Question of the day… What part of your past has kept you fenced in?
Fence From the Past
Where’s My Mug?
Question of the day… How do you keep track of the important things you use every day?
New Tai Chi Basics classes for the Fall, 2015
While I’ve had many careers in my adult life (computer operator, software developer, software teacher, human resources manager, stress management consultant, public speaking coach, photographer), the one constant throughout has been some form of body movement/awareness practice. I began in college as a modern dancer, then moved from there to yoga, tai chi, authentic movement and More…
Northern Stage Construction Finale
The new Northern Stage building is now complete and my images are incorporated on both the donor wall and space naming plaques. Very exciting! There will be a grand opening on October 10 from 11:00 to 2:00 so if you’re in town, please do come see the beautiful new building and check out my photos More…
Act as If…
For many years now, I’ve been coaching my public speaking clients to act as if they felt confident by embodying that feeling through how they sit, stand and walk. These simple techniques serve to “trick” the mind into feeling comfortable and confidence while speaking. Recently I watched a TED talk by social psychologist Amy Cuddy More…
Remembering Names: A perfect time to practice presence
(This is a reprint of an article I wrote in 2006) “I’m sorry, what is your name, again?” How often have you had to ask that a few minutes after meeting someone? We all do this. During the actual introduction, our minds are focused on anything but the person we are meeting. We are thinking More…
Closing the Presence Gap: Simple tools for rediscovering this innate leadership ability
(The three people described below are each composites of a number of clients who have come through my public speaking programs and services.) Jane was bright, experienced, and the only female on her work team. Frustrated, she felt that nothing she said at team meetings was taken seriously and her participation was frequently discounted or More…
From Uptight to Calm and Relaxed
I was at the dentist yesterday. Nothing major, just getting my teeth cleaned. As I was lying there on the chair I became aware of how “uptight” my body was. It seemed that despite the relative safety of the event, my muscles were preparing to fight or flee. It was as though at a deeply More…
Absence: The Number One Obstacle to Presence
(Original article copyrighted in 2008) I was at a team meeting recently where a group of us were talking about the leadership training program in an organization employing about 275 people. One person in the group asked the CEO, “What’s the opposite of leadership?” The CEO without any hesitation immediately said, “Absence!” How interesting! I More…
Occupy… The Conversation
I’ve been especially intrigued by the “Occupy…” movement sweeping not just our country but the entire globe. While I wish I could attend one as I feel very much aligned with this movement, it’s just not been possible given my current circumstances. So, I’ve been watching and listening with interest from afar (mainly through Facebook More…