A 2012 Challenge: Innovation

Posted on January 5, 2012 | Leave a comment

“Workers are dropping out of the labor force in droves and they are mostly women,” boasted a front page New York Times headline just before New Year’s.  “They are not dropping out forever; instead, these young women seem to be postponing their working lives to get more education.”  What can I say?  It caught my eye during a rare moment of peace over the holiday vacation. Continue reading →

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Leading with gratitude….

Posted on December 22, 2011 | 7 comments

“I lead with gratitude,” said Roland “Boot” Boutwell, an effervescent spirit who last Monday evening led a thought-provoking program on the Winter Solstice for The Friends of the Fells.   The group is a not-for-profit association that supports a 2,500 acre nature reserve that was established in 1894 about 8 miles north of Boston.   I’d venture to call him a naturalist.  Although I’d really be selling him short with such a description. Continue reading →

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Is there a choice you need to make?

Posted on December 15, 2011 | 1 comment

“Make the right choices now.  Don’t choose out of negativity,” said Marion Jones, former five-time Olympic medalist and the morning’s keynote speaker at the Massachusetts Conference for Women on December 8, 2011. Continue reading →

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Posted in Events, Observations on Transition

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The Best Holiday Tradition…..

Posted on December 8, 2011 | 2 comments

“Moms get to define holiday traditions,” said my friend Pam as we sat at Starbuck’s having a coffee almost two years ago.  I was on the cusp of transition;  going from a full-time ‘extreme‘ job into a consulting status for the same company.  Truth be told I was somewhat catatonic.  Continue reading →

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Posted in Women's Point of View

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MA Conference for Women: Treat Yourself!

Posted on December 2, 2011 | 1 comment

Are you local to Boston?  Planning a personal day over the next few weeks for holiday shopping?  Consider skipping whatever you’d planned to attend the 8th Annual MA Conference for Women on December 8th.  Continue reading →

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Risk & Transition

Posted on December 1, 2011 | 1 comment

Transition has changed my relationship with risk.   I understand it now  at a whole new level.  The only parallel I can liken it to is my understanding of men now that I’ve parented a son.   An entirely new level of comprehension… Continue reading →

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Voices of Transition #2: An ode to networking

Posted on November 24, 2011 | 9 comments

“I couldn’t believe it. No one had ever done that for me before.  I was having a conversation with a venture capitalist who said ‘you have to meet so-and-so’.  He immediately turned and picked up the phone to call the person while I was sitting in his office,” said Karen, a food industry executive and dear friend from HBS.  “I didn’t really know this guy.  His wife and I connected one day during pick-up at our children’s school.  She said ‘you have to talk to my husband’ once she understood my status.”  Karen was sharing the positives – the surprises if you will – of transition after having navigated two unexpected transitions within five years. Continue reading →

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Her Place at the Table and Thanksgiving Treats

Posted on November 17, 2011 | 2 comments

I’ve had Deborah Kolb on the brain since last spring.  I registered to attend a day long event last June that she was hosting at Simmons College.  It fell during one of the those  weeks when I got three days notice for an end-of-year event from my children’s school.  It still amazes me that such short notice exists.  The summary is that I missed the Kolb event… and missed her book on my summer book tour.  Not sure I can cite the school alone for being disorganized!

Kolb is a noted lecturer and educator on the topic of negotiating – particularly women & negotiation.   This week – I jumped on a pre-Thanksgiving TABLE twist and finally read her 2004 missive,  “Her Place at the Table.”  Continue reading →

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Posted in "Transition" Book Reviews, Observations on Transition

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Guilt & tractors

Posted on November 10, 2011 | 2 comments

“He’s on the lamb?” said my army-veteran cousin – half laughing, half shocked – after I shared a surprising tale about a distant cousin.    We were having dinner earlier this week at a quaint eatery in the North End of Boston.  My cousin’s sister was in town for a conference.  The law enforcement reference was in response to a story I told about our parents’ cousin who had relocated to Australia in his early twenties.  Everyone at the table had heard countless reverential stories about “David,” who would by now be in his early eighties.   David had a wonderful joie de vivre. Continue reading →

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Transition Triumphs?

Posted on November 3, 2011 | Leave a comment

“I’ve been reading your blog and thinking ‘ugh’ all this transition stuff,” said Victoria Taylor, CEO and founder of Victoria Gourmet, lamenting that transition would be ahead of her again sometime.  Victoria’s remarks made me wonder, ‘Can we ever triumph over transition?’ Continue reading →

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