Category Archives: Creativity

(Issue #483) Think in Reverse

Posted on August 25, 2019 by

Ask yourself what you need to do to create what you do not want. Wasn’t it Einstein who said that if we keep doing the same thing and expect different results, we’re idiots?  Well, I’m sure he didn’t use the … Continue reading →

Posted in assumptions, creating your future, Creativity, Critical Thinking, curiosity, Discipline, Life lessons, problem solving | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

(#456) Rainbows

Posted on February 17, 2019 by

This week’s blog post draws on the fourth core value from Community as a Safe Place to Land (2019):  Give voice to our RAINBOWS—our dreams and aspirations—and act to move toward them. Goals represent hopes for a brighter future. Research … Continue reading →

Posted in amplifying, awareness, Choice, collaboration, Community, community development, consideration, Creativity | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#425) A Community of Mentors for Music, Hope, and Rainbows

Posted on July 15, 2018 by

Neighbors entertaining neighbors while enjoying the company of other neighbors. Research tells us that “hope” requires three ingredients: Goals + Pathways + Agency. Our goal—a rainbow that attracts and draws our attention—must be valuable to us and/or our community.  A … Continue reading →

Posted in acceptance, amplifying, Appreciation, authenticity, awareness, Being REMARKABLE, Community, community development, confidence, core values, creating your future, Creativity, Friendship, listening, mentoring, Mindfulness, mindset, Motivation, Personal growth, Personal Wellbeing, Relationship, resilience, respect | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

(#389) Create Your Own Breaking Alerts!

Posted on November 5, 2017 by

Start small. Start local. Do nothing. In a recent edition of The Story of Telling, Bernadette Jiwa noted that a Google search of “how to create a sense of urgency” found nearly thirty-five million hits.  Yesterday, I typed in “breaking … Continue reading →

Posted in amplifying, assumptions, awareness, core values, creating your future, Creativity, Discipline, Gratitude, health, Life lessons, Mindfulness, resilience | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#326) Where Is Your Focus Space?

Posted on August 21, 2016 by

It seems I do some of my best thinking when I am not in my workspace. In her book Improv Wisdom: Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up Patricia Ryan Madson suggests that we pay attention to our “hot spots.” These places … Continue reading →

Posted in acceptance, Choice, Creativity, curiosity, Dreams, inspiration, Reflection, Reflective practice, relevance, responsibility | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

(#316) Process, Trust, And Organizational Growth: An Optimistic Approach

Posted on June 12, 2016 by

Trust is what teams, students, teachers, employees and leaders need in order to challenge the process on the way to a better answer.   Earlier this week I stumbled upon some notes from a meeting I attended more than two … Continue reading →

Posted in amplifying, assumptions, authenticity, awareness, collaboration, courage, Creativity, Critical Thinking, effective meetings, growth, leadership, Life lessons, Passion, plussing, transformational leadership | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#281) Collisions for Collaboration or Crashes of Confusion?

Posted on October 11, 2015 by

Whether talking about the college classroom or the corporate boardroom, conscientious nurturing of authentic relationships improves the chances for effective communication, meaningful connections and powerful creation. A major work published in 1991 on effective college teaching emphasized the importance of … Continue reading →

Posted in collaboration, collegiality, Communication, Community, community development, Creativity, mentoring, self-efficacy, soft skills, teaching and learning, teamwork | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

(#263) Retreat or Stay-Treat? Treat Yourself!

Posted on June 7, 2015 by

What can you do if you want a retreat but can’t quite swing getting away from your daily routines for three or four days?  I’ve often read about personal growth retreats. You know, those that offer a chance to reconnect … Continue reading →

Posted in Choice, Creativity, inspiration, Mindfulness, Motivation, Passion | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

(#246) Are You Bitching or Are You Pitching?

Posted on February 8, 2015 by

Do you work (or live) with someone who endlessly pontificates, grouses, grumbles, moans and laments? One of my mentors taught me a valuable lesson near the beginning of my teaching career.  Dr. Veronica Valentine had a simple “rule” if anyone … Continue reading →

Posted in Appropriate Behavior, awareness, collaboration, collegiality, Connection-Disconnection, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Discipline, Energy Vampires, Haters, Personal Wellbeing, problem solving, Reflective practice, responsibility, teamwork | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

(#224) Every Student Has A Story: Great Teachers Build On That Story

Posted on September 7, 2014 by

A teacher’s calling is to recognize each of these types (and combinations thereof) and reach out with encouragement, challenge and recommendations to appropriate resources. [NOTE to reader: This week’s post comes from my forthcoming book (work-in-progress) on mentoring faculty.  In the weeks/months ahead … Continue reading →

Posted in Being REMARKABLE, Creativity, Education, effective teaching, influence, Motivation, Passion, Personal Wellbeing, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments