We know that we are all part of an eco-system – whether that is an organization, a family, a team or community. We all have a role to play in a bigger organism. But do you know your role? And do you truly value it? Do those around you know it and value it? There are lots of different ways we can categorize ourselves (ethnicity, gender, personality, gifts, talents), but one of the most useful is our behavior style. [...]
Growing up, my aunt would ask my cousins and me "Are you part of the problem, or are you part of the solution?" Have you ever been asked this question? Even as a child, I knew that if the answer to this wasn't "SOLUTION", then I was in trouble. We all knew what was next: the statement of the problem and how WE could solve it. This method of questioning was a long-standing family secret (and my aunt will tell [...]
I don't know about you, but I'm so glad Spring is here. And while I look forward to the warmer weather and the sunshine that it brings, that's not why I'm so happy about it. Three years ago, my husband and I suffered a tragic loss: our oldest son died from a rare form of bone cancer called Osteosarcoma (yellow is the ribbon color for Sarcomas). And because his passing was in January, these past few years have started [...]
We’ve learned that effective communication should come from the heart, and I wholeheartedly believe that (no pun intended). When trying to motivate, inspire or even just relay a simple message, speaking with compassion is usually the best way to go. I still remember how profound it was when I heard a conference speaker say that our EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient) is just as important as our IQ (Intelligence Quotient), and some thought leaders say it’s even more important. It wasn’t [...]
Ahh, the new year. For my family and me, New Year’s Day is a time to enjoy family and black-eyed peas. It marks the end of the holidays and all the celebratory eating that seems to come with it, and it marks the beginning of new challenges. Over the Christmas/Winter break, I tend to rest, read, binge watch, and spend time with extended family. (there's nothing like a game of Taboo to get the blood flowing!) Then, I end the [...]
The end of the year is upon us, temperatures have dropped, stores are filling up and so are our schedules. People are focused on closing out projects, wrapping up obligations and meeting the added demands of holiday stress. To maximize the potential of the people in our charge, compassionate leaders need to consider a few points while navigating their teams through this season: Make room for extra Life I always tell my project management students and clients to “make room [...]
I discovered cruising in 2005 after going with family to celebrate a milestone birthday (it was my uncle’s 50th). We went on a 5-day cruise out of Galveston, TX on the Carnival Ecstasy and at first I was nervous and worried that I’d be bored. It was just the opposite. This itinerary made two stops; one in Cozumel, Mexico and then Progress (also Mexico) and we had a blast. It was my husband and our youngest son who was just [...]
One of my favorite movies is Ray, the feature film about Ray Charles. When Ray Charles was about five years old, he developed glaucoma and gradually became blind. One of the most pivotal scenes in the movie occurs in his mom’s home. He was stumbling around the humble shack in the darkness and began to get frustrated. He sat there and cried out to his mother who sat in the chair crying, wishing she could just take it away. But [...]
I had several errands to run today, but one of the most important of them was to buy another basketball goal for our backyard. Yes, we have active boys (down to only 2 since our eldest 2 are “grown”) and they will both die if they can’t play. Nevermind that it’s 100 degrees outside (we live in Houston). But the reality is, I’m replacing the goal because our backyard basketball court is where we do ministry. Youth ministry, marriage ministry, [...]
Whether you've heard me speak, read one of my books, or attended one of my workshops, here you'll find ways to stay connected and keep growing. I am passionate about helping people live (and work) with passion, purpose, and perseverance. Since most people spend the majority of their waking hours at work, I like to start there! If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. All that passion stuff sounds great in a perfect [...]
