Tag, You’re it!: 5 Things You May Not Know About Me

Do you remember tag?  Last week my friend, Kim Kotecki, sent me a “You’re It” e-mail inviting me to play a game of blog-tag.  The challenge: write post “5 Things You Might Not Know About Me” and then tag five friends who also blog.  So here goes: 1. My family calls me Lizzie.  Which used…

Who do you Woo Hoo?

There is something special about sharing good news with people who really “get it.” I spent the evening at a meeting of the Wisconsin Professional Speakers Association, and have been energized by a roomful of people who “get it.” One of the best decisions I made in 2006 was to join a Mastermind group. Five of…

Reconnect this holiday season

Take December’s Challenge: Reconnect! I was still in bed on Thanksgiving morning, enjoying the paper and some coffee, when my cell phone beeped indicating I had a text message.  Even though I didn’t recognize the phone number appearing after the “please call” message, I dialed and was surprised to be connected with one of my…

Happiness may not be what you expect

My husband e-mailed an article to me today – thinking I might find a way to “work it in” to a speech. Hmmm… could I work in comments from Harvard, Dr. Daniel Gilbert, author “Stumbling on Happiness“, in support of one of the major premises of my book? You bet I can. Dr. Gilbert suggests…

Your Own Worst Enemy

Picture this: After 15 hours of air travel and a five hour time change, you arrive home. Your children are elated to see you and quickly remind you of the Halloween costumes you haven’t finished. You smile and hold yourself together for a while, but then need sleep. After a nap, pumpkins are carved, dinner…

Connect with Joy: Ironman World Championship

Ironman World Championship My husband, Clay, and I are in Hawaii celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary. The planned vacation coincided with the Ironman World Championship on the Big Island of Hawaii. Once we discovered this happy coincidence, we quickly changed our plans and signed up to volunteer. Some might find it odd, giving up part…

Beat Back-to-School Stress: Smell The Apples

Everyone has heard “stop and smell the roses”, but at back-to-school time I think it is time to “Stop and Smell (or taste) the Apples!” Anyone with kids has experienced the bittersweet moment of dropping them off at school on the first day.   A new school year is exciting, but the stress of new schedules…

Courage: Ironman In The Rain

A few weeks ago my husband, Clay, and I volunteered at the Ironman in Madison.  Why would we give up an entire day to stand in the rain? First, we were there to support three of Clay’s work buddies. Clay signed up for the Ironman this year and began training last September knowing the 2…