Monthly Archives: February 2015

Accentuating the Positive

What an incredible video this was.  My reaction?  It mirrors the work we are doing at my company with high potential programs.  The program I have been part of specifically includes 4, 6 month rotations anywhere in the world, in any one of our business units.  Rotations are selected based on our assessment of apprentices development needs. The messaging can be a challenge as apprentices have an agenda.  We our challenged with guiding them through learning about themselves, how they react in certain situations, how they show up and we give them tools to help them manage themselves.  We provide an executive coach that the can basically share anything with confidentially.  And we provide them many stretch opportunities to grow, learn and demonstrate they are putting into action what we are teaching them.

What we don’t offer is a physical fitness component but ironically, most of our apprentices are high achievers and have personal commitments to fitness.  It is amazing how many marathon runners I have met in our classes. It also amazes me that if you think about the military, they embrace the running and yoga to help balance the stress.  That’s what really struck me is not only the positive, the resilience, but tools to manage stress and find balance.

The growth in Louie and Eve was tremendous.  It brought a tear to my eye to see Louie achieve the top 10.  It made me reflect personally on my choices and how I might reset the button in certain areas.  The one disappointment for me was Kathy Ann.  I wish someone spoke to her parents.  She would have gained so much from the opportunity and her insecurity will probably, unfortunately, rule her and the outcome of what she is able to accomplish.

I loved the experiment and if Timbertop was near my home, I would consider for my daughter. I’d have trouble letting her go at 14 but if you think about the environment, the skills, and the gift you are giving your child, it may be worth it.  Isn’t that what we as parents strive to do?  Give our children the best education, the best opportunity, and the tools to deal with life.

The Pygmalion Effect

After viewing the video in this weeks lesson, I realized my manager used me as a test case. So what does that mean?  I have worked for Ted for 2 years and he immediately took a shine to me.  He knew I loved an overflowing plate and challenging work.  When I asked, he kept filling that plate and I kept delivering.  He always put me in challenging situations. For example, I have been working on my public speaking throughout my career.  Last year alone, he had me get certified in facilitation, explaining it was a terrific way to broaden my skill set. I struggled but I did not give up.  I remained focused, was allowed to skin my knee and came back stronger than I ever imagined I could – I actually posted the highest facilitation scores out of any of our facilitators certified in the class and did this my first class out.  Fast forward 6 months later and the senior leadership team was looking for a volunteer to facilitate our All Hands Meeting.  Ted informed me at our next 1-1 that he told them I would love to do it.  Now of course I could decline, he said, the choice was mine, but what a great brand building opportunity. He shared he knew I could do this.  I could have died on the spot, facilitating a meeting for 200 people,  but I knew I needed to do it, so I agreed.  I spent the entire Thanksgiving break practicing and trying to keep the negative self talk out of my head. I stayed positive, practiced on my family and you know what, I nailed it.  Even when I didn’t necessarily believe in myself, Ted did, and I found myself working hard to not let him down.

If I could just shift that energy and power to myself -would I always win?

Is your happiness dependent on your genes?

I can share with you that mine is not and I believe that is true for all of us.  We are the creators of our own world, our own success and our own destiny.  Unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth and your choices are made for you, you own your choices.  Even then, you own them, you just need to accept that and take the plunge.  Choices..it’s all ours and we need to be accountable and own that.  Until we do, we cannot find our own happiness.

I made  a personal decision at the age of 8, to make my life happy.  At that time, my world was crumbling around me. I was the baby of 3 girls, my parents were going through a divorce and life as I knew it became hell and very lonely. I focused my attention on the things in life that made me happy.  My dog, Oliver, was one of them. He always loved me, always had a kiss for me, never asked me to make a choice, and always made me smile. Life didn’t get any better than that and from that day, that’s what I focus on, the things that make me happy.

My challenge, as I get older, have my own family and try to figure out the happiness, I spend too much time focusing on making others happy and not me.  I have observed the shift but haven’t yet mastered how to fix it. Instead, I have made some bad choices, I own them and I remember that the choices are mine and I own them.

I also accept I am a work in progress. We all are and with that, I can not be perfect.  I continue to make my mistakes, skin my knee, and next time, try to make the next best choice for me.