“Guess where the 2020 GAF Conference is,” Rita teased.
“Somewhere warm, I hope,” I replied, remembering the year it was in Huntington Beach, California.
“How does a trip to San Diego sound?”
“Perfect. Let’s go a few days early. I think we need to disconnect a few days.”
And with that, we registered for the conference, made reservations at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, and booked our airfare. You can…
“In the Next Level Journey, you will navigate three zones,” I tease the front-line managers. “Today, we’ll identify them and see where you are on the Journey.”
“Everyone has lived, will live, or is living in the City of Stuckville, also known as your Comfort Zone. What’s it like to live there? You feel unchallenged and the status quo is accepted. Residents are living below their potential. When the urge to…
“Are you writing the Story you want to tell?” I asked the room full of HR professionals.
“You have the opportunity, no the responsibility to take the pen and write your story.”
I pressed further. “Look around the room and see the people. Everybody has a story –everyone has a story. The Story connects us and allows us to create something unique.”
To create is to cause something to exist. As people, we have the ability or power…
“My name is Shannon, and I’ll be your guide for this time on your mat.”
As the doors close, we find our breath and heartbeat. With lights dimmed and calming music, our yoga instructor moves us through the practice, from one posture to another, from the less challenging to more challenging poses.
“Each posture provides an opportunity to improve balance, strength, or flexibility,” she teaches.
“What’s your intention for today?”
…
“By a show of hands, how many of you have too much trust back at the office?” The room of HR professionals laugh like Jerry Seinfeld is in the house.
When I speak about employee engagement, the response is the same when I ask, “How many of you celebrate too much at work?” The laughter from the crowd says it all.
People need to be appreciated. One way to show…
On January 18, I announced the theme for 2019 as The Year of Responsibility. I wrote the following:
Like a summer morning sunrise, the promise of a fresh start, a new calendar presses us to keep moving. The early weeks of our New Year vanish. We are writing Chapter 2019 of the Story, ready or not. What will it take to write the Story you want to tell? What…
The news regarding my future was like a hand-grenade tossed in a swimming pool. In a matter of 2 minutes, significant disruption entered the Story. My position, as Station Manager, would be eliminated from the 2008 budget.
Attempting to absorb the shock of that Friday afternoon meeting, I asked Dan, “Are you telling me I’m not coming back Monday?”
“You need to pack your office.”
We had known…
