Blog
Explore topics relating to perfectionism, gentle productivity, and building on strengths so you can move forward in your higher education career without throwing your quality of life out the window!
10 tips for planning an effective workshop
I love helping people and sharing what I know. This post is a way to do both--and will be of interest to individuals who are keen to build their facilitation skills. The "bigger" message is: (1) don't dismiss your experience as insignificant and (2) share what you...
25 years together
Raúl and I celebrated 25 years together in October. Unlike in past years when we barely acknowledged the milestone of another year, we decided to do something special this time. Not because it felt obligatory, but because we both genuinely wanted to recognize this...
What we say to ourselves: Self-talk advice (for people who cringe at this topic)
I found this page in a notebook the other day. It's my daughter's handwriting and, aside from the words "My parents are always saying", the page is blank. (Lest you think I was digging around my daughter's personal things, I'll assure you that she gave me the notebook...
Activity to build on team strengths: What I’d like from you
Strengths Activity for Teams: "Staying motivated and engaged--What I'd like from you" This resource is for team leads who want to help their team members stay motivated about, and engaged in, their work. It was developed for teams that are working remotely due to...
5 ways to go deeper with your CliftonStrengths results
Has this happened to you: You've taken an online assessment to learn more about yourself, read it over, gleaned some insights, and then shelved the report?...Result: you have a vague memory (maybe) of what it was about and that there was useful stuff in there. From my...
Meet your goals by making success easier than failure (it’s doable!)
Making success easier than failure IS possible What's your track record for meeting your goals? If you're like me, the answer is probably "it varies". One sure way to make progress on your goals is to get specific about the steps needed to meet that goal. For example,...
The power of accountability
In this video, I share about the power of accountability to get things done. I'm talking about those things that are important to you, but that you may be dragging your feet on ... https://youtu.be/rKSr_QGdFa8 Do you have a goal that would benefit from accountability?...
Worksheet for perfectionists: A better option than self-criticism
Here's a worksheet for perfectionists who want to stop beating themselves down when they don't live up to their own high standards... Ok, just between you and me, how far back do you have to go to recall an event when you perceive you failed or somehow let yourself...
What I love most about working from home
I'm an introvert and I'm also easily distracted and bothered by noise. So, I am en-joy-ing working from home! It is utterly delicious. My "regular" (non-COVID-19) situation was that I went to the University of British Columbia (UBC) several days per week for my...
Worksheet for perfectionists: Stop, start, continue
If you're a perfectionist, you have undoubtedly had the experience of working on a goal but not making progress in the ways you had hoped. Your own high standards may be holding you back. Maybe you're spending too much time on a particular task or taking too many...
Activity to build on team strengths: Great partnerships at work
Strengths Activity for Teams: Great Partnerships at Work This resource is for team leads who want to help foster strong(er) partnerships among team members. It outlines an activity that can be used during a team meeting or team retreat (online or in-person). In this...
How strengths aided my recovery: An interview with Dr. Deb Chen
At age 27, Deb experienced a brain aneurysm. It was completely unexpected and changed her life. In this post, Deb reflects on how she used her strengths to recover from her brain aneurysm and re-engage in her community and work. Deb’s top 5 themes from the...