Seize the Day!
My mother used to say “Bad things come in 3’s.” When something bad would happen, we’d prepare for two more things to come and then we would relax. Not so this month! In the last two weeks, my community of friends and family has experienced a lot of loss – seven deaths, plus our dear Pastor leaving for another church. In the midst of all this loss, I’ve discovered a great deal of love and caring: people reaching out to others with kindness and appreciation; words of remembrance and encouragement on social media; lots of hugs, tears and laughter. With so...
Read MoreDo you see me? Do I matter?
One of my favorite hobbies is people watching–at airports, in restaurants, in meetings, in stores, at parties–wherever people tend to gather. I watch to see how people interact with each other and the rest of the world. I watch them scurry about their over-scheduled lives. I watch which social media posts get the most attention-usually pictures and stories of children or pets or family celebrations. I watch people move through grief and joy, through beginnings and endings. As I’ve observed and listened, I’ve come to two conclusions: In a world full of increasing...
Read MoreControl What you Can
How many times have you been hit with a curveball–a company re-org, merger or downsizing, unexpected health diagnosis, or a problem with your car or home? Life happens, and despite your well-laid plans, you can’t control other people or events. The only person you can manage is yourself. A few years ago, I checked in with a friend whose company was going through bankruptcy. I asked him how he was coping, and his response was, “I control what I can–my results, my relationships and my reactions.” He had no idea what was going to happen, so he chose to create value...
Read MoreCleaning out Closets, Part 2–Workplace Closets
When you move into a new house or apartment, everything is fresh, and you’re able to organize items that fit the space and are useful in your daily life. After a few years, you notice that the space has filled up with things that may be broken, forgotten or otherwise unusable. The same thing happens in workplaces. Over time, as customer requirements evolve, as process and technology improvements are made, as people and reporting structures change, the workplace soon becomes filled with stuff that no longer works, is inefficient, or requires “work-arounds”. Certain reports...
Read MoreCleaning Out Closets, Part 1 – Personal Closets
Think about your clothes closet–do any of these statements apply to you? You can’t find a favorite shirt. Many items don’t fit anymore. Your closet’s so cluttered you can’t close the door, or you drape items over a piece of furniture. That expensive closet system is no longer efficient, because there’s too much stuff. You know you should get rid of items that are out of fashion, but they bring up great memories. You hang on to rarely worn items, because they cost a lot of money. There are many items you don’t wear because they need mending. Experts...
Read MoreResults vs. Face-time
What do these things have in common: retail store, laptop, office, smartphone, factory, construction site, restaurant, bank, school? If you guessed they’re all workplaces, you’re correct! The workplace of today is vastly different than the traditional workplace, where company employees gathered in a common physical place to accomplish tasks. Technology, globalization and company restructurings have created opportunities for telecommuting, flexible schedules and teamwork across multiple time zones. Traditional employment agreements have changed as well – from all full-time...
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Deb Hornell is a visionary whose personal brand of “Cultivating Environments for Growth” extends into her consulting practice, her family and friendships, and her book: "Good Things for a Full Life."
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