-
Leaning Into the Fear
The hardest part about learning to snowboard learning to lean forward. The natural thing when you’re strapped to a slippery board at the top of a 12,000ft mountain is to lean back. As if leaning back will help you ease gently down the hill. That’s the fear talking. But fear doesn’t know what’s safe. Leaning…
-
Why Not Lead?
The myth is that not everyone can be a leader. After all, if everyone leads, who will follow? we ask, as we sit back in our seats. The truth is, each of us can lead. Every day each of us are faced with the choice to sit back and go with the flow, or lead.…
-
Keep Your Eye on the Ball
In golf, the number one rule of the game is “keep your eye on the ball”. Even though you’re aiming away from water and in the direction of the hole, you’ll never get there unless you forget the pin, look down, and focus on hitting the ball. Looking up too soon will ruin your shot.…
-
The Things We “Have To”
If you’re like much, much of your day is directed by obligation – the things you have to do. You have to pick up some milk. You have to write a quick email. You have to get to work early tomorrow. For most of us, though, most of our obligations are the result of our…
-
The Fear and the Power of Connection
A discerning speech mentor recently pointed out that when I give a speech, I look towards the audience, but I don’t really look at them. My gaze scans the audience, but never really make eye contact with anyone. Why do I avoid eye contact? Speaking to a crowd, launching words into the air, is safe…
-
Push vs Pull
A couple years ago I sent my daughter – a 2-year-old at the time – down a huge slide by herself. I figured with a little push she’d realize how much fun it is to cruise recklessly down the curvy slope. I was wrong, and the tears and screams alerted all the other parents in…
-
Try Again
“You can’t get back on the horse if you haven’t fallen off it.” – Phil Dunphy, Modern Family Overcoming your fear once, doing something difficult and daring the first time, is one thing. More difficult is giving that speech a second time, going back to the drawing board for a logo design, running a second…
-
Be Weird
As a kid I learned how to unicycle. If you’ve ever unicycled, or seen a unicyclist, you know that unicycling is weird. I would ride around my neighbourhood getting stares for people, hearing comments like, “You lost a wheel!” Unicycling isn’t for the fate of heart, and requires that you accept the fact that what…
