Do you have a backburner dream? If so, maybe one or all three of these reasons for why we delay...

What do you do when you realize there's no such thing as job security? Take Natalie Goldberg's advice.

When I have told people that I am an introvert, they don’t believe me. That's because they now see my...

Tina's Ten Points by Tom Krause She was seventeen years old and always wore a bright smile.  This may not...

"You have to go to the edge of what you believe in.... You’ll be surprised how many people are quietly...

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the popular 2006 bestseller Eat, Love, Pray, speaks about the creative process. She reflects on the fear...

Okay, I can’t help it! In this go-round, I am citing yet another great parable passed along to me from...

While working my book about life purpose, I made some notes – some bits and pieces of ideas – and...

"You can’t hold a man down without staying down with him." --Booker T. Washington In sixth grade, I learned about Booker...

Some food for thought regarding career and doing work you love.

Article #7 in a series of 7. Studies show that getting your body into motion is an excellent therapeutic way...

Reflecting on taking efficient action to just follow the plan - that is, of course, if you already have a...

Learning to shift from worry to taking action. And recommending an excellent interview with Mel Robbins, author of The 5-Second...

Change is stressful even when you're welcoming or initiating the change. Friends make change easier.

Just a little inspiration to remind you that you're here to do something great. :)

There are many different ways to achieve big-picture, long-term goals, as well as smaller, short-term goals, but one of my...

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to ones' courage. --Anaïs NinOne does not discover new lands without consenting to lose...

Last time, in What Goes Around Comes Around, I talked about thought algorithms.  They are tools that help you stay...

Yesterday, I participated in the Texas Women In Business (TWIB) conference in Austin, TX.  This all-day event was focused on...

I've been reading a book that was originally written in 1937.  I've heard about it many times over the years,...

In addition to affecting my productivity, my personal 13x4 system is also helping me with physical healing and peace of...

The more seasons I move through in my life, the more I recognize the role of change in my life......

The other day, a friend calls me in a crisis about her job search and her career path and her...

Check out this fun video with 16 different artists or groups!

Thirty-three years ago I didn't know a fraction of what I know now. What will I come to know in...

On Thursday I attended an business luncheon, but one of the concepts I came away with was not just something...

One of the reasons I do this is because sometimes I need to be reminded about all this stuff myself....

I recently found some old notes from an ezine by James Ray’s dated 2/14/08:  “Your desire is your higher self...

What trait do you admire most in a leader and why? If you are a leader or an aspiring leader,...

Maybe you're thinking of daring greatly and want to push the limits in your life. If so, here's something to...

In January I met with a dear friend to exchange previously agreed-upon gifts in honor of the holiday season.  I...

  People ask me to name my favorite music style, and without hesitation I have to say The Blues. I...

Here's an exercise that I used to teach with my former colleague, Jay Markunas in our career change course.  Though...

Food for Thought: The act of being kind to ourselves with rewards helps us to get what we want.

Before I even had my coffee on Sunday, I decided to sit quietly and mediate for a few minutes.  But,...

Webster’s Dictionary defines integrity as "the quality or state of being complete or undivided.”  You cannot get to a state...

The main source of your unconscious language – both spoken and unspoken – which I believe holds the key to...

Words.  They say that words are the point at which the act of creation begins.  However, they say that it...

"Even the hardest mathematics problems usually have an easy solution; it is just finding the right formula that can be...

I’ve been very busy... a side effect of having the center focus of my wheel as Planning.  I’ve planned so...

Did you know that your brain is 31% more effective when positive rather than negative, neutral or stressed? And that...

At over 8.7 million views on You Tube (to date), there's a good chance you've seen this video before.  Nevertheless,...

When you decide to learn about releasing your judgements of others, the funny thing is that you can’t help but...

Article #5 in a series of 7. Having routines and structure gives you a base from which to navigate the...

From Wayne Dyer's book, The Power of Intention: I was deeply honored to be on a panel with Viktor Frankl...

The antidote to dealing with job search ambiguity is to focus on what you can control, and you may be...

