Category Archives: Personal growth

(#275) What Do You Carry In Your Backpack?


It’s one thing to know we need to shed the extra baggage but it is quite another thing to actually do it. Most often I do not have any idea what my next blog will address. There isn’t any grand … Continue reading

Posted in Balance, Choice, courage, growth, habits, Personal growth, Personal Wellbeing, resilience, self-regulatory behavior | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

(#270) Have You Spent Time With Ida Ownly?


A relationship with Ida Ownly has no future other than one of contrition, remorse, disappointment, and heartbreak. You know Ida Ownly, don’t you?  I’m sure you (like me) have spent some time with her. And when we do it generally … Continue reading

Posted in action, Anxiety, awareness, Discipline, Excuses, Failure, fitness, focus, fortitude, growth, initiative, Integrity, Mindfulness, Motivation, organization, Personal growth, potential, priorities, Priority management, Words and Action | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

(#266) Challenging the Status Quo


We have to remember what we learned in our formative years: “Know what battles to pick.” Great advice unless you never seem to choose a battle. I was recently asked what kind of advice I would give to the new … Continue reading

Posted in Being REMARKABLE, boundaries and limits, change, Choice, Civility, confidence, courage, creating your future, fortitude, influence, inspiration, Integrity, leadership, Mindfulness, Personal growth, Personal Wellbeing, wisdom, Words and Action | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

(#259) Is “Hope” a Meaningless Sentiment?


Is hope just a word that will soon be washed away by an incoming tide? Or does it send a message of resilience? What is the worth of “hope”?  As in, “don’t lose hope.”  Or, “I hope tomorrow is better than … Continue reading

Posted in courage, hope, life success, Passion, Personal growth, Personal Wellbeing, resilience | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#250) Motivating the Motivators


Beyond the paycheck and benefits, what is being done to motivate those who are charged with motivating our students? Last week, I had the following question posed to me: How can we motivate more faculty to take control of their … Continue reading

Posted in Balance, Failure, growth, health, leadership, Personal growth, Personal Wellbeing, resilience, risk-taking | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

(#247) Applications and Reflections


Just consider the hourly wage of each person tied up in a workshop.  Is the R.O.I. worth the lost wages and service? I have written elsewhere on this blog about the benefits of meaningful professional growth opportunities and collegiality.  Today, … Continue reading

Posted in faculty development, life success, Making a Difference, Mindfulness, Personal growth, Personal Wellbeing, professional development, Reflective practice, resilience, self-efficacy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

(#244) Do You Have Your Own Board of Directors?


I remain focused on surrounding myself with knowledgeable and skillful people who will have my back—and kick me in the butt when needed. Who do you have on your Board? Corporations have Boards of Directors.  Institutions of higher learning have Boards … Continue reading

Posted in Balance, branding, collaboration, Dreams, Excellence, focus, generativity, growth, Life lessons, life success, Personal growth, Personal Wellbeing, resilience, self-efficacy, teamwork | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

(#243) Failure Is An Option


How will I stretch myself in the coming week? Even if I might fail, what will I do to continue my learning and growth? WHAT IF?  Consider the power and challenge of that question.  Make it personal and it becomes … Continue reading

Posted in Choice, creating your future, Failure, Goals, Mindfulness, Motivation, Passion, Personal growth, resilience | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

(242) Reflecting on a Significant Event


The power of this reflective practice exercise lies in its ability to help us discover not only what we do but why we do it. Regardless of our calling, we can all point to those critical (or significant) events that … Continue reading

Posted in Critical Thinking, effective teaching, faculty development, growth, habits, Personal growth, professional development, Purpose, Reflective practice, resilience, Success | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

(#241) What If?


Rather than setting a list of “me-too” goals, why not imagine the “what if” of our future selves?  Think of your future and fill in the blank: “What if _____? In a recent TED talk, psychologist Dan Gilbert examined the … Continue reading

Posted in awareness, Balance, Being REMARKABLE, Choice, Discipline, Goals, happiness, health, intentional growht, Life lessons, Personal growth, Personal Wellbeing, Reflection, resilience, self-efficacy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments