If I’m honest – it took a good discussion to finally agree she should be in this group, as I’ve known Lauri for years. I wanted a group of strangers. Plus, I had a similar experiment years ago and Laurie, like some others, left inspired but not much more. But, I care for Lauri and I wanted her to have the opportunity to align her career with her full potential. So, I caved and reluctantly brought my third friend into the group.
Lauri is a resilient, achievement-oriented and strong woman. She reminds me of Rosie the Riveter. And, that’s a compliment – believe me. She fell into circumstances and started in the family business which started a disastrous cycle of career heartache, when her earliest and heartfelt vocational fantasies were mostly filled with dreams of being a devoted wife and mother. Tonight, I am touched when Lauri discloses how this process has helped her to be a better mother. I know this is true - and I am moved by her emotion and gratitude.
I am also deeply grateful for what I’ve learned from Lauri, and others, about the complexity of the human psyche on the path to finding more happiness. This was the missing piece five years ago. Finding your ideal career is not as easy as taking an inventory of what you do well and what’s most important in life; it’s about preparing yourself to think, behave and show up in alignment with your full potential. This takes time, introspection, some reprogramming, and a commitment to trying new strategies and taking small steps every day. But all too often, we’re moving too fast and looking for quick solutions when it comes to our careers. Therefore, we end up with a career path of reoccurring themes, familiar disappointments, and yes, more of the same. Even switching jobs can only change the scenery.
Maybe this is where my disappointment stems from tonight. Lauri has so many talents, interests and passions that are still waiting to be discovered, but I don’t think we’ve been able to help her think differently. I know personal change takes time, but I expected more the second time around. I expected her to go deeper, to reach further, and to finally see her full potential and do something about it. I can only hope we’ve provided her with a set of tools, some stories of inspiration and a different way to think about happiness, and when she is ready to step into her greatness – we’ll be here waiting. Until then, let me tell you about her magnificence.
Anything a handy man can do, Lauri can do it better – I’m sure. She built the house she lives in, can change a water heater without instructions, joyously stains her deck every year better than most contractors, has a mechanical aptitude second to none, is wicked with a weed eater, and these are the things that give her joy in her spare time. I suspect it comes from her passion to remind herself that a woman can do anything a man can do. Hence, the Rosie comparison.
She’s practical, reliable , persistent, and thinks we're just too slow because she can plow through work with ease, which explains why she prefers to work on her own. She can manage the most complex project by boiling it down into practical step-by-step solutions and is not willing to sacrifice quality. She enjoys things more than people, except when it comes to her family and the really important people in her life. In that category, she is a dear friend, devoted daughter, partner and sister (to those living and passed) and cares deeply for others, which is often displayed with gifts of self-sacrifice.
It’s an honor to know her...and I celebrate her successes. And, I know her journey continues.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Burning Man
The thought for this event was spurred a few weeks ago when I had dinner with a friend who was struggling to move beyond her past. Though things were picking up in life, she talked about being saddened by missed opportunities. She wanted her impending 40th birthday to symbolize a new lease on life. At the same time, we had a few in the group who’d hit a familiar plateau. Wanting more from life, but stuck in the emotions, patterns, beliefs, excuses and reasons generated by their past. I needed to help them let go...and the idea of fire crossed my mind.
I don’t know if you’ve heard of burning man, but it’s on my bucket list. For years now people have gathered in a desert outside of Reno and built a temporary community that symbolizes renewal and celebrates self-reliance. The crescendo of the event is the burning of a large wooden figure as a way of symbolizing letting go; that’s my version anyway.
Yup, we needed our own version of burning man. This was by far the strangest idea I’ve had to date, but as you know, I’m blindly following hunches these days.
When I thought about the permanence of letting things go up in smoke, I was not suggesting people forget their past. But instead, honor it, extract the lessons, keep what works, and ditch the rest. In other words, stop reliving the aspects of one’s story that keep you small; I’m not good enough or smart enough, money doesn’t come easy, I’m not ready yet, I need to be perfect so people won’t see my faults, what other people think is important, I rely on others to save me because I don’t think I can do it on my own, or whatever else you tell yourself when you start to dream about your future.
And, that’s what this weekend was all about – making room for our dreams. It was a small group, but the visions of success were big. Yet, we were honest about the familiar themes that could block our paths, and so, we told our stories one last time. Then, we painted a picture of our future in the horizon, shared a meal, popped open a bottle of Vueve, and burned our stories in a roaring fire when the sun finally surrendered to the Puget Sound.
I'll tell you about the dragonfly and whale later.......
I don’t know if you’ve heard of burning man, but it’s on my bucket list. For years now people have gathered in a desert outside of Reno and built a temporary community that symbolizes renewal and celebrates self-reliance. The crescendo of the event is the burning of a large wooden figure as a way of symbolizing letting go; that’s my version anyway.
Yup, we needed our own version of burning man. This was by far the strangest idea I’ve had to date, but as you know, I’m blindly following hunches these days.
When I thought about the permanence of letting things go up in smoke, I was not suggesting people forget their past. But instead, honor it, extract the lessons, keep what works, and ditch the rest. In other words, stop reliving the aspects of one’s story that keep you small; I’m not good enough or smart enough, money doesn’t come easy, I’m not ready yet, I need to be perfect so people won’t see my faults, what other people think is important, I rely on others to save me because I don’t think I can do it on my own, or whatever else you tell yourself when you start to dream about your future.
And, that’s what this weekend was all about – making room for our dreams. It was a small group, but the visions of success were big. Yet, we were honest about the familiar themes that could block our paths, and so, we told our stories one last time. Then, we painted a picture of our future in the horizon, shared a meal, popped open a bottle of Vueve, and burned our stories in a roaring fire when the sun finally surrendered to the Puget Sound.
I'll tell you about the dragonfly and whale later.......
Thursday, September 24, 2009
The Pre-coming Out Party
On October 7th, we will unveil ourselves five years from now in our "coming out party" at the Columbia Tower Club.
The women who show up that night will toast and boast about our careers, and the lives we have created for ourselves. We will be required to stay in character for the entire evening. And, no topic will be off limits. For the first time, we will "act as if" our visions have come to life now that many of us have a clear sense of where we are headed when it comes to our careers.
I suspect there will be stories of trips to India, a journey around the United States, a labyrinth, changing people's lives, dragonflies, a book, happy marriages, leaving the comfort and safety of a stable job, taking on the issue of obesity, helping others to live healthy lives, following the Buddhist path, hanging out their own shingle, honoring a place for art, being a loving mother, impacting the issue of education, and tales of well adjusted children.
For the last nine months, we've played in a life-sized petri dish; we've meditated, pretended the recession didn’t exist, let go of limiting beliefs, learned to be peer coaches, unearthed our natural gifts and learned to put the important first. And, this coming weekend we will hold our own version of Burning Man. And, all these wonderful experiences have led us to a place where we can celebrate our coming out.
It seemed only apropos to use this time to transition to using our real names, for those who consented. So, this month's newsletter highlights Laura's progress to date in her pre-coming out party....though she can't join us this weekend, I know she was will be there in spirit.
Enjoy
http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=0e550d51a4cb08b9074129f12&id=f28184aeb0
The women who show up that night will toast and boast about our careers, and the lives we have created for ourselves. We will be required to stay in character for the entire evening. And, no topic will be off limits. For the first time, we will "act as if" our visions have come to life now that many of us have a clear sense of where we are headed when it comes to our careers.
I suspect there will be stories of trips to India, a journey around the United States, a labyrinth, changing people's lives, dragonflies, a book, happy marriages, leaving the comfort and safety of a stable job, taking on the issue of obesity, helping others to live healthy lives, following the Buddhist path, hanging out their own shingle, honoring a place for art, being a loving mother, impacting the issue of education, and tales of well adjusted children.
For the last nine months, we've played in a life-sized petri dish; we've meditated, pretended the recession didn’t exist, let go of limiting beliefs, learned to be peer coaches, unearthed our natural gifts and learned to put the important first. And, this coming weekend we will hold our own version of Burning Man. And, all these wonderful experiences have led us to a place where we can celebrate our coming out.
It seemed only apropos to use this time to transition to using our real names, for those who consented. So, this month's newsletter highlights Laura's progress to date in her pre-coming out party....though she can't join us this weekend, I know she was will be there in spirit.
Enjoy
http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=0e550d51a4cb08b9074129f12&id=f28184aeb0
Monday, September 21, 2009
In Search of Soul Food
When I met her in Starbucks this time last year, I was struck by her quiet intelligence and the sincerity that rests in her smile. A mother of two small children, she’d recently made a conscious decision to take a break from her paid vocation and focus on what’s next. Like most, her career had been filled with success, but devoid of purpose. With that, she was clear about her intentions to join the group. It appeared she was ready to do some soul searching, so it made perfect sense the email subject line had caught her attention:
Will work for food. Soul Food.
I don’t know if I could’ve articulated why I felt these words were the right words to bring the perfect people together. Though, that’s exactly what they did. And somehow, in a naive and playful way - we both knew finding more meaningful work meant opening the window to the soul, even if we didn’t know how to talk about it over our lattes that day.
When we met today in another coffee shop across town, it became apparent how much she'd accomplished over the last nine months. She's shown up physically and emotionally and honored her intentions. Yes, it’s her intentions which have allowed her to gain the clarity she’s experiencing at this very moment. She wanted to hear her own authentic voice, which we both now know…resides in one’s soul...and can only be found by creating a clearing and listening in earnest. So, she meditated, serendipitously found a spiritual teacher, started a gratitude practice, learned to trust her intuition and look for signs, and found stillness in the practice of yoga.
And today - what started as an interest in the issue of hunger and poverty, has turned into a new business venture that will create life-changing travel opportunities for families who want to make a difference outside our borders.
Who knew the new title of the book – In Search of Soul Food – would have such a profound significance to her life’s work, and mine.
Will work for food. Soul Food.
I don’t know if I could’ve articulated why I felt these words were the right words to bring the perfect people together. Though, that’s exactly what they did. And somehow, in a naive and playful way - we both knew finding more meaningful work meant opening the window to the soul, even if we didn’t know how to talk about it over our lattes that day.
When we met today in another coffee shop across town, it became apparent how much she'd accomplished over the last nine months. She's shown up physically and emotionally and honored her intentions. Yes, it’s her intentions which have allowed her to gain the clarity she’s experiencing at this very moment. She wanted to hear her own authentic voice, which we both now know…resides in one’s soul...and can only be found by creating a clearing and listening in earnest. So, she meditated, serendipitously found a spiritual teacher, started a gratitude practice, learned to trust her intuition and look for signs, and found stillness in the practice of yoga.
And today - what started as an interest in the issue of hunger and poverty, has turned into a new business venture that will create life-changing travel opportunities for families who want to make a difference outside our borders.
Who knew the new title of the book – In Search of Soul Food – would have such a profound significance to her life’s work, and mine.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
The Tides have Turned
October and November of last year I was frantically interviewing those interested in this lovely experiment. Though the meetings happened all across Seattle - walking around Green Lake, sitting in strange coffee shops, enjoying a quick dinner - the questions were consistent from each finalist.
~ Why a year?
~ How will we spend our time?
~ What can I expect at the end of the process?
~ And, will you be using real names when you write the book?
I always knew anonymity would be a touchy subject. So, I'd answer the question based on what I thought they'd want to hear, "No, I won't be using your name unless it is agreeable to you at the time of publication." And, I meant it. Let's be clear - no one was interested in putting their name in the hands of a stranger, regardless of how cool this project sounded.
As I finalize the book proposal, it's time to take an inventory of who wants to use a pseudonym. The tides have turned and it appears this is no longer a concern for most. Not only do they want me to use their first name, most are asking I share their last name, too. My husband finds this really curious. Yet, it appears the pride of our accomplishments and wanting to share their honest lessons has created a tipping point.
There's still one or two who are reluctant, including my husband, Peter. He wants to go by the name Frank. Sorry, darling - you don't get to hide behind a facade. It would be too confusing when we’re on Oprah.
~ Why a year?
~ How will we spend our time?
~ What can I expect at the end of the process?
~ And, will you be using real names when you write the book?
I always knew anonymity would be a touchy subject. So, I'd answer the question based on what I thought they'd want to hear, "No, I won't be using your name unless it is agreeable to you at the time of publication." And, I meant it. Let's be clear - no one was interested in putting their name in the hands of a stranger, regardless of how cool this project sounded.