During the previous week’s focus of Give First, which I described in My Boomerang Got Bigger, I had unknowingly set...

Article #4 in a series of 7 - using healthy distractions as a way to move through grief. Learn what...

How are you measuring your results?  Is it time to tweak the standard?  Sometimes to achieve your goals, all you...

I’m still amazed by how using my intuition to cast my wheel like I explained in Good Friends, Good Times...

     Thought is powerful.  Some say that thought creates reality.  “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is...

Article #1 in a series of 7. Loss and grief is an inescapable part of the human experience. Getting Emotional...

A quick rumination on the real source of real happiness. And the take Pharrell Williams has on it too.

Last night Tom Cassidy and I tried to record some upcoming lessons for the course on Udemy that we've been...

Musings on ways we might break free of the perceptions we hold.

The key to your success, abundance and happiness is connected with your gifts. Maybe you're struggling with how to figure...

Did you know that 81% of Americans say that they have the dream of writing a book? Having written and...

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the famous nineteenth-century poet and essayist, was out one day trying to get a calf into the...

Recently, as I was pondering and writing about choosing easy whenever the path to a goal gets blocked, I found...

Recently, my spirit became restless.  I sensed that it was time to examine my future, or more specifically, examine what...

While sifting through an old book by Robert Schuller called Power Thoughts, I wondered if I might find some additional inspiration.  The...

The experienced highwire walker expects there to be wind, expects to have to pause and re-balance. What if we were...

Successful goal achieving includes self appreciation, so reward yourself along the way.

The Power Of Listening is a module I developed as part of the Paths To Organizational Influence class that I...

When my kiddo was about 8 years old, she had some typical issues regarding taking responsibility for her attitude. The...

Article #3 in a series of 7. If approached with the right mindset, journaling can be a very helpful way...

The Cherokee parable about the two wolves teaches us that we are the ones who choose our attitudes.

Work, though essential to life, is not life.  As important as work is to finding our individual meaning, it twists...

According to Wallace D. Wattles, gratitude is useful in helping you to get the intangible, as well as the tangible,...

The Journey of Purpose has put together a fantastic video montage featuring the inspiring words of Les Brown about the...

Recipient of a heart transplant when she was an infant, Lauren Aggen wrote a book called Austin's Gift to thank...

What does the phrase "being in the right place at the right time" mean to you? Maybe you think of...

I'm so aligned with Caroline Myss!  In this 10-minute clip, she talks to a radio show caller about choosing a...

Getting an accountability partner will help you stay focused and positive about your goals. Here are five steps for picking...

Recently, I have found myself quoting Stephen Covey a lot… “begin with the end in mind.”  This is vital to...

Recently, I’ve struggled to find the time and energy to write something inspiring.  There’s been laundry, late evenings at the...

Article #6 in a series of 7. Even in their darkest times, humans can still make it if they have...

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily."  --Zig Ziglar...

If you’ve been following this article series, you know that I’ve been relating the personal revelations coming from my 13x4...

Thinking of setting some career goals?  I've noticed that it's a lot easier to plot a direction and make decisions...

While taking a break from everything I’m working on, I was looking in some old files and came across a...

It’s so easy to be caught up in the "doing" of a transition that we can forget to pause and...

Thanks to the troops on Independence Day! This story on ABC News really got me...

Naturally, as a writer, I've always truly enjoyed the writing process for the reason of creative expression. But even more...

Posted: Nov 17, 2011 Feeling a bit lost about what to do with your life? Maybe you’re compelled to find...

The key to survival is not necessarily that the fittest will survive...

Affirmations work best when following Wallace Wattles' formula of Vision, Purpose, Faith, and Gratitude.

There is a duality in this realm where we live. There's a beginning and an ending. There's light and dark,...

“If you want to be successful, it’s just this simple. Know what you are doing. Love what you are doing....

Before you undertake your next career adventure, it’s wise to spend a little time clearly defining what you want and...

Having some fear is healthy.  Fear plays an important role in our psyche.  Without the fear flight survival response –...

