I am officially sick of stuff. I'm overwhelmed by it all. As much as I try to limit the amount of stuff coming into my life, it still shows up on my doorstep. Literally. Exhibit A: I walked out to get the mail yesterday and found Rock & Roll Elmo in a brown grocery bag with a note, "Dear Lucy, I need a home and new batteries. Love, Neighbor Lisa." This is Neighbor Lisa's second toy drop-off. Her grandkids no longer appreciate the joyfully high-pitched singing of this furry muppet, so she's excited to see another small friend enjoy him. Super thoughtful! And I must say, Lucy enjoys …
Archives for September 2010
Normal is Not Coming Back
Being an entrepreneur has a lot of pros and cons. Traditionally, there’s the financial risk, long hours, and relative lack of security. (Although the way things are these days, the last two apply to most non-entrepreneurial jobs as well.) But one of my favorite benefits of all is the freedom. …
Work Happiness: A Must-Have or Delusional Fantasy?
A while back, I was interviewed by Karl of Work Happy Now. He asked some pretty neat questions that really made me stop and think. I'd been meaning to link to it for a while now. Better late than never, I suppose. Go here for the full interview, but here's an excerpt: …
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5 Simple Warning Signs That Your Life is a House of Cards
I met a woman recently who taught me a valuable lesson about life balance: "Your sanity should never become the sacrificial lamb for your success." - Kim Kotecki (I should mention upfront, when I refer to "success" in this article, I'm talking about prosperity in one's career, which I realize is not everyone's definition of success.) After years of hard work, risk, and sacrifice, the woman in question has a successful business with a big future. She's young, beautiful, in good health, and has a supportive family. What more could a woman want, right?! Well, although she is winning in …
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Thou Shalt Not Dream Too Big
During my speaking programs, I often give the audience a chance to complete an Adultitis intake. They are asked to answer a series of multiple choice questions about themselves in order to determine what stage of Adultitis they currently have (yes, there are multiple stages!). On a question that deals with dreams, the statement most people self-identity with goes like this: “I do have dreams, but I try to keep them realistic.” No one likes to admit they don’t have dreams. But no one likes to be called a fool, either. Or worse yet, a failure. After all, the bigger you dream, the more …
A Drug Called Busyness
People often complain about how busy they are. And yet. After observing people in restaurants, airports, and elsewhere, I actually think some people crave busyness. It’s as if they self-induce busyness in order to feel better about themselves. More valued. More important. Maybe constantly being on the phone in public makes them feel like a big shot. Maybe busyness numbs them from some pain they don’t want to deal with. Maybe busyness serves as a convenient patsy for avoiding or postponing the hard and scary changes they need to make in their life. Taking the drug called …
The Rocket Man Principle
When I first took the job as a kindergarten teacher, little did I know that I would soon become exposed to a remarkable amount of loose teeth. We enjoyed perpetual Halloween, what with the number of kids looking like jack-o-lanterns all year long. It was not uncommon to be reading a story to the class and hear that familiar squeaky noise, the one that can only be heard when a child is wiggling her baby tooth with her tongue. (Did the thought of that make you cringe?) That subtle yet distinct noise means one thing and one thing only: time to pull it, honey. …
Thou Shalt Not Wear White After Labor Day
This is a real doozy. Break this rule, and the fashion police will hunt you down and dress you in a baby blue butterfly-collared leisure suit with matching neckerchief. The so-called “rule” that one should never wear white after Labor Day has been with us for many years. Interestingly, even fashion world experts can’t agree on where this rule came from -- and yet many people still abide by it. Ridiculous! …
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Adultitis Relief Brief: Times Square
We filmed this episode smack dab in the middle of Times Square in New York City. The topic is time. If you're stressed out and feel like you never have enough time to just...b r e a t h e...you'll definitely want to watch this episode and implement the tip we share. Enjoy! [flv:http://www.kimandjason.dreamhosters.com/clubkj_stuff/relief_brief/005-Times_Square.flv 450 255] iPod Version (10.0 MB) …
What Are You Selling? And Is It Fun?
I am convinced that every single adult -- no matter their profession or educational background -- is a salesperson in some form or another. If you are a parent, you are constantly selling to you kids, persuading them to try hard in school, stay away from the wrong crowd, be polite. Heck, I am selling Lucy on veggies every night at 6 p.m. Teachers sell good conduct and self-sufficiency. Nurses sell healthy habits and discipline. Managers sell hard work, respect and communication. If you are ever persuading others to do something or act in a certain way, or you find yourself promoting …