As I finalize the book proposal, it's time to take an inventory of who wants to use a pseudonym. The tides have turned and it appears this is no longer a concern for most. Not only do they want me to use their first name, most are asking I share their last name, too. My husband finds this really curious. Yet, it appears the pride of our accomplishments and wanting to share their honest lessons has created a tipping point.
There's still one or two who are reluctant, including my husband, Peter. He wants to go by the name Frank. Sorry, darling - you don't get to hide behind a facade. It would be too confusing when we’re on Oprah.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Breakfast and a Bloody Mary
My husband and I arrive in Boston too early to check-in to our hotel room, so breakfast seems like a more appropriate option than sleeping on the couch in the lobby. Though it’s barely 8:00 am, we are warmly greeted by our waitress who displays more energy than us on a good day. Slightly hunched and little hard of hearing, you can’t help but feel enamored by the obvious passion she has for her work. “She started at this hotel when it first opened 42 years ago, and she was 43 at the time”, she proudly tells the table next to ours. When she offers to bag-up an orange or apple to go, you know this is more than a job for this 85 year old woman. It gets her up in the morning – literally and figuratively.
After a long nap, it’s off to dinner before watching a late season baseball game. “I would like a Bloody Mary. Are they spicy here?” I asked the waitress. With an interesting aloofness she tells me she doesn’t know. The people who own the restaurant don’t allow the employees to try the drinks, just the food. Is it just me – or was that a strange answer? “Okay…would there be anyone who would know”, I wondered out loud. She says she’ll ask the bartender….. I couldn’t help but think about the stark differences in these two experiences. So much so, I want to know more about her story – is today a bad day or does she always bring this level of indifference when she clocks-in.
We chat on and off throughout dinner and she warms up. The wife of a college football coach, she’s spent the last ten years moving around the east coast following his career. With each move she finds whatever job allows her to spend her days with her daughter. Yet, it's not until she shares her husband’s dream of being a head coach one day that she lights up for the first time. We pay for dinner without fanfare or an offer to box-up desert for our travels. I leave knowing this is not a job she enjoys. She's given in to circumstances.
We’re in the 8th inning. Boston is up. It’s tied 8-8 and the bases are loaded with 2 outs. The crowd roars. As they contemplate a win, I'm wondering if she knows it doesn't have to be this way. I want to ask her, "What's your dream?"
After a long nap, it’s off to dinner before watching a late season baseball game. “I would like a Bloody Mary. Are they spicy here?” I asked the waitress. With an interesting aloofness she tells me she doesn’t know. The people who own the restaurant don’t allow the employees to try the drinks, just the food. Is it just me – or was that a strange answer? “Okay…would there be anyone who would know”, I wondered out loud. She says she’ll ask the bartender….. I couldn’t help but think about the stark differences in these two experiences. So much so, I want to know more about her story – is today a bad day or does she always bring this level of indifference when she clocks-in.
We chat on and off throughout dinner and she warms up. The wife of a college football coach, she’s spent the last ten years moving around the east coast following his career. With each move she finds whatever job allows her to spend her days with her daughter. Yet, it's not until she shares her husband’s dream of being a head coach one day that she lights up for the first time. We pay for dinner without fanfare or an offer to box-up desert for our travels. I leave knowing this is not a job she enjoys. She's given in to circumstances.
We’re in the 8th inning. Boston is up. It’s tied 8-8 and the bases are loaded with 2 outs. The crowd roars. As they contemplate a win, I'm wondering if she knows it doesn't have to be this way. I want to ask her, "What's your dream?"
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Creating a Clearing
We went around the room and as we always do, shared our learning and insights since our last meeting. We’d all embarked on the month of magical thinking, and the amazing stories started to fly. The signs that are leading one person to important work in India, another to solve the problem of obesity, a dear friend who has found her compassion through her own journey and will help others to live more healthy lives, and the artist who will one day share her gifts to help others to heal.