Article #2 in a series of 7. Practicing gratitude helps you stay in a higher state of mind when you're...

Do an Internet search on successfully achieving goals, and you’ll come across plenty of wise insights about dealing with obstacles...

What role do certain emotions play in achieving what we want in life + will telling others our goals hurt...

Okay, you walk into a room where someone is laughing. You can’t help but smile in spite of the fact...

What do you perceive during times of sadness and misfortune? Can you find the blessings in your suffering? The blessings...

You've probably heard me say this before because it's such an excellent metaphor!  Getting ahead at work requires you to...

Advice for business owners: If the thought of finding a job doesn't excite you, then maybe what you actually need...

When I made my regular weekly trip to the grocery store last Saturday, I decided to pick up a replacement...

Intention Equation:  Intention becomes reality at the point when our desire is greater than our fear. Recently, I had the privilege...

A good friend emailed some thoughts to me this morning about how she is embracing the energy of 2012... they're lovely thoughts worth paying...

Though it may be difficult to see, you do know what you're meant to do with your life. The answers...

Just a special little message to share today.  On a whim I pulled The Secret off my shelf today and opened...

According to the explanation on YouTube.com, GuiGui Zheng has never seen a piano until 3 years ago.  I, like the audience,...

Watching my kiddo, who’s now 16, often reminds me of how at her age I never thought about life being...

In human relationships, we all have conditions that we place on the relationships we have with others. By this, I...

The other evening I had the privilege of participating in a discussion about why we work.  Reasons we came up...

I’ve been skimming through a book called Callings: Finding and following an authentic Life by Gregg Levoy. It’s about vocational...

If you manage stress effectively, you manage your life effectively. Use Gudjon Bergmann's 5 habits to manage stress.

One of my favorite proverbs is, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a...

"Yes", I told a friend today when she remarked that the world is better off than we give it credit...

When we change our thoughts, we literally change our brain. And here's how the RAS comes in...

Sharing some excellent videos by master networker, Keith Ferrazzi, the author of Never Eat Alone.

Discussing career security (or rather the lack of it!) and other lofty goals like taking charge of your future and...

Maybe you have a dream that keeps nagging at you, but you brush it away again and again. What are...

This past week I took some time off to spend a few days at the beach, and I learned a valuable...

In case you haven’t read my last two articles in this series, let me explain that the 13x4 is a...

When you’re in turbulent waters, do you tread or swim?  When your life kicks up a little storm, do you...

Several years ago, I came across this quote by Charles L. Allen, “You can make more friends in a month...

Learn a short, powerful awareness exercise that will help you find the the blessing or synchronicity in the setbacks that...

When you're trying to make something big happen in your life, you don't have to go it alone. Find someone...

The secret to shifting a negative body image and turning the volume down on the self-critic.

They say that no matter what happens, there's always a silver lining.  I certainly try my hardest to find that...

It’s time for the fourth and final factor that I wanted to discuss in this four-part series about what holds...

In May, my daughter turned 18 and started working for a clothing store called White House Black Market. She was...

In the majority of my workshops and one-on-one consulting, I use a self-inquiry, writing process.  There’s something about sitting down...

Crisis – it’s an inescapable part of the human experience. Your attitude in crisis is key to your personal growth...

Worry comes from fear and, like fear, is hard wired into human nature. In fact, there are at least 3...

Many of the greatest minds who have made great contributions to our society found a way to succeed in spite...

My 12th focus area was about thinking big, and mostly regarding my career goals.  (Read more in The Oak Is...

Marc Miller is writing a book and asked a bunch of us published authors for some advice.  So, a bunch...

Some experts advise that to make your goals become reality you should use the SMART system. In fact, my colleague...

Back in the early 1980’s, Susan was in seventh grade and wanted to hang out with the "cool kids". She...

In this four-part series we’re looking at other factors besides fear that cause us to get off track or that...

I woke up this morning thinking this thought:  we are so distracted by the pressures to support ourselves (and our...

