A few years ago, my electric company offered a free assessment to determine how my house could be more energy efficient. The person conducting the audit checked my windows and doors for leaks as well as looked to see if I had enough insulation. He was very thorough, including making recommendations on which areas of … Read more
As I am writing this blog, I admit I am tired. I have had company visit me that last three weekends, my older son is visiting from San Diego, and the school year has started which means dealing with 100+ students in four classes. I actually have enjoyed all of this, including dealing with freshmen, … Read more
We all have people in our lives that we don’t really like. Unfortunately in the workplace, you may be dealing with some of these people. They could be coworkers or staff that were in the department before you joined, a vendor, government official, and/or senior leaders. For me, it is not a person that I … Read more
My best friend came to visit a few weeks ago from Pennsylvania. A few days after she left, I remade the bed that she had used. Unfortunately, my pinky toe and the bed post collided and I was left with a nasty bruise on my left foot. Although it was sore, I did not think … Read more
One thing we learned during Covid about the workplace is that some people actually perform better working from home. The quietness of their home, being around their pets, and not having to commute made them less stressed and more focused on their work responsibilities. If this is the case, then why did many companies decide … Read more
Parents are excited when their baby takes their first steps. For the child, it is a time for them to be more independent in their movements versus being carried around all the time. In the workplace when goal setting is discussed, we talk about the importance of taking “baby steps” which is much more sustainable … Read more
Many people make New Year’s Resolutions but find it hard to achieve those goals. Some of the reasons are that they are either too vague or unrealistic, but usually it is because it is hard to stick with it. Motivation takes a lot of discipline, and some may realize that it just isn’t worth the … Read more
I love to garden so I find this time of year a bit sad. Although many of my plants and bushes have turned into pretty shades of brown, yellow, orange, and rust color, it still is upsetting that winter will soon be here. I also can’t stand pulling out my vegetable plants that are all … Read more
I recently completed a series of trainings for a trade association centered around effective leadership practices. When we were working on the communications module, it became clear that these individuals were being asked for information multiple times which was taking them away from more important responsibilities. Collectively we discussed why this occurs so frequently. Was … Read more
Forget what Hallmark and others say that January 1st kicks off the new year. I always feel that the new year for me starts the Tuesday after Labor Day. This view started even before I became an Adjunct Professor but obviously it means even more now. It is a time for a fresh start with … Read more