100 years ago, my maternal grandparents, better known as “Mam-ma and Pa-pa” to me, were born into what was later to be known as the Greatest Generation. It’s hard to imagine that they were once my age, and before that, they were kids too. And like most of us, there were times when they weren’t quite sure what they were doing or the best way to do it.

It used to drive me crazy, and not because I didn’t like math.

When was the first time you remember being part of a team?

This time of the year can be incredibly special yet brings so many extra challenges.  Last year I wrote about Lagom, having just enough – not too much, not too little.  Finding the balance.

I am fortunate to live in a place that experiences all four seasons, and with each transition, there is a symbolism that hits home.  

It’s clear from the multitude of books, websites, podcasts, seminars, conferences, training and other educational tools that there is no single way to build a business, or even more importantly, a life.

With all of this information and expertise available, how do we know what is best for ourselves?

When was the last time you were truly amazed? What brought on this sense of wonder and how did it feel?

In these times of Transformation (intentionally capitalized), it’s not only important to embrace the idea of change, but to also engage and connect with our past.

Hemingway's memoir of his time in Paris in the 1920's was a go-to read in preparation for my first trip to the City of Lights.  The visit did not disappoint, and I quickly realized that the book is about so much more than a great city.

We've often heard that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and I'm a big believer.  There is also value in understanding and appreciating the parts themselves to truly grasp what makes the whole so great.

A few weeks ago, I got lost, in a good way.  I spent most of a Saturday setting up my office space.  I had purchased some new items, included some things I already had, and carefully planned the layout of the furniture and the artwork.  Why was this so enjoyable, and did it really make sense to spend so much time on a room?

There’s something about January that brings out my worst inner critic.  We see and hear things like “It’s time for a new you” and “Out with the old, in with the new”. In turning that calendar page, it’s easy to forget the good of the past and focus only on the long list of goals yet to be achieved.

These final weeks of the year bring about anticipation, excitement, and for many a lot of additional stress.  For those of us in the Northern hemisphere, the shortened daylight hours can evoke an additional sense of pressure to get even more done.

Thanksgiving means many things to each of us.  For those of us in the U.S., it's a holiday that kicks off a long weekend at the end of November.  This could include traveling, cooking, eating, spending time with family and friends, watching football, beginning preparations for the December holidays, or working extra hours to allow others to do these things.  

My love of college football began as a bit of a necessity.  I figured out quickly that if I wanted to spend time with my then-boyfriend, now husband, I needed to learn the game.  Not only did I “tolerate” Saturday afternoons in the fall; I became a full-on convert.

A trip to Vancouver in April wasn’t my first choice.  Yes, I’ve become spoiled when it comes to travel, and writing this makes me cringe at my selfish attitude.  While winters in Atlanta are generally mild, I was hoping for a warmer climate, preferably with a sandy beach and plenty of sun – a place to relax and chill after an exceptionally busy and exhausting first quarter.  Reluctantly, I packed my base layers, and more layers, sensible and not-so-sensible shoes, and shifted my mindset… a little.