV show Glee.

 

 

Genuine Concern

One of the greatest gifts of being a teacher is that you learn from your students.

For several years now I have taught a class at Drake University. With a title like, “The Emerging Leadership of Women in the 21st Century” the class attracts mostly female students.

Well this semester an interesting dynamic occurred. Half the class was male and half was female.

And we had the good fortune of having a student from Saudi Arabia who added cultural diversity to our discussions.

I’ve long advocated, because it has been my personal experience, that the best results are achieved in an organization that is composed of 50% men and 50% women.

I saw this play out once again in teaching this class.

But something else happened. I’ve thought about it a lot, trying to pinpoint what was different that
caused this class to reach such an extraordinary level of learning. And here it is.

Genuine concern.

Each and every one of these students exhibited, in words and deeds, their level of concern for each
other. Because of this genuine concern, our level of learning was greatly enhanced and together we
reached new heights in our understanding of leadership.

This has caused me to reflect back on my business career and see that the leaders that showed concern
not only for me but ALL team members were those that lead us to great success.

Genuine concern.

Have you experienced this on your leadership journey? If so, can you share your thoughts with us?

Financial Planning

OK , Suzi Orman would not approve.

But in our quest to strengthen our funny bone, here is a quick story guaranteed to pay laughter dividends...

Bob was a single guy living at home with his father and working in the family business.

When he found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided he needed to find a wife with whom to share his fortune.

One evening, at an investment meeting, he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her
natural beauty took his breath away.

“I may look like just an ordinary guy,” he said to her, “but in just a few years, my father will die and I will
inherit $200 million.”

Impressed, the woman asked for his business card and three days later, she became his stepmother.

Women are so much better at financial planning than men...

The Happiness Project

Have you heard about the book “The Happiness Project?” 

A few weeks ago within 3 days I had several friends recommend this book to me.  When that happens I know it’s time for me to get the book!

Author Gretchen Rubin set about to look at ways she could increase the happiness in her life.

I love her tips for getting an energy boost in the next 10 minutes.  Are you ready?  Here goes:

• Go outside into the sunlight.
• Go for a brisk walk.
• Act with energy.
• Listen to your favorite upbeat song.
• Tackle an item on your to-do list.
• Clean up!
• Drink some coffee!

It’s a fun, easy and thought provoking read. 

For more info check out:  www.happiness-project.com

 

Managing networks

So January has raced by and tomorrow we begin the second month of 2012.  It’s a perfect time to evaluate:

How are you managing your networks?

I’m not talking about Linkedin.  

I’m talking about the critical relationships that will make or break your career.

Whether you are an exec in corporate America or a Chair of a Committee on a non-profit board, you need to periodically evaluate how strong your relationships are with the people you are dependent upon to reach your goals.

Make a list (no you won’t be determining whose naughty and whose nice) of the people who seriously affect your ability to get your job done.

First make a list of internal stakeholders (within your organization) and then make a list of external stakeholders (outside your organization).

On a scale of 1-5 rank each of these folks on the following:

1. How critical is this person to my success?
2. Do I trust him or her?
3. Does he or she trust me?
4. What motivates them? 
5. If I need to build a stronger relationship what can I do to strengthen this relationship?

Once you have determined what relationships need attention, then determine the needed action and place those steps on your calendar. 

None of us know what the next 11 months will bring.  So now is the time to evaluate those key relationships and strengthen them for a critical day in the future.  Your future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coco

Tis the season to clean out your closet.

As you clear out the clutter and set your sites on new possibilities, always remember the importance of your style. 

Here are some quotes from Coco Chanel that can inspire you:

“Fashion fades, only style remains the same.”

“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”

“In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.”

“There are people who have money and people who are rich.”

“Elegance does not consist in putting on a new dress.”

“I don’t understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little---if only out of politeness.  And then, you never know, maybe that’s the day she has a date with destiny.  And it’s best to be pretty as possible for destiny.”

