When I was a kid, I was afraid of everything. Especially new situations. I was the only kid in my class to cry on the first day of kindergarten. I quit t-ball in about 5.7 seconds after I walked into the dugout and realized that I didn’t know any of the kids sitting on the bench. …
[Read more...] about Avoid The “I Wish I Wouldas” With The 10-Year Rule
Are you a "Monet Family?" From afar, you look picture perfect -- everything in its place. But look closer and it's all a royal, unfocused, blobby mess -- chaos most days. …
I recently read an article in Fast Company about a married couple who started a Minneapolis-based chain of clothing boutiques for mothers called Hot Mama. The store is aptly named, as it carries more than 200 brands, but no mom jeans or sweatpants. The idea for creating a place where women can get help finding clothes that fit them perfectly while their kids are kept happily entertained by toys, coloring books and video games had been percolating in the mind of Megan Tamte for quite some time. And then came a small rebellion: …
[Read more...] about Hot Mama Turns Off TV to Start Living Dream
My daughter Lucy recently turned two. But I still remember a lesson I learned when she was just a few months old. It is a lesson for which I have countless audiences members to thank, as I'm petty sure it will stick with me forever. And it's one of those things that I think applies to everyone, in one way or another, whether you have kids or not. I've been trying to share this little reminder wherever I go. Here's a clip from a speech I gave at a national conference last year: …
I always find the start of a new year to be very freeing. I love letting go of old habits and routines that resemble moldy bread and replacing them with fresh ones. Have you taken full advantage of the opportunity to start new in 2011? Or, to steal a line from Jason, "Are you going through the motions in a vanilla-flavored rut-filled life?" …
[Read more...] about Ruts Suck: Using Jars of Joy to Add More Adventure
A small rebellion popped up in my inbox the other day and made me smile because of the wisdom in its simplicity. I had left a voicemail for a fellow speaker friend of ours, Michele Payn-Knoper, and a while later received this short email back from her... …
[Read more...] about Mother Abandons Cell Phone In Lonely Office
The Second City is a comedy troupe in Chicago where people like Chris Farley, Steve Carell, and Bill Murray got their start. That’s where I started 2011. As the new year got underway, Kim and I met up with some speaker friends at Second City’s training facility for a mastermind session. In the afternoon, we all took an improv class together. …
We all know the importance of staying active, and of course, burning a few extra calories is never a bad thing for the 'ol waistline. In fact, more than 120 million Americans, or 64.5% of the adult population, are overweight, and almost 59 million, or 31%, are obese. If you're like me, however, exercise can sometimes feel like a chore, inducing Adultitis. …
[Read more...] about 56 Ways To Exercise That Are Actually Fun
Kim and I love going on walks. The sub zero temperatures here in Wisconsin have temporarily put the kabosh on that exercise routine. Maybe you're also feeling a little cooped up and are looking for an activity to make you feel sort of like you're exercising. How about some balloon volleyball? …
[Read more...] about The Best Fun You Can Have Indoors Without Breaking Stuff