Then there’s the person who’s been shepherding others to success for years. She’s writing a book, “My Life in Boxes.” It’s about resiliency and the lessons she’s learned in the thirty-three moves she endured over her lifetime. She finds herself at a major crossroads with the prospect of big life changes on the horizon. She confirmed she’s doing what she supposed to be doing, for now. Yet again, after a major water leak and in the midst of a large construction project, she finds herself in boxes once more. When the large construction equipment and fans finally leave the house, she relishes in the silence. What does this all mean?
Yet, it’s the question from the group that consumes my thoughts this morning. Why is it that so many of us are experiencing an awakening and realizing this level of clarity at this very moment? I can’t help but think about the uncanny metaphor in her unfortunate circumstances to provide some insight. In order to find what we are being called to do, we must create a clearing. Though her house is in disarray, she has taken down the interior walls so she can see all the way to her authentic self and she’s packed her burdensome emotions and beliefs in boxes. She’s found herself in the stillness. We have, like her, removed the self-imposed obstacles that block the subtle whispers from our souls.
This time, when we move - we'll know where we are headed.
Then there’s the person who’s been shepherding others to success for years. She’s writing a book, “My Life in Boxes.” It’s about resiliency and the lessons she’s learned in the thirty-three moves she endured over her lifetime. She finds herself at a major crossroads with the prospect of big life changes on the horizon. She confirmed she’s doing what she supposed to be doing, for now. Yet again, after a major water leak and in the midst of a large construction project, she finds herself in boxes once more. When the large construction equipment and fans finally leave the house, she relishes in the silence. What does this all mean?
Yet, it’s the question from the group that consumes my thoughts this morning. Why is it that so many of us are experiencing an awakening and realizing this level of clarity at this very moment? I can’t help but think about the uncanny metaphor in her unfortunate circumstances to provide some insight. In order to find what we are being called to do, we must create a clearing. Though her house is in disarray, she has taken down the interior walls so she can see all the way to her authentic self and she’s packed her burdensome emotions and beliefs in boxes. She’s found herself in the stillness. We have, like her, removed the self-imposed obstacles that block the subtle whispers from our souls.
This time, when we move - we'll know where we are headed.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
French Fries and Lies
The silence I felt two weeks ago on our call was a signal. I'd just finished sharing all the magical things that have been happening this month, and there it was....dead silence. I took no offence. I knew it wasn't jealously or envy, but I thought I might have witnessed a stirring. Or, there's also the possibility my phone was cutting out. No, I definitely suspected a shift.
She's my peer coach and a fellow group member, but she's also a dear friend for years now. We were business partners at one point. But after a year working together, it became obvious we were living my dream, not hers. The final clue - I couldn't get her to make any financial investments. She would give her time, but not her money. Its hard to build a business without offering up some $$. The gig at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation momentarily put my dream on hold, so the business partnership parted as their work consumed my time. But, she continued her journey to find work that offered her meaning.
She is a wonderful wife and devoted mother who took herself off the corporate track when the kids were born. Since then, she's been a successful personal trainer. I've always known she was destined for greatness, but alas, she needed to catch up. We've had numerous breakthroughs over the last few months, and it was obvious it was the self-imposed beliefs and lies she told herself that kept her from living her destiny.
And, yesterday I was screaming with joy when I heard she'd finally committed to something. The evidence was clear - she had spent some money. $207 for a website and blog - check her out - French Fries and Lies. Through her work and words, we'll look into the lies we tell ourselves to stay fat and (un)happy. Who knows where it will lead, but it will take her exactly where she needs to go.
Look out Oprah....here she comes!
She's my peer coach and a fellow group member, but she's also a dear friend for years now. We were business partners at one point. But after a year working together, it became obvious we were living my dream, not hers. The final clue - I couldn't get her to make any financial investments. She would give her time, but not her money. Its hard to build a business without offering up some $$. The gig at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation momentarily put my dream on hold, so the business partnership parted as their work consumed my time. But, she continued her journey to find work that offered her meaning.
She is a wonderful wife and devoted mother who took herself off the corporate track when the kids were born. Since then, she's been a successful personal trainer. I've always known she was destined for greatness, but alas, she needed to catch up. We've had numerous breakthroughs over the last few months, and it was obvious it was the self-imposed beliefs and lies she told herself that kept her from living her destiny.
