“Be inclusive of others.” That was just one of the many important lessons I learned from my grandmother Mary. Over the years, I’ve noticed an opportunity for us to be more inclusive of other people. But how? By introducing them to each other. Picture this: you go to a party with a friend. They run…
One term down, six to go. For this post I’ll give an update on school, my career transition, and how I’m spending time when I’m not studying. Spring Term is Over My first term back in school (since 2005!) was a success and, although I’ve only got one term under my belt, the road through…
Once upon a time, burnout got the best of me. Why? I got comfortable. Too comfortable. I enjoyed what I was doing so much, coaching new employees, building relationships, managing my team, that I forgot about something important…the big picture. I was good at my job and my team was performing well, but somehow I…
We live in the hyperlink era, and a good understanding of the latest and most effective digital tools can aid you in your job search and set you apart from other online job-seeking candidates. How many other candidates? A lot. In fact, according a recent study by the Pew Research Center, the number of Americans researching jobs…
My 11 year journey as a people manager was an amazing experience. Hired at 22 fresh out of college, I all but grew up in a successful organization where I could grow, learn and lead. While I’m so grateful for the relationships I’ve built and the experiences I’ve had, that time was littered with mistakes…
I spent the summer of 1987 doing what most 10 year old kids did in the small town of Myrtle Creek, Oregon back in the ’80s…I waded through lakes picking crawdads with my buddies, rode bicycles in groups and wore my thumbs out playing my brand new Nintendo Entertainment System. My friends and I fit…
Publishing this one from Smith Center at Portland State. This is going to be a short post, I’ve got homework to do! Week 1 of my post baccalaureate journey is complete. Here are some pics from the first week!
I am happy to announce that, after graduating with my first Bachelor’s degree 16 years ago, and through a generous program under the Trade Act, I re-enrolled at Portland State University as a Post Baccalaureate student and will begin attending full time, starting this Monday, March 28th, 2016, to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in…
We’ve all been there. Someone remarks and you can’t tell if they’re joking or not. We may study their face for a tell, take their comment at face value, or we may even ask, “are you joking?” Sometimes, it’s hard to tell if someone is being sarcastic, snarky, or sincere. We all love a good…
When shopping for homes we learn about “curb appeal”, which is the aesthetic charm of a residence when viewed from the street. Red front doors are generally said to enhance curb appeal. I know when I was shopping for my home, the houses with the red front doors got most of the attention. Have you ever…
Networking events can be awkward and uncomfortable. Your anxieties are on high alert. You don’t know anyone there. You’re afraid you’ll want to leave right away. “Why isn’t anyone talking to me?” “Why aren’t I talking to anyone else?” You’d rather be watching Netflix, catching up on sleep, or cleaning the toilet. Why would anyone want…
It was December 16th, 2015, only 2 days after I had published the first article on my new website, and I had slept in. Not good, as I had planned to get up early that morning to work on a few projects that badly needed attention. So, I decided to make up the lost time…
Podcasts are on the rise. Learn 4 key benefits of listening to podcasts
Each year, I used a week of vacation time in late July to celebrate my sister’s birthday, work on creative projects and enjoy the weather, and 2015 was no exception. The weather in Portland, Oregon was hot and we were having a beautiful summer. On the Thursday of my vacation, I had been downtown running…
