A few weeks before graduating from VA Tech, my son Tom saw a job opening at NASA’s Mission Control at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
His dream job. He submitted his resume and – YAY! – got an interview.
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Fresh Start? – The Better Newsletter #42
One rainy day when my son Andrew was young, he got bored and used some crayons to turn our wall into a colorful mural.
I was not a happy camper. In the midst of letting him know this, he looked up and said, “Mom, can we have a FRESH START?”
Lead With Authentic Appreciation – The Better Newsletter #41
A woman in a recent workshop said, “I work for a government agency. I can’t remember the last time someone paid me a compliment.”
I told her, “Instead of waiting to receive overdue appreciation, GO FIRST and get the ball rolling by giving other people the recognition they deserve.”
Feel Free to Show Gratitude – The Better Newsletter #40
I’ll always remember driving through the Great Smoky Mountains over July 4th weekend several years ago, listening to Garrison Keillor’s final show of a Prairie Home Companion, broadcast live from the Hollywood Bowl.
President Obama called to give Keillor a shout-out for his 40+ years of story-telling. Keillor asked, “What are you looking forward to when you’re out of office?”
Double Down on Your Dreams – The Better Newsletter #39
I’ll always remember, years ago, standing in a pouring rain on a crowded NYC street trying to flag down a taxi. No luck. I called my son out of frustration, told him what was happening and said, “I’m going to miss my plane. Any suggestions?”
Confidence, Curiosity & Connection – The Better Newsletter #38
Years ago, an engineer stood up at an event I was speaking at and said, “When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait to grow up because I thought confidence came with the territory.” I told him, “The way to get confidence is to…
The Dreaded 5%er – The Better Newsletter #37
Do you deal with someone who repeatedly puts people down? Who blames everyone else for what goes wrong? Chances are you’re dealing with a bully – or what I call a 5%er.
Stop Should-ing On Yourself – The Better Newsletter #36
Years ago, I had the privilege of working for Rod Laver. One day after our national tennis camp, Rod asked if I’d like to “hit for a bit,” which was his way of…
From Imposter to Inspired – The Better Newsletter #35
One day, I saw a woman sitting on the beach by herself, crying. I went over and asked, “Are you okay?” She said, “No, I’m NOT okay. I don’t belong here…”
I’m SO Angry! – The Better Newsletter #34
I let a friend use my lake cottage, for free. When I arrived the next weekend, I couldn’t believe what a mess he left…