And, yesterday I was screaming with joy when I heard she'd finally committed to something. The evidence was clear - she had spent some money. $207 for a website and blog - check her out - French Fries and Lies. Through her work and words, we'll look into the lies we tell ourselves to stay fat and (un)happy. Who knows where it will lead, but it will take her exactly where she needs to go.
Look out Oprah....here she comes!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Lady Bugs
Did you know if you enter "symbolism of lady bugs" into a Google search, you get 28,600 results? Why am I interested, you might ask?
On a picnic lunch with one of my group members a ladybug landed on my shirt. That was at 12:00 pm. It's almost 4 hours later, and the cute thing is still hanging on. And, this is after a walk around Green Lake, a ride home on I-5 with the top down, and after numerous attempts to move it on its way. Anyway, here is what I found in my first click:
Ladybugs teaches us how to restore our faith and trust in great spirit. It initiates change where it is needed the most. When a ladybug appears it is asking us to get out of our own way and allow great spirit to enter.
Okay, does anyone find this freakish? Not the fact that I haven't been more aggressive with its reentry into the wild - okay I know it's kinda weird - but it is a direct answer to my question for the month.
Come on in now that I've come closer...
On a picnic lunch with one of my group members a ladybug landed on my shirt. That was at 12:00 pm. It's almost 4 hours later, and the cute thing is still hanging on. And, this is after a walk around Green Lake, a ride home on I-5 with the top down, and after numerous attempts to move it on its way. Anyway, here is what I found in my first click:
Ladybugs teaches us how to restore our faith and trust in great spirit. It initiates change where it is needed the most. When a ladybug appears it is asking us to get out of our own way and allow great spirit to enter.
Okay, does anyone find this freakish? Not the fact that I haven't been more aggressive with its reentry into the wild - okay I know it's kinda weird - but it is a direct answer to my question for the month.
Come on in now that I've come closer...
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Whoosh, thump...thump
Someone told me today they were ready to play. I awoke to three emails that described her steadfast desire to get out of her own way – once and for all. She’s ready to find out what stops her from taking action. Finding more happiness.
Do you remember watching children play the jump rope game Double Dutch when you were little? The intricacy of the two ropes moving through the air in opposite directions at warp speed as you sway back and forth, back and forth…to plot the perfect moment to enter the swirling chaos. The quick rush of the air in your face as the rope circles. It’s as if it tells you it’s not safe to go in just yet, while the pounding of the rope’s rhythm woos you in further….whoosh, thump..thump….whoosh, thump…thump. Then at some point – you know the exact right moment to take the leap.
Like standing on the outside of the Double Dutch ropes, I been waiting for the signal it’s time to jump in and help. At the start of this journey I was over-the-top excited by the prospect of seeing her create a career that was at the same magnitude as her magnificence. But, alas – my predictions of who, how and when people will wake up to their full potential has debunked my common sense. In some ways I’ve been a little too frustrated as I’ve watched her struggle. So smart, funny, insightful, creative, but stopped by fear pretending to be something more protective. It seems she is ready to untangle herself and this is the perfect moment…whoosh, thump…..jump.
Do you remember watching children play the jump rope game Double Dutch when you were little? The intricacy of the two ropes moving through the air in opposite directions at warp speed as you sway back and forth, back and forth…to plot the perfect moment to enter the swirling chaos. The quick rush of the air in your face as the rope circles. It’s as if it tells you it’s not safe to go in just yet, while the pounding of the rope’s rhythm woos you in further….whoosh, thump..thump….whoosh, thump…thump. Then at some point – you know the exact right moment to take the leap.
Like standing on the outside of the Double Dutch ropes, I been waiting for the signal it’s time to jump in and help. At the start of this journey I was over-the-top excited by the prospect of seeing her create a career that was at the same magnitude as her magnificence. But, alas – my predictions of who, how and when people will wake up to their full potential has debunked my common sense. In some ways I’ve been a little too frustrated as I’ve watched her struggle. So smart, funny, insightful, creative, but stopped by fear pretending to be something more protective. It seems she is ready to untangle herself and this is the perfect moment…whoosh, thump…..jump.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Deepak or Patrick Lencioni?