 

 

 

 

Exclamation Points

Right before Christmas, my world was rocked by devastating news.

A former colleague of mine, in my past life of newspapers, had committed suicide. I went to the funeral to honor his life, to support his dear family and to seek answers.

The minister said something to a packed congregation of his friends and family that has stuck with me.

He said, “Let us not dwell on the question marks of Rick’s life.  Instead today let’s focus on the exclamation points of his life.”

Wow.  Isn’t that powerful?

If others were honoring you and your life, what would be YOUR explanation points?

 

Jobs!

You can’t make it through 30 seconds of a presidential candidate’s stump speech without the mention of the importance of job creation in the USA.

Here’s a key for our presidential hopefuls.  Female business owners.

Since some of us are visual learners, take a quick look at this great graphic from Bolt insurance.  You’ll be impressed!

 

 

Via: Bolt Insurance

Transitions

I was reading a blog post by Jann Freed (www.jannfreed.com) where Jann shares an idea when she was transitioning from a long career in teaching to creating her own company.  The blog post entitled “Life Transitions: Letting Go to Move On” includes a piece of Jann’s journey when she asked friends to give her a bead, button, charm…anything she could string together for her “Moving On” Necklace.

What a great idea!  As she moved through this major transition in her life she could feel the support and encouragement of her friends and family.

Transitions…aren’t they tough?

Whether you are moving through a significant life stage or just taking on more responsibility at work, transitions are hard work.  

Transitions will be a lot smoother if you have insight into your default system.

For example I have a friend who always goes back to school during her transitions.  Knowledge makes her feel powerful.  I have a client who, in the past, resorted to busy-ness.  It was an exhausting strategy so when she went through her last transition we worked on ways for her to consciously slow down.  

Self knowledge is the key to growth and peace.

So here is your question to ponder:  looking back on your life, what was the common way in which you coped with massive change?

Is it a healthy reaction?  If not, what will better serve you in your next major transition?

 

 

Related articles

• The Emotional Side to Job Transition (inmotionjoe.wordpress.com)
• Transition and Transformation (linbloommcdowell.wordpress.com)

The family business

There is a fascinating article on Boomberg.com that explores the process of succession in a family owned business for fathers and daughters.

Karen Klein interviews author Daphne Halkias about her new book, Father-Daughter Succession in Family Business.

One of the interesting aspects that caught my eye was the author’s observation that, “Across cultures we saw the repeated desire to maintain harmonious family relationships.  It’s as if the daughters were constantly involved in a course correction with every new and difficult step in the succession process, in order to ensure a state of community with the father and among the various stakeholders of the family business.”

Isn’t that interesting?

No wonder the author discovered that sons were gung-ho in wanting to take over the reins of the company while girls didn’t want to continue in the family business. Instead the girls wanted to be independent and go into business on their own.  

So here is the curious question for you today:

Is your desire to maintain harmonious relationships, whether in your family or at work, stopping you from an opportunity in front of you?

Click here to read the article:

http://www.businessweek.com/small-business/fathers-and-daughters-passing-on-the-family-business-12272011.html

 

 

 

Mr. Mom?

Recently, there was a very comprehensive story in Business Week on the high number of men staying at home to raise children when his wife has a high profile, intense job.

I will always respect a family’s decision to determine the best way to raise a family. What makes me more uncomfortable is how main stream media positions this subject in an either/or fashion.

They tend to ask, “Who stays home? The wife or the husband?”

Our economy was such, in the past, that one parent could stay at home to raise the family.  It’s a luxury to have that choice in this day and age.

Instead of focusing on if the man or the woman stays at home, we should acknowledge that a healthy support system surrounding the family will allow all members to thrive.  

In my book, “Lady Leader” I spend an entire chapter devoted to the importance of support systems.

For each of these areas rate your support system on a scale of 1-5, with 5 indicating superb support systems and 1 indicating no resources:

• Family?
• Spouse?
• Friends?
• Mentors?
• Home maintenance?
• Children?
• Child care?

