For nearly everyone, there comes a moment when you know it’s time to make a move.  You may be ready to move up to the next level, make a lateral move into a new functional area to broaden your experience, jump into a new industry or company and apply your skills, or do something entirely […]

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Dear Teressa, With many demanding priorities, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish one’s real purpose from the demands of life.  Even with great desire to know and understand my purpose, it feels as though I am desperately seeking the proverbial needle in the haystack. ~Jenny      Dear Jenny, The tug of war you captured is so familiar. […]

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Dear Teressa, Could you please provide tips to stay grounded and focused despite being surrounded by people who aren’t?  Also how can I cultivate and encourage a friend’s talent without over stepping boundaries? Lilliana   Dear Lilliana, Years of experience suggests that being grounded – with balanced physical, mental and emotional energy and attention focused […]

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I voluntarily had myself videotaped twice in the last few weeks. One taping was of a keynote address, the other of a golf lesson.  Both were incredibly instructive.  I picked up specific behaviors, many of them subtle, that I could only fully understand by watching myself in action.  Pictures really speak thousands of words, but […]

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Whether I’m watching Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Tom Brady, Cole Hamels or Michael Vick, I notice how they do what they do – the mechanical and mental aspects of their performance. An important lesson – one many of us can learn from – is the resilience of those at the top […]

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In the late 70s, Teddy Pendergrass sang a song titled, “You Can’t Hide from Yourself.” The lyrics went on to explain, “You Can’t Hide from Yourself, because everywhere you go, there you are.”  How true! You are the one constant in your life.  So, it’s very important for you to be in charge of you.  […]

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“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life…Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your inner voice.” Those were the tried and truthful words of late Apple founder Steve Jobs in his speech to Stanford University’s class of 2005. Through conditioning we blind ourselves to the best of who […]

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For many, being assertive is difficult and the reasons are varied.  Maybe you don’t want to hurt feelings or come off as cocky and aggressive.  Or it could be that you don’t have confidence in your own opinion and fear that others will prove you wrong if you speak up. Assertiveness is about confidence.  It’s […]

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Do you ever feel like you just want to whine and complain about your job, your boss, your company, your partner, your life?  We all do.  It’s normal, but there might be good buried beneath the bad feelings on the surface. While we call these feelings negative, they actually hold positive potential.  Don’t ignore them.  […]

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While the specific ways people react to change vary widely, there are always two components to everyone’s reaction.  One component is their logical reaction and the other, their emotional reaction. Here are two suggestions that can help you deal with changes in your workplace and life: First, get beneath the headline. Try to understand the […]

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Do you have a BIG idea – one that will transform your career, your company’s business model, streamline processes, save significant time and money, land you a brand new role or help you branch off and build your own successful enterprise?  Have you put a plan of action in place or are you stalling, plagued […]

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Sabrina’s Story:  In 1988, Sabrina Umstead Smith lost her husband in an apartment fire.  She almost died herself.  The baby she was carrying at the time was born with underdeveloped lungs and cerebral palsy due to oxygen deprivation.  Three years later, her young son, Erick, succumbed to his medical disabilities.  As part of her emotional […]

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When it comes to pressure in the workplace or at home, which situations trigger feelings of overload, burden, overwhelm and stress?  How do you typically react?  Do you freeze up, get angry or cranky, gossip, feel frustrated, or stop working and start complaining?  Do you overreact? The next time pressure and overload land in your […]

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We look to tools and techniques to help us manage time.  And they can, to a certain extent – that being the degree to which we take a disciplined approach to their application.  The effectiveness of any time management tool is squarely in our hands.  To manage your time more effectively, you have to improve […]

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“I’m continually trying to make choices that put me against my own comfort zone. As long as you’re uncomfortable, it means you’re growing.” ~Ashton Kutcher  Defensiveness is the biggest deterrent to learning, professional and personal growth and positive change.  Most of the time we don’t recognize when we’re standing in the way of our own progress. […]

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You’re about to engage in a difficult, yet crucial conversation – one where emotional tensions are high, you’re intent on proving a point, being right and prevailing.  Often times, there’s little warning.  You may suddenly find yourself in the middle of a response before you’ve properly assessed the situation. When difficult conversations don’t happen, problems […]

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Every day, opportunities are presented to us. They may be disguised as obstacles, problems or issues, but what they really are is a chance to demonstrate our ability to make a positive contribution to our lives or our company’s goals and objectives. The best way to take advantage of these opportunities is by making conscious […]

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Like every year in your life, 2013 is YOUR YEAR.  It’s sure to bring you multiple opportunities to live with a clear mind, a grateful heart, and look forward to the next steps on your journey with joy-filled anticipation. The start of the new year is the perfect time for Intentional Reflection.  Purposefully look back […]

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We tend to react to familiar situation in familiar ways.  That’s clearly true any time we find ourselves back in a familiar situation – like celebrating a holiday with our family of origin or our in-laws. Without thinking, old ingrained patterns of behavior kick in.  When the pattern is constructive, the gathering tends to feel […]

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