The other day my 13 year old nonchalantly took my IPhone and placed it in the radio (see above). What was he doing? Using the radio to play the music off my IPhone. Simple? For him, yes. For me, no. I had banded my thinking, which is a creativity killer. Banded thinking is placing … [Read more...] about What is creativity? Making a radio out of a phone
What does it take to win Olympic gold in women's ski cross?
On the last day of the Every Woman conference I got to listen to Ashleigh McIvor, the first Olympic gold winner of the women's ski cross at the recent Winter Olympics. She's tall and lithe and she had some surprising things to say. How often do you think she thought about winning gold? Would it … [Read more...] about What does it take to win Olympic gold in women's ski cross?
What does it take to say 'good job'?
I was shopping in Costco yesterday and saw the above sign on a cash register. At the bottom of the sign was written 'Great job everyone! Let's keep those sales up!!!!' What's wrong with this picture? Certainly not endeavouring to raise money for a good cause. Certainly not spurring each other … [Read more...] about What does it take to say 'good job'?
Shiny Object Syndrome – why it's hard to tell the difference between styrafoam and gold
What does a teenage run away, Buddhist monk, Geisha girl and Bill Gates have in common? They're all connected to Christine Comaford whom I heard speak recently at the BCHRMA annual conference. Don't know her? Here's some background: she ran away at 16 she's a high school and college drop … [Read more...] about Shiny Object Syndrome – why it's hard to tell the difference between styrafoam and gold
Kindness doesn't have to be huge, hairy and hard to reach (or teach)
Some things are complicated. Some things are complex. Some things though are simple. Deceptively simple. Like kindness. I love Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Thought Bubble - Kindness video for that reason. It's not huge and hairy and hard to reach. Rather it's simple, soft and within our grasp. … [Read more...] about Kindness doesn't have to be huge, hairy and hard to reach (or teach)
Putting fun and evaluation in the same sentence
Evaluation terminology is enough to make you want to hide your head in the nearest toilet. And flush. Program logic models, median, mean, outcomes, indicators, activities, outputs, baseline, denominators, dissemination, focus groups, inductive, deductive and the list goes on (and on and on). Yet, … [Read more...] about Putting fun and evaluation in the same sentence
Business or pleasure? Why do we have to choose?
"Business or pleasure?," said the guy who was sitting beside me on a recent flight. "Business," I replied. But I got to thinking. What does that say about business? That it can't be pleasurable? That we can't have fun or have ease when we're working? Let's face it, the old adage 'put your nose … [Read more...] about Business or pleasure? Why do we have to choose?
Those who laugh last (up to 7 years longer)
Having a happy disposition affects how long you live, up to 7 years longer than grumpy folk. Researchers at Wayne Statue University in Michigan looked at 230 pictures of major league baseball players from 1952. They categorized the pictures according to how much they were smiling and their laugh … [Read more...] about Those who laugh last (up to 7 years longer)
Because Laughing Matters
I'm teaching a workshop on Friday called 'Because Laughing Matters' at the Every Woman conference in Whistler, British Columbia. This is a topic dear to my heart. And if it's not dear to your heart it should be because: humour is strategic, it primes the brain for learning - when we're laughing … [Read more...] about Because Laughing Matters
Heaven doesn't need harmonica players
Andy Mackie, a retired horse trainer, had 9 heart surgeries. The resulting 15 prescriptions caused more problems than they were worth so he stopped taking them. That's a lot of dough for a lot of drugs. So what did he do with the money he saved? He figured he'd live for only about a month or so … [Read more...] about Heaven doesn't need harmonica players
Viagra, sex tapes, clarithromycin – 6 reasons why spam works (unfortunately)
"Viagra, sex tapes, lesbian dating in cleveland complaints against adult dating sites. Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. It is cast-off to regale multifarious kinds of infections." Say what? If you blog you'll no doubt recognize these as spam comments. Before I got a spam filter I was … [Read more...] about Viagra, sex tapes, clarithromycin – 6 reasons why spam works (unfortunately)
White Hot Truth with Danielle LaPorte
On the eve of launching her new Firestarter Session e-book I sat down with good friend and colleague Danielle LaPorte, of White Hot Truth fame to interview her. Hang onto your fire poker and as we go with the Q &A. Q: For those who aren't already in the know, who are you and what do you do … [Read more...] about White Hot Truth with Danielle LaPorte