A few minutes into the conversation, she declared, “I am not a creative person.” A lot of us feel this...

Did you know that there is never a time when you are separated from the Divine essence that runs through...

Linus: (writing) Dear Great Pumpkin, I am looking forward to your arrival on Halloween night. I hope you will bring...

This morning I woke up late... been feeling the dullness and fatigue of fighting with my allergies all week, and...

Since the first week of 2012, I’ve been using a 13x4 system that I customized for myself, and I’ve been...

Back in the Fall of 2006 I published a post about hope and faith in this generation.  Wistfully, I wrote, "I...

Co-creating only works if you KNOW you are empowered to co-create.  It has nothing to do with worthiness.  It’s your...

There are two versions of “What Else?” to ask and challenge your thinking on career assets, interests, and options.

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with...

Every year I exchange a blank journal with one of my closest friends.  Not because we plan to share our mind meanderings...

There's a story that Benjamin Franklin told in his autobiography that demonstrates the power of cognitive dissonance.

Challenging the notion that your job should fulfill you and that if you don't have a dream job, you can't...

“How much positive emotion do we need to flourish?” is a question posed by Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, Kenan Distinguished Professor...

Check out this blog post by Guy Kawasaki - a friend alerted me to it yesterday.  I found some very...

I got annoyed the other day – really annoyed. Suddenly all the centering breathing, all the forgiveness praying and all...

Watch what some enterprising engineer types did to show us the power of the attitude of fun.

I write about inspiration and attitude.  I try to live what I write about, but sometimes I'm challenged to keep...

Using the technology of brain scans in his work treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Dr. Jeffrey M. Schwartz, research psychiatrist at...

Other than the fact that the Thanksgiving holiday has provided me with a bit more time than usual to relax...

The SPIRITUAL SELF is the pure non-programmed, non-mediated aspect of self that is positive, pure, open presence, yearning to embody...

To get unstuck and get what you want in life, you need to fully imagine what things will look like...

To bring who you really are to what you do in life, you have to first answer the fundamental question:...

Two Tramps In Mud Time by Robert Frost Out of the mud two strangers came And caught me splitting wood...

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation),...

You are the prophet of your future.  Every word you release into the universe has the creative energy and potential...

In a recent television interview, Bert Jacobs, co-Founder of Life Is Good, told Colin Pope, editor of the Austin Business...

A woman I’ll call Susan met with me about her job search a few years ago. She’d been downsized when...

This past week my computer went wonky and had to go away for a short journey to get repaired.  I...

When life takes a turn, some creative dreams go away, and some merely get delayed. Here's an example of one...

Time to move along to one of the most amazing focus area weeks of all.  Yes, it was cool what...

Check out this brilliant montage (kudos to the video maker!) showing the insightful philosophy of American celebrity Will Smith.

Attitude.  Overcoming obstacles.  Responding to the call - whatever that may be for you.  That's what I'm talking about!  Check out this...

Let me tell you... it’s been a blast writing this article series.  In case you haven’t been following along, what...

Sometimes "bad" things happen to good people because we need a shakeup to get us to wake up and take...

Always Do Your BestYour best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are...

Louis C.K. doesn't want to get a cell phone for his kids. Not only does he think cell phones are...

If you have found this, it means that you've awakened from a period of sleepwalking through life and you are ready to...

In early 1997, I was working for a company which had been good about training me but could not provide...

Once you’ve committed to the journey and the destination, there’s no turning back. Let’s be honest. There comes a time...

Helen Harkness, Ph.D. presented to a group of career development professionals in Austin on October 19. I was among the...

To get what you desire in life, you must do goal setting. Goal setting is just a grown-up way to...

I awoke this morning feeling overwhelmed.  So much to do!  I realize that most days I'm more of a human...

There are three attitudes you'll need to survive this adventure called life!

Most career dissatisfaction stems from certain needs not being met. Although we have them in varying degrees of urgency, we...

A few evenings ago, I had the pleasure of listening to an interview with the venerable author of What Color...