In exchange for the promise of good food and wine, a group of successful people volunteered to show up quarterly to ask me questions, test assumptions on my business strategy and let’s be honest, keep me on track. The idea of having a business advisory group was sparked a few months ago when my husband lovingly told me I have the propensity to start things I don’t finish. He meant this, of course, in the nicest way.
In addition to the amazing food I whipped up in freakish speed, the meeting was spectacular. You see, I’ve had this big question whether I take the personal development route or the more corporate route with employee engagement. In other words, should I be like Deepak or Patrick Lencioni? (Just the fact I only use Deepak’s first name should be a clue to my bias; I just assume you know who he is.) This has been causing me to be a little schizophrenic and uncommitted, to put it mildly.
As I suspected, they advise me to write the book and they will come. Both will come...seekers and employers alike. Do what I do naturally, get the damn book written, and let’s start a movement. There’s already some early interest in the book, so it’s time to put my head down. And, it appears I will be my own person, but more like a Steve Covey for careers, of course. I can live with that….
By the way, ask me for my Thai basil hamburger slider recipe. Yum!
In addition to the amazing food I whipped up in freakish speed, the meeting was spectacular. You see, I’ve had this big question whether I take the personal development route or the more corporate route with employee engagement. In other words, should I be like Deepak or Patrick Lencioni? (Just the fact I only use Deepak’s first name should be a clue to my bias; I just assume you know who he is.) This has been causing me to be a little schizophrenic and uncommitted, to put it mildly.
As I suspected, they advise me to write the book and they will come. Both will come...seekers and employers alike. Do what I do naturally, get the damn book written, and let’s start a movement. There’s already some early interest in the book, so it’s time to put my head down. And, it appears I will be my own person, but more like a Steve Covey for careers, of course. I can live with that….
By the way, ask me for my Thai basil hamburger slider recipe. Yum!
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Burlesque Dancer
When my soon-to-be editor backed out after my weekend of writing in the woods, panic wasn’t an immediate thought. “Everything happens for a reason”, is now my mantra. As I parked the car on the hill and walked back to the house, my mind wondered from my normal fantasies of an attached two-car garage to finding a new editor. After all I wasn’t prepared to go in naked without a “professional” looking at my book proposal. As I looked down at my blackberry, an email from my friend popped into my inbox at that exact moment.
She’d just thrown a bachelorette party with burlesque lessons and yes, tassels, and was sharing the highlights. I can tell you I almost wet my pants laughing as I scanned her email. In the middle of my hysterics it dawned on me she would know exactly the right person to help me out of this predicament. She’d just finished her own book. Since I’m not saying “no” to much these days, I immediately speed dialed her number and followed my hunch.
After sharing in the priceless images of women dancing awkwardly while the teacher yells from the back of the room, “juicy bounce” - my entrepreneurial friend, turned tassel dancer, said she knew the right person. I’ll sleep well tonight knowing I have one option. She was a fellow dancer, so who knows if there’ll be stripper heals involved. I’m willing to see where this goes. If nothing else, this confirms the universe has a great sense of humor.
She’d just thrown a bachelorette party with burlesque lessons and yes, tassels, and was sharing the highlights. I can tell you I almost wet my pants laughing as I scanned her email. In the middle of my hysterics it dawned on me she would know exactly the right person to help me out of this predicament. She’d just finished her own book. Since I’m not saying “no” to much these days, I immediately speed dialed her number and followed my hunch.
After sharing in the priceless images of women dancing awkwardly while the teacher yells from the back of the room, “juicy bounce” - my entrepreneurial friend, turned tassel dancer, said she knew the right person. I’ll sleep well tonight knowing I have one option. She was a fellow dancer, so who knows if there’ll be stripper heals involved. I’m willing to see where this goes. If nothing else, this confirms the universe has a great sense of humor.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Burning Man
Well, it’s off to the cabin for a long weekend. No internet, cell service, just me and my writing…and the rest of the family, of course.
As I think about the prospect of writing in the woods, I start to realize this could qualify me as a real writer. I wonder if I should pack only black, buy a clip-on necklace for my reading glasses and bring a Hemingway classic. Well, maybe a walk in the woods for inspiration will be enough. In all fairness, the proposal was written months ago, and now it’s just time to wrap in some of the texture that’s surfaced over the last six months before I hit “send” on my computer.
