Author Archive

After a recent trip to San Diego, I started to read “Happy for No Reason.” In it, Marci Shimoff states that she was 13 when she decided to be a motivational speaker. She had just heard Zig Ziglar and she wanted to “do that!” I could relate to her story, though not quite as certainly. I mean at age thirteen, growing up in Puerto Rico, when the circus came to town I wanted to be a trapeze artist!

I’ve just experienced one of the best theater surprises of my life.  I was told we were “going to the city for an activity.” We drove into Chicago.  I didn’t recognize the area. We parked on an alley.  We walked a block. A woman outside a bar said, “Man of la Mancha? Step right in!”  I grinned at [...]

I just recently returned from another trip to Mexico. This time, the lessons of the trip were around resonance, healing and community. It is true that there’s always a tradeoff — Mexico is Mexico, ancient, dusty, rustic, with its water challenges and its raw environments. But also, Mexico is Mexico with its delicious fruits, art and architecture and especially its beautiful, warm, service-oriented people.

One of the intangibles in my training work is the need to bring people to a place of wellbeing before asking them to learn something new. With some, this involves learning about empathy and respect for their colleagues and customers. Others need help managing their stress. Occasionally, a group or department can feel unappreciated, overworked or simply not aligned with the work. [...]

          To be Known   To be a Voice,   a Color,   a Rhythm,   a Catalyst,   a Perspective.     To help Build.   To Inspire.   Why I Blog.   [Turn up your volume:]   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTQfERb9HVk  

Job losses, demotions and the economy are forcing people to earn money doing things they aren’t passionate about, not in their skill set, not even in their field. Is it possible to succeed when you find yourself doing work you dislike?   A reader writes,   Dear Adrilia,  It is always good to be reminded [...]

  Though I wouldn’t know it given the snow covering the trees today, spring has arrived. The Great Blue Herons have returned, the robins have paired off, scoping out best nesting spots. There are buds on the lilac trees. It’s time to de-clutter, re-arrange, and, yes, hit the gym with renewed vigor!  It’s a bright beginning. The energy [...]

Went to see Mary Poppins at the Cadillac Palace Theater. And yes, she does fly! After the show, I got to thinking about … what else? Training. It is, after all, one of the things THE super-nanny does best. So here I’ve captured some of her lessons. Especially nowadays, when training dollars seem harder to come by, as managers, [...]

I hear it everywhere: jobs are scarce, there’s no money, people are failing. Let me set the record straight: People are NOT failing – financial systems may be failing. We, the people, are strong. Newscasts are filled with alarming stories, fear, stress. Yet a friend writes, “My business in Alaska is flourishing!” Another friend says, “This is the very [...]

  We were in upstate New York at a retreat center – without television. Somebody set up a computer so we could watch the Inauguration. In between classes, we had time to watch THE speech and not much else. You know how a great presenter can deliver the same message and yet have it mean different things [...]