I watched a YouTube clip where someone complained about giving the pained laugh when they didn’t really like someone’s joke—you know the one— the half-hearted he-he-he. Who was speaking? Oprah! I thought, Oprah’s made trade-offs, too?! The reality is that everyone makes trade-offs to get along with others—that’s just part of life. The trouble starts when you feel like you have to hide parts of yourself to be accepted. Over time, you may even lose your essence in that relationship. Shame then cre...
Oct 13, 2020•4 min
Have you ever had situations that left you unsettled, with feelings running the gamut from being a little embarrassed to outright shame? Shame itself isn’t the biggest problem—the trouble is reliving the pain. When you give weight to a constant stream of negative thoughts like “I can’t believe I didn’t get that right. I always mess up. Life will always be like this,” shame becomes the boss of you, but you can change that. One type of shame is, “I got myself into this mess!” and it can be one of ...
Oct 06, 2020•5 min
Goals start because we have joy, and we’re excited about what’s ahead. But when you have one adversity after another—kind of like this year has been—you may feel like giving up! Finishing strong takes more than putting your shoulder to the wheel and pushing through—it helps if there’s a little fun along the way. So, backtrack to Why you started and anchor that feeling. Click for this week’s case study and the “Finish Strong” series recap.
Sep 29, 2020•6 min
Does the finish line seem a million miles away? Replace a "have to" mindset with "get to" and turbo charge your results with gratitude!
Sep 22, 2020•4 min
Are you juggling so many projects that finishing seems elusive? You either don’t finish a project, don’t finish on time, or don’t finish with the quality you want. The answer to that problem is to use batch time, but for maximum results, batch time requires a plan. Click to hear four practical examples of how you can back up your big What with a few clear-cut How tactics. Create quality results and make batch time work for you!
Sep 15, 2020•5 min
Labor Day has come and gone, so it’s official: Recess is over and it’s time to get back to work! If your in-box is anything like mine, you may be juggling deadlines as fast as you can, and tempers could be flaring. The answer is to draw on the soft skill of smart choices. Click to hear about three important mails that always backfire. Learn how to hit pause before you hit send!
Sep 08, 2020•4 min
Do you want to pursue a goal but feel like you may have bitten off more than you can chew? Learn how to stop trying to shame, guilt or push yourself into success. Change forcing into actions that are a force multiplier!
Sep 01, 2020•4 min
If someone asked you right now how you invest in your wellbeing, could you tell them? Self-care success is a two-step process: Know what you need to feel good, then ask for it! Click to hear how singer Alicia Keys decided to say no to no breaks.
Aug 25, 2020•5 min
Is there something you thought you had to have six months ago that no longer makes sense? Is there a mindset that looked good from the outside that secretly threw you out of balance or made you miserable? Click to learn 5 ways you can stop striving and say no to worn-out ideas. Start adjusting for the new you—the healthier, happier, simpler you.
Aug 18, 2020•5 min
Is your commitment toggle is automatically set to “yes”? Start reclaiming your day by setting intentions. Think of them as guideposts—when sudden commitments occur, compare them to the priorities you’ve already made. Then, use the soft skill of discernment to decide whether to say an immediate yes, postpone for the moment, or decline. Click to learn 5 questions to ask when you feel pressured to say yes.
Aug 11, 2020•4 min
We may still be in a pandemic, but the dog days of Summer are just like Friday afternoons—they’re the same the world over. But do you find it hard to back off on your commitments, even when long, sunny days are calling? There are plenty of good reasons to say “no”—you just need to understand how to spot them and say no to reclaim your day. Click to hear how you can use your natural creativity to compress tasks or eliminate them. Say no to "how it’s always been" and start pursuing a life you love...
Aug 04, 2020•4 min
Has the pandemic made you more kind or sensitive to others? That’s a key quality Mr. Rogers consistently used in his communication style—empathy! But do you find it tough to show people compassion because you’re unsure if you’re going overboard or embarrassing them or yourself, especially in work settings? Click to learn five ways to say, “I care.”
Jul 28, 2020•5 min
Do you ever get tongue-tied searching for the right response when someone is rushing you? You can bridge the gap by using qualities Mr. Rogers relied on, like being fair, curious, and respectful. Click to hear the story of Eliza who used the soft skill of discernment to slow down her hurricane of a boss. When hitting the pause button seems awkward and unmanageable, you’ll have five to say, “Let’s hold up.”
Jul 21, 2020•4 min
Are you stumped about what to say when your colleagues, friends, and family want to tell the tale of their no-good day? Do you jump into positivity and encouragement, hoping to dissolve the trouble? Click to hear five ways you can provide meaningful, healthy support the next time you’re caught in an awkward conversation. Empower yourself with clear, honest, and tactful responses—yes, it’s possible!
Jul 14, 2020•5 min
Right now, everyone is being encouraged to learn and grow, but are you feeling worn out? Examining and changing old patterns and beliefs are a real-time demonstration of how to use the soft skill of adaptability. However, you might stop yourself due to worries about being embarrassed or seeming indecisive. But here’s the good news: Changing your mind and maintaining your dignity can co-exist. Click to learn how you can emulate the gentle, common-sense approach of Mr. Rogers in your communication...