Like just about everyone I know, I'm in a period of transition.  It seems the whole planet is too, for that...

"As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to enable it."  --Antoine de Saint ExupéryFor me,...

There are times in my life when I want some outside guidance.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm not looking for...

          Something I don’t understand           If this is part of your plan  ...

Recently found a book on my shelf that I’d purchased years ago and had never got around to reading:  Soul...

If you can't make a good first impression on the phone, your chances of being invited for an in-person interview...

Commitment combined with courage can lead to truly amazing things.  Imagine events in human history happening without this powerful combination.  Huge...

I was goofing off this evening, looking through some You Tube videos, and I stumbled on this one, "Deaf People...

Did you know that it damages you to complain often, as well as listen to constant complaining? And I don't...

The reality is that we all feel doubts about ourselves from time to time, and confidence is an acquired trait...

When I was in the middle of my corporate career, I was asked to turn in annual goals every January,...

Today the cliff of limiting beliefs is far below. I am flying with amethyst wings. Faith is surrender, letting go...

Last night was our annual Attitude of Gratitude party for the Launch Pad Job Club – a nonprofit for which...

Last Friday morning I arrived cheerfully at a “new” coffee shop... I’d not been to this shop before and had...

Reflecting on what we can do with the sobering knowledge that, in spite of our strong desire for it, security...

Wise reflections about life and dreams and illusions.

My faith in humanity's capacity for compassion and gratitude was reinforced yesterday when I witnessed an act of kindness.  It was a...

     Fall is a time of transition. The summer months recede along with frequent salads and ice cream, and we...

Hope and faith are amazing thingsSomething to be cherished and nurturedSomething that will refresh us in return They can be...

We’re in the home stretch with this series.  Just a couple more focus areas to go! Last time I talked...

Don’t Make Assumptions Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want.  Communicate with others as...

Even following your intuition on small things can make a huge difference to somebody's world.

Rhonda Byrne's "The Secret" has been out for awhile now.  She made the film and then followed that up by the...

We used to call them “stretch goals” when I worked for a large corporation.  We’d set goals that pushed the envelope...

Explore the dreams you had at these 3 stages of your life to find clues and clarify what your gifts...

Anytime you go through something challenging in life – anytime you experience sorrow, tragedy and disappointment – it is an opportunity to...

Kris Carr chats with Kate Northrup about Northrup's experience of getting into and out of $20+K in debt.

My philosophy is that when bad things happen, there must be something in it to learn from or apply to...

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."  --Albert Camus Some climb...

  My sister wrote something to me that I would like to share. In re-reading it, I realized that I...

3 quick stories examples to inspire you in overcoming challenges to reach career and job search success.

When you see what has to happen in your brain for you to make a lasting change, you'll see why...

Whenever you have internal resistance, it helps to use this self-reflection exercise to get motivated and back on track again.

Why do you work? And what would you do if you didn't have to work?

Advice for what to do when you have the knowledge but not the experience.

At a seminar I attended the keynote speaker advised us to leave our troubles at the door when we go...

No man is born into the world whose work is not born with him. -James Russell Lowell A few months...

January is typically the season for most folks to stress about the new year and the status of their career. ...

Your Attitude Is The Key To Your Happiness Just open your eyes – this message is everywhere you look. I...

There is a love greater than anything we have ever experienced on earth together, greater than anything we have experienced...

In part two of “What's Holding You Back?” I pointed out that events such as illness, loss and huge changes,...

Don’t Take Anything Personally Nothing others do is because of you.  What others say and do is a projection of...

Today's post is about loving life through your work.  Rather than making any attempts at being eloquent, I want to...

Be Impeccable With Your WordSpeak with integrity.  Say only what you mean.  Avoid using the word to speak against yourself...

For me, this 212 degrees movie is a powerful validation of how my perseverance has led to blessings during a...

I was talking to my business partner recently about the perceived pressure of writing a daily blog.  He said that...

Carol wants to teach the deaf to become world-class communicators. Linda wants to inspire people to overcome adversity. Dan wants...

