Minor Change; Major Impact

Consistency is not my forte’. For over a year, promises to lift weights at the YMCA morphed into, “I’ll go later in the week,” and then…well….you know how this ends. Now, I’m at the YMCA  twice a week – without hesitation.  What changed? Gretchin Rubin, author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before says, “Habits are the architecture of life.” She writes, …

Did He Just Yawn?

After 23 years teaching high school, I’m still not immune to disinterested and dissatisfied attendee’s expressions. As I begin a training for 15 company managers, Jerri’s expression says, “I don’t want to be here and I’m pissed that I am.” You’ve seen them, attending your meeting, speech or participating in your training: yawning, looking at their watch, checking text messages or slumped …

I Made a Mistake!

While moving at lightning speed, from one detail to the next to organize and stage TEDx Asheville 2022, I made a big mistake. If it was a detail on the website – easy fix. If I forgot to arrange a projector, a call would right that wrong. This mistake required I apologize. Even with that creepy-crawly feeling of shame and embarrassment in …

Act First. Confidence Follows.

Susie’s name was called. Finally, the opportunity she’d hoped for: to share her story and apply the speaking skills she learned the past two months was here! She performed on stage, under theater lights to an audience of 60 people. The video proved it. She rocked! Even came in second place! Honestly, she implemented everything we practiced: varied vocal inflection, …