Jul 07, 2020•5 min
My work in-box was a wreck. My personal mail wasn’t much better. Not because I was crazy busy, but because I kept thinking I’d read or file all those mails later. Guess what? “Later” has arrived, and it doesn’t look anything like I thought it would! The same thing could be said for the pandemic. When quarantine life started, many people thought of it as a snow day—we’d hit pause and pick up where we left off the day before. But it’s fair to say that the summer of 2020 is taking us all by surpris...
Jun 30, 2020•6 min
Has your social media feed been filled with videos of bad behavior? Me, too! Every time I see a clip, I think, Man is that person in the soup! meaning they’re lost in a jumble of out of control feelings. Everyone’s emotions run hot or cold depending on the issue, and you have a right to your feelings. But the trouble starts when feelings abruptly boil over, which is especially common when you’re under stress. How do you avoid becoming a viral clip on social media? Harness and redirect your feeli...
Jun 23, 2020•4 min
Has distance from your old routine given you a new perspective? Have you accidentally fallen into the role of spectator, going along with someone else’s blueprint for your life? Act on that insight and switch from a spectator to a participator. Use the soft skill of creativity to spark ideas about changes that will make you feel whole, healthy and complete. Click to hear the story of violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, whose career-threatening injury spurred her to choose a new direction with in...
Jun 16, 2020•4 min
Getting in front of a new normal may start with some discomfort. There may even be days when you want to quit. But remember that stretching into new territory is an automatic force multiplier, where you help others. Click to listen to today’s podcast about how change is possible, but it takes commitment.
Jun 09, 2020•4 min
Have you ever mixed up motion and action? If you’re tempted to direct traffic, remember that trying to control the outcome is like standing in the middle of a busy highway. In the past, power was often construed as making a plan and then sticking to it. However, true strength acknowledges the unknown. It says, “I may not know or can control what’s coming next, but I’m going to be OK. I believe in myself.” Click to hear the story of Gemma, who has the future with her boyfriend carved in stone, al...
May 26, 2020•9 min
Our old bag of tricks—chasing money and external validation while we push and shove our way through the world—won’t work for the new normal. What will work is changing your focus from booking the next killer vacation or plowing through your in-box to forging heartfelt partnerships. Listen to the story of Asra, who’s taking a hard look at her long habit of playing the superhero. Build the depth of your character and you’ll build true success.
May 19, 2020•6 min
Right now, quarantine life may have you feeling like a rambunctious toddler who has taken a tumble—head over heels and trying to get your bearings. But that’s the time to use Technique #6, “Blaze the Trail,” from my bestseller, Genuine Power—7 Techniques to Be Powerful in a Loud, Complicated World. If you’ve ever felt conflicted about being powerful, take comfort. You can take responsibility for your life and still have and ask for the support of others—those ideas which seem to be incompatible ...
May 12, 2020•6 min
Has quarantine life knocked the wind out of you? Reignite your personal power by making smart choices about how to manage your valuable time and energy. Don't deplete your power bank—control the burn!
May 05, 2020•6 min
Quarantine life has shown what works and what needs to go. Learn how to use adaptability and creativity to make the cut. When you use soft skills to make hard choices, you can manage Life’s surprises like a boss!
Apr 28, 2020•5 min
Crisis has taught me a powerful lesson: Self-care is mandatory to keeping your life together. Time’s up on the push, push, push days of multi-tasking—thank heavens! The coronavirus (or any crisis you’re facing) requires learning how to support your mental, emotional, and physical selves. And not just when you have the time. All the time. You may be a pro at little acts of random kindness for others, but are you kind to yourself? Are you pushing yourself to keep hustling or giving yourself plenty...
Apr 21, 2020•5 min
Do you know how to check yourself so your walk matches your talk? Learn how to use discernment to build an accountability self-check tool. Course correct less-than moments in real-time.
Apr 14, 2020•5 min
My friend Lucy has been close with her neighbors ever since they arrived seven years ago. So, imagine how surprised I was to hear that they were caught in a major throwdown about the quarantine with their favorite neighbors—on social media, no less. Listen to how Lucy turned to the soft skill of empathy and learned the distinction between a bad moment and a bad neighbor. Like Lucy, decide that you’re coming out of the crisis more compassionate, insightful, and wise than you have ever been.
Apr 07, 2020•4 min
Frustrations and irritations happen to everyone. Before you know it, living your best life went out the window and you became the person you never wanted to be. But you can avoid that trap by using soft skills. Name your upset before you’re in the middle of a meltdown.
Mar 31, 2020•5 min
Have you every counted to ten time and time again, and you're still ready to blow? Here's the bad news: You've probably waited too long to say something. But you can correct that mistake in the future with a straightforward technique: Skip The Big Talk. The problem with continually avoiding small problems is that you often wind up with a too-much-pressure, winner takes all Big Talk. So, use the soft skill of discernment to know when a check-in is in order. Don’t tell yourself that something is t...
Mar 24, 2020•4 min
Do you feel like the coronavirus is the boss you? Then reclaim the authority in your life using soft skills. Take a minute to step out of the group panic we see on the news. Instead, reimagine how you would respond as the creative, wise, CEO of your life—a Soul Boss—using the soft skills we talk about week in and week out. You are already equipped for this crisis!
Mar 17, 2020•5 min
