I recently talked to a government employee who had been rapped on the knuckles because she had initiated a conversation with an employee who was one level above her on the management grid. Apparently their ministry policy is such that one can only communicate with someone at their own level – no one above and no one below.

Call me crazy but that does seem to be rather outdated thinking. And, if you don’t believe me, believe Pixar Animation Studios.

Best known for awarding winning animated feature films like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and Cars, Pixar has articulated three… More Posted on 11-20-11

Tracking our Progress as a Country

Last Friday’s Remembrance Day served as a catalyst for getting me, and hopefully others, thinking about what’s truly important. After all, have we become the kind of country our war veterans fought to preserve? Have we made the kind of progress they envisioned?

Until now that might have been difficult to answer with certainty. Now, there’s both good news and bad news in responding to those questions.

The good news is that veterans might be proud to know that Canada has become a world leader in measuring wellbeing. The bad news is that our quality of life needs… More Posted on 11-13-11

A Miracle Drug

My mother is a beautiful and vibrant 83 years young. As lovely on the inside as she is on the outside, she did however recently acknowledge that she was slowing down and didn’t seem to have quite as much energy.

Spurred by her partner who coincidently was ordered by his doctor to get more physically active, they made a commitment to walk together every single day. Although initially the walks left them feeling tired, within a few short weeks they started to see results. Not only were they feeling stronger and more energetic, they were feeling more alert and… More Posted on 11-06-11

We Can Do Better

Like a lot of others I was somewhat perplexed by the ongoing, albeit peaceful, demonstrations being referred to as Occupy Wall Street when they first originated in New York in mid September.

While the movement was predominantly driven by young people when it started, it now involves people of many colours, cultures, and political persuasions. As they put it, they are the 99% who will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%. Since initiated, the protests have spread to an astounding 900+ cities around the world and, as such, have become a movement that is tough… More Posted on 10-30-11

Are Colleges and Universities Ready for the Knowledge Economy?

There is some impressive research happening in colleges and university.

This week I learned about the importance of assistive devices that are enhancing independent living for seniors and persons with disabilities, how the knowledge and experience of presidents and vice presidents is being transitioned to the next generation, and how an awareness of issues and opportunities facing young adults in rural communities are better understood as the result of their voices being heard through an exhibit of the photographs they learned to produce. I saw how health care professionals are being better prepared as the result of simulated learning… More Posted on 10-02-11

Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My

Not sure why, but I’ve got a thing for the Wizard of Oz. Not just because it’s a classic movie, but also because it conveys so much deeper meaning. 

As a result, Oz just seemed to fit like a ruby slipper when our team recently went searching for a retreat theme for our third flight of local ACE leaders who we had been supporting over a two year period to help their communities become more active, creative, and engaged.

As a theme it seemed to fit because, just as Dorothy was always looking for her ruby slippers, so too… More Posted on 09-25-11

Madness in the Method?

Sometimes there is a method to my madness, as my mother used to say. But, more often than not, some people are more apt to think there is madness to my method; especially when it comes to decision making.

Take, for instance, my decision to do five workouts a week instead of three. While I’m really proud of the fact that I’ve managed to haul myself to the gym three times a week for the past year and a half, it never got any easier. Each day I would talk myself in and out of going. After all, I… More Posted on 09-18-11

More Vacations, Shorter Work Weeks, and Naps?

While I do come from a long line of women who’ve always done more than their share of what needed to be done, the truth is I like to work.

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, I married a guy who likes work as much as I do. Our saving grace is that we’ve learned to pay attention to the signals that tell us when it’s time to stop working.

It happened last week when we both realized we were totally run down as the result of a summer that hadn’t included a lot of play, and a September that… More Posted on 09-11-11

The Pursuit of Happiness

Sometimes information just seems to land in our laps exactly when we need it. The trick, of course, is to pay attention. This week as I was speed walking through a store I was stopped dead in my tracks by a poster with these words, “There is more to life than increasing its speed.”

It seems to be a common refrain these days as the majority of us are dealing with more and more data and less and less time. According to a recent digital lifestyle survey by Magnify.net, consumers and web surfers are facing a deluge of data… More Posted on 08-28-11

Is Our Community Ready?

One would think that at this point in my life, there wouldn’t be much left for me to get to know about myself.  As a result, it came as a bit of a surprise this week when a conversation with someone who barely knows me was the catalyst for an insight that really made me think. 

While I know I am a big picture thinker who likes to connect the dots, he made me realize how much I was assuming others saw things the same way. I figured everyone views communities through a lens like mine and therefore understands… More Posted on 08-20-11

When Did I Get Old?

I like to think of myself as being somewhat in step. I read blogs, magazines and newspapers, utilize technology, and try to dress in a way that reflects an awareness of fashion trends.  Most importantly, I see the value, and invest time in, learning from the youngins.  I fight to stay young in my heart and in my head, even though happy hour is now more apt to mean a nap. 

As a result, it came as a bit of a surprise this week to learn I’ve been date stamped.

During a workshop I was delivering, I used the… More Posted on 08-14-11

The Guy in Orange Pants

By his own admission, he’s the guy likely to show up wearing orange pants.

He describes himself as curious, focused, and engaged.  Not only that, he loves learning, reads a lot, and enjoys teaching others.

When asked to describe his personal brand, he suggests it would need to incorporate being innovative and promoting alternative solutions and efficiencies. 

And, while these qualities are those we profess to need in order to respond to our changing world, an employment history within several colleges and universities has failed to capture the head and heart of this bright, well-educated, and engaging young… More Posted on 08-12-11

Teach Me But Make it Snappy

There are good days and there are bad days, and yesterday was one of them.

Having taught in a variety of settings, including a college classroom for a number of years, I’ve always been a believer in the value of face-to-face learning.  As a result, no one is more surprised than me to learn I’ve become a big fan of delivering training online. 

Technologies have improved significantly since I first taught on the web so I’m not referring to those one way webcasts where someone talks at you and then invites you to type in questions. Instead, it’s now… More Posted on 07-31-11

Five Reasons to Quit Your Job

A colleague, in a move that will surprise the many who know, respect, and admire her for her knowledge and for her kindness, submitted her resignation this week.

While many will question her decision to leave a secure, well-paid position after 20 years, I’m not one of them. Instead, I think she’s being remarkably courageous for recognizing a situation that is no longer tenable.

At the risk of sounding like someone with a sketchy employment history, it made me think about the jobs I’ve quit in the past, why I did it, and how I knew it was… More Posted on 07-18-11

The Family that Plays Together Stays Together

When I met my now husband, he was a single dad raising two sons. At the time, his boys were age ten and twelve, mine was three. We clicked, as did the kids, and so went on together to buy and renovate a house, get married, juggle careers, businesses and school, and raise our blended family of noisy, active, delightful children.

Regardless of how busy we were, we always made family vacations a priority. Skiing in the winter and camping in the summer became part of our agreed-upon rituals even when the money was tight. 

Ultimately those vacations… More Posted on 07-10-11

Page 15 of 27 pages ‹ First  < 13 14 15 16 17 >  Last ›