On a whim, I scanned my bookshelf this weekend and pulled down this booklet by Carl Mays I received five...

As we embark on the next leg of the journey... the one that begins this first day of 2009, I am...

When I came across this quote by Linda Geraci, it really resonated with me.  Why?  I guess because when I...

There's something in your DNA you should know about.  It's your core gift... the main tool you use to carry out your...

Looking for silver linings and being optimistic is a choice. Giving in to the inner victim in your head is...

You are here at this time to do something only you can do.  You are here at this time in...

In her film "You Can Heal Your Life," Louise Hay shares positive affirmations and helpful scenarios that help you imagine...

Not that it’s a new concept or anything, but the law of attraction seems to be gaining more widespread notice...

Wise reflections about curiosity.

Imagine you already are who you want to be... I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about visualizing what you want...

This is a story I heard some years ago.  I can’t verify if it’s accurately attributed to Buddha because I...

Dr. Wayne Dyer shows me the contrast of the happiness I experienced today vs the half-life I lived when younger...

Tommy Hollenstein had no idea that tragedy would lead to his dream job.

Have compassion for yourself. Don't judge how you have perceived yourself until now, but decide today to embrace yourself as...

Mari Anoran is a terrific person and someone I have been honored to help along her career path. She gave...

  Choose Your Attitude “We who lived in the concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts...

Saturday, February 16, 2008: I smell of smoke and I will relish it... for today I took the venom of...

Was there ever a time in your life when you let doubt stop you from going for your heart’s desire?...

I’ve commented extensively about fear.  I’ve examined how it holds us back from going for our dreams… and how it...

We're reporting. We are all cosmonauts, psychonauts... There's poetry in every moment. ~Jason Silva

Grab a beverage, sit back and enjoy this video (4:22 mins) about procrastination by Zig Ziglar.  Hilarious, but it's so...

We may not be able to control the circumstances that occur in life, but we can definitely control our response...

I really love this post, Adjusting Your Attitude, by my acquaintance and fellow Launch Pad Job Club member, Jim Adcock.  In it he talks...

My sister, Gina, and I have often talked about it, and we've decided that there is no such thing as...

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the...

What do you do to put yourself in a Can-Do Mindset? Here are some of the things I usually do:...

People who push their boundaries share this in common: they all have a clear definition for what success personally means...

We're always being driven by 3 basic human needs. Learn what they are and what you can do to make...

I used to teach a class on conflict management at the University of Texas at Austin as part of a...

Recently, I suggested volunteering while networking, saying that you get out of something what you put into it.  There are...

A wise person once said, "Everyone is gifted, but some people never open their package." Do you know what your...

When I was terminated from my job in 1998, I didn't know then what I know now. For 11 months I’d been...

Last time, in I'm Getting What I Want... And It's Incredibly Easy, I talked about the 13x4, which is a...

I've been reading a great little motivational book - it was a gift from one of the co-authors, Billy Moyer,...

Some time ago my friend, Regina, recommended a fabulous book called The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.  No, it’s not...

... In other words, how do you get out of your comfort zone without having to get too far out...

I'm not usually the nostalgic type, but I was challenged last night by friends to recall a time when I felt...

How does our approach to challenges in our lives impact us and those around us? What happens when we choose...

While I was driving around in my car this weekend, this great old song came on the radio. If you...

Because of my work as a career transition coach/consultant, I'm pretty much steeped my clients' concern over the economy, fear...

Embrace the concept of being in charge of your own career. It means you get to choose your next steps...

Competing for resources with a “you win/I lose” outcome is a familiar human mindset. But in truth, playing the zero-sum...

"I’ve developed a new philosophy… I only dread one day at a time." – Charlie Brown When I was a...

A friend brought these to my attention.  Each one deeply resonates for me - do they resonate for you? Eight truths which...

Want some career inspiration? Use these 12 affirmations from Zen and the Art of Making A Living by Laurence Boldt.

Though dramatic in its wording, this comment by Dale Carnegie rings through my mind today:  "Throw every shred of negative thought into...