Review your ratings.  Any area with a 1-2 rating warrants serious support needed. 

But if your response, whether you are a man or women, is automatically your spouse, please open your mind to the vast resources available to help you and your partner get the support you need to avoid burn out.

Here is a link to the Business Week article.  

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/behind-every-great-woman-01042012.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Youthful 2012

Would you like to feel younger by the end of 2012?

A team, led by Dan Buettner, discovered five areas in the world where people enjoy healthy, active lives with less illness well into their golden years.

Here are the nine common ingredients shared by people in these communities:

1. Moving naturally (be active without having to think about it)
2. 80% Full Rule (stop eating when you are 80% full)
3. Plant-Slant (eat mostly plant-based diet heavy on beans, nuts and green plants).
4. Wine at 5 (1 glass of wine if you have a healthy relationship with alcohol)
5. Purpose Now (know your purpose in life)
6. Down shifting (slow down daily, rest, take a vacation)
7. Belonging (be part of a spiritual community)
8. Putting Loved Ones First (make family a priority)
9. Right Tribe (create a healthy social network)

What areas are you strong in?  What areas could use some attention?  What can you commit to today for a younger, healthier you in 2012?

 

Start right

This week is full of New Year’s Resolutions.  If achieving a healthier life is on your list, you might be interested in the Healthiest State Initiative. 

In August, Iowa Governor Terry Bransted announced a plan to make Iowa the healthiest state by the year 2016.  At first I thought it was a gimmick but the Healthiest State Initiative is a privately-led, publicly endorsed effort to engage citizens to improve their overall health and well-being.

Here are some tips they share if you are interested in living a longer, healthier life:

1) Move more. Be active. Ride your bike. Walk to the store. Take the stairs.

2) Do something interesting.  Spend time thinking about what you’re passionate about, what seems worthwhile.  Whether it’s focusing on your career, helping others, raising a family, or nurturing your creativity, your days will have more meaning.

3) Cut Calories by 20 percent.  Decide that you will eat so you are not hungry without being stuffed.  

4) Love and be loved.  Having a strong social network of friends and family can enhance your sense of well-being and give you purpose.

5) Take time to down shift.  Make time to slow down and enjoy life’s simple pleasures – like a colorful sunset or a cup of coffee with a good friend.  Life is short.  Don’t run so fast you miss it.

Five easy steps that could put you on the course for a great year and a longer life!

 

A lighter 2012

I always love this week of the year. The holiday decorations are still up so my spirits are festive however my eyes are upon the New Year.

Everything slows down a tick and I start to clean out files and approach the New Year with hopefulness.

I was working with a client a few weeks ago and we landed upon a simple exercise that helped focus her thinking about the coming year.

We looked at the six main pillars in her life:  

1. Work
2. Family
3. Friends
4. Spiritual
5. Recreation
6. Health

In looking at each area she answered two simple questions:

1. What would you like to release/let go of, in this aspect of your life?
2. What would you like to grow or add, in this aspect of your life?

It takes about 30 minutes to complete and can get you very centered on what is important to you in the coming year.

Enjoy…and Happy New Year!

 

Snow Day - part 3

The past several years I have enjoyed my own personal snow day. (See my posts on Snow Day part 1 and part 2 from 2010.)

When the snow is piled high and it’s not advised to go outside, I’ve gathered my journal, calendar and business notes and have spent the day pondering the previous year so that I can plan the incoming year. 

I asked myself the following questions:

• What projects did I work on?
• What expertise did I use on this project?
• Which of my strengths did I utilize on the project?
• How many people did I impact on each project?
• On a scale of 1-5, how would I rate if the project filled my heart?
• What was the ratio of time spent to profitability?

Type of project        Expertise       Strengths        # of people impacted         Satisfaction       Ratio of Time/$

It’s a wonderful tool to contemplate the past year, connect the dots and begin to shed the things that no longer serve you.

Let’s go lighter into the New Year!