I find some comfort in knowing if I hit a wall, I can use my spare time to stake out the place for our burning man event later this month. Like many of my actions these days, the idea grew out of a verbal stream of consciousness when I had dinner with a girlfriend. In the midst of hearing her familar story and intrepedation of waking up forty in a few weeks, she was lamenting on how to spend the big 40.
Her: A cabin the woods….her sadness over all the missed opportunities…and, the tranquility of the water. ME: Let go of the past…could she symbolically create a clearing….did she want company…yup, burning man. It seemed like the only right option at the time. She's since decided to bag the idea, but only after a few of the group enthusistically signed up. Too late to turn back now.
I suppose I should learn how to build a fire while I’m there, as well. Do real writers do that, too?
As I think about the prospect of writing in the woods, I start to realize this could qualify me as a real writer. I wonder if I should pack only black, buy a clip-on necklace for my reading glasses and bring a Hemingway classic. Well, maybe a walk in the woods for inspiration will be enough. In all fairness, the proposal was written months ago, and now it’s just time to wrap in some of the texture that’s surfaced over the last six months before I hit “send” on my computer.
I find some comfort in knowing if I hit a wall, I can use my spare time to stake out the place for our burning man event later this month. Like many of my actions these days, the idea grew out of a verbal stream of consciousness when I had dinner with a girlfriend. In the midst of hearing her familar story and intrepedation of waking up forty in a few weeks, she was lamenting on how to spend the big 40.
Her: A cabin the woods….her sadness over all the missed opportunities…and, the tranquility of the water. ME: Let go of the past…could she symbolically create a clearing….did she want company…yup, burning man. It seemed like the only right option at the time. She's since decided to bag the idea, but only after a few of the group enthusistically signed up. Too late to turn back now.
I suppose I should learn how to build a fire while I’m there, as well. Do real writers do that, too?
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Light my Fire
I went to bed on Sunday night knowing two things were true: the sun would come up tomorrow and I was entering a week filled with possibilities. Ah, if I only knew…
I’ve been toying with an idea of finding an editor to help with the book proposal. Okay, let’s do that again and be a bit more honest. I’ve decided I need an editor if I was going to be comfortable sharing my work with perfect strangers. When the morning sun filters through my window on Monday morning, I decide to write a draft of the pitch letter to give the editor so he can show me his stuff. Like a pre-employment test, ya know?
In about an hour, I write the letter. Then, I decide it’s actually okay. On a whim, I decide to send the letter out. I spend the better part of my day researching agents and publishers and send out fifteen unsolicited letters via email. What the heck, right? It typically takes a few months to hear from these folks. They are inundated with unsolicited queries and if nothing else, I suspect it will light my fire to put the finishing touches on the book proposal. I know I am ready to write this book, damn it.
My head is still spinning. I heard from four people in the first 48 hours. An agent and a publisher who want to take a look. One large publishing house that asked a lot of good questions, but decided it wasn’t exactly right. (Though my gut tells me they’ll still circle back.) And, one who wants to know more, but I decide I need to catch my breath before I respond early next week.
Consider me fired up universe….
I’ve been toying with an idea of finding an editor to help with the book proposal. Okay, let’s do that again and be a bit more honest. I’ve decided I need an editor if I was going to be comfortable sharing my work with perfect strangers. When the morning sun filters through my window on Monday morning, I decide to write a draft of the pitch letter to give the editor so he can show me his stuff. Like a pre-employment test, ya know?
In about an hour, I write the letter. Then, I decide it’s actually okay. On a whim, I decide to send the letter out. I spend the better part of my day researching agents and publishers and send out fifteen unsolicited letters via email. What the heck, right? It typically takes a few months to hear from these folks. They are inundated with unsolicited queries and if nothing else, I suspect it will light my fire to put the finishing touches on the book proposal. I know I am ready to write this book, damn it.
My head is still spinning. I heard from four people in the first 48 hours. An agent and a publisher who want to take a look. One large publishing house that asked a lot of good questions, but decided it wasn’t exactly right. (Though my gut tells me they’ll still circle back.) And, one who wants to know more, but I decide I need to catch my breath before I respond early next week.
Consider me fired up universe….
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
