Thinking Time

Thinking Time

In January, I went to a spa. It was lovely being pampered with treatments. It was even good spending 8 hours a day exercising – walks, water aerobics and pilates. But what I committed to and actually did was set aside 2 hours a day to work. My goal was to practice an...

Thinking Time

The Power of Saying “No”

What are your boundaries? If you keep saying “yes” to every request, you most likely will burn out – or at least disappoint people. “No I can’t” or “No, I won’t” are very hard for some people to say. “It’s not my job” shouldn’t be said at all. Let me give you a few...

Thinking Time

Work & Play Don’t Have to be Exclusive

Short follow-up blog this time … time for another margarita …. There is something about sunshine, the roar of the waves and a few margaritas on the beach that not only relax me, but get my creative juices flowing. People who know me know that I love to vacation and...

Thinking Time

A Sales Experience Gone Bad

Perhaps you heard the expression “People don’t want to be sold, but they do like to buy.” I do believe this – and nowhere more so than buying a time share. My husband and I are owners at Grupo Vidanta in the Grand Luxx. For the most part, we have been thrilled with...

Thinking Time

Be Open to Change & Engage Employees

I am speaking to an engineering organization next week. On my customer needs call, I heard over and over again that some of the senior leaders are unwilling to listen to the ideas of newer (and, in many cases, younger) employees. Mistake! “That’s the way we do things”...

Thinking Time

Customer Service Chaos on Vacation

My family (three generations) recently spent a week in Mexico at a resort on Riviera Maya, Grupo Vidanta in the Grand Luxx, where we are owners. There were so many examples of poor communication (customer service) with the staff that I felt I must mention a few –...

Thinking Time

Getting Smarter in 2012

Recently, there was an article in Newsweek called “31 Ways to Get Smarter in 2012.” Since I wrote this blog -- and the next few -- while I was on vacation, I thought it might be fun to comment on some of these ways. #5 on the list was: “Toss your Smart Phone.” These...

Thinking Time

Creating The Agenda

Creating the agenda for a meeting is like having a GPS- it helps get you from start to finish. Being prepared allows you to get the best results.  

Thinking Time

Take Time to Slow Down & Have Fun

When I coach executives, I inevitably turn the conversation to, “What do you do for fun? Where do you take vacations? Do you have any hobbies? If you get fired today, would it seem like the end of your life?” If the answers are: “I work, I don’t take vacations, I have...