foursetsofeyes

Lessons From Last Year

Jay Shetty has a tradition on his birthday. He spends the day reflecting on the last year before he embarks on the next one. I decided to try it this year and learned that a quote embossed in our harbor is real, “You make a living by what you give…” When I look back atContinue reading “Lessons From Last Year”

In giving you receive

I joined a new company this summer to take on a “Figure it out” job. For those of us in the start-up world, you know the drill; few resources, no processes, and continuously building in flight. For me, it’s my sweet spot. Yesterday I found a handwritten envelope in the mailbox among the golf magazinesContinue reading “In giving you receive”

Accept the invitation

I love my parent’s beach house. It is the one place I can just be. None of the modern amenities like cable TV or Wi-Fi, just board games, a wide beach to walk and lots of windows that pull in the sea air. My husband is not a fan. Twelve hours without the golf channelContinue reading “Accept the invitation”

Building a life resume 30 day challenge

I could stay on the current path. The one that is familiar with no bumps because I know what to expect. The easy one because there are no surprises. The straight and flat one with no turns or hills to climb. But as Helen Keller said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing atContinue reading “Building a life resume 30 day challenge”

Always in Beta

Dalai Lama said, “When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” Lessons appear every day, and if you are open to receiving them, you learn and grow. My list continues to evolve with these as my constants. Lesson 1 – It starts with accountability. Early in my professional career, I learned the value of being accountableContinue reading “Always in Beta”

Time to Disrupt the Community College

“If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food”. Continue reading “Time to Disrupt the Community College”

And then the bough breaks

It’s “Sales Kick Off” season and for anyone directly involved it can be exhilarating and thankless. To survive you need exceptional management skills, political savvy and obscene amounts of caffeine. Balancing the speakers who feel the crucial need to present for hours on end to an audience with an 8-second attention span is not forContinue reading “And then the bough breaks”

Required job skill – Self-promotion

The road to achievement and recognition in corporate America is hard. You need to have the stuff to survive and the smarts to pull from empty when it gets harder. I attended a ribbon-cutting a few months ago, and a fellow trustee leaned over and said, “At this stage in your career you should notContinue reading “Required job skill – Self-promotion”

Yes, Mary, I remember.

Sitting at the board meeting last night I wanted to move the conversation away from the financial woes of the college into positive territory. It boggles my mind that we spend so much time talking about audits and budget versus improving our student completion rates. I was elated for an uptick in the evening when the “BrookdaleContinue reading “Yes, Mary, I remember.”

Push lessons

“No.” A powerful word and one I should use more often. Last Friday, I heard it from a member of my team. I am privileged to work with a small group of superstars who have grown because I have given them the freedom to do so. Last week they reminded me of my lesson. ItContinue reading “Push lessons”