Is there a connection between business and the wild? There is. Consider that the wilderness environment – like business – can be unforgiving, challenging, dynamic, unpredictable, perplexing, and vast. In the wild, just as in business, we must be able to conserve our energy and state of mind, take the lead from the rising and … Continued
On International Women’s Day, I headed out with three incredible women I know to a local business event. It felt great to get out with friends after weeks of omicron keeping most people home. As I caught up with one friend, she shared her excitement as she was planning a retreat in Costa Rica in … Continued
When I think of leadership, I think of how much a great boss can make the work experience fantastic and even give your personal life a lift. By contrast, a lousy boss can make life feel miserable. Even for myself, I think of one of the first bosses I had when I was an intern … Continued
Last summer I was listening to another podcast by Glennon Doyle and had another ah-ha moment worth sharing. Before diving into the meat, let me start by explaining my values from a young age. I remember believing I could be anything I wanted to be when I grew up (thanks, mom). I also remember thinking … Continued
Last week, my husband and I visited a new local food shop in our area. We were standing there looking at the menu when the man behind the counter said, “Excuse me, sir, can I ask you a strange question?” Both of us were a bit startled. My husband agreed, and the man proceeded to … Continued
Friday, after my morning shower, I walked out of the bathroom to my husband standing in the doorway waiting for me. Although he rarely cries, his eyes looked full of pain. He said, “did you hear…. baby… text… did you…” Although he never got the words out, my brain started to slowly knit the pieces … Continued
Can a great leader succeed even if they don’t have industry or relevant experience? For eons, hiring managers have grappled with this question in the hiring and promotion process. To expound: “He’s never worked in the industry before.” “She has only been a manager for three years.” “Jack already has the group’s pulse. So why … Continued
Leadership in the wild is very different from the leadership we see or experience in corporate life. After my podcast interview with Jeff Barrett, the Founder of Blue Mountain Wild school, I was giddy. I was excited because it made me think of leadership differently and with a fresh perspective. Let’s consider the stark contrast … Continued
You call a friend on the phone to ask how they are doing, and they say, “Uh, Oh, I’m so busy…..,” They identify with being stressed and busy. But I always wonder if under the veil of “I’m so busy,” they are trying to communicate how they are feeling. Early in my career, I can … Continued
I recently had a challenging but thought-provoking experience with an interior designer. I had this renovation project I wanted to do, and I quickly realized I lack creative thinking around interior design. So, I found a referral for an interior designer. Shortly after I paid the retainer, I began getting invoiced by the hour or … Continued
I recently spoke with a client who shared a challenge she had with her VP. From her perspective, it seemed like he lacked a sense of urgency at the right time. He leads a team of leaders who are all managing multiple complex projects that, in the end, are interdependent for the final product to … Continued
I’m coaching a client who has reached an excellent level of success in his career. And he called me to sit down and talk through his decision-making process around what he wants to do next. Some of his thoughts: “Hey, you know, if I, if I work really hard, I could potentially take on this … Continued
“Mommy, I’m sad.” Me: “Honey, why do you feel sad?” Him: “Just because… I just can’t make my body feel happy.” This was a conversation I had with my son Xander numerous times over the past 24 months. The pandemic began just as he turned two years old. It seemed that within just a few … Continued
If you are like me, you have, at times, had a complicated relationship with happiness. Knowing that we’ve been blessed with many resources and freedoms that other people were not born into, personally, I feel I should always maintain a smile. Something like, regardless of our circumstances, we should always be able to muscle our … Continued
Do you ever catch yourself saying “if I only had this, then I would be happy?” Some days you might be debating with your spouse over an upcoming home renovation, and then woken up at 3:00 am by an upset child, and left laying awake thinking through that difficult conversation with someone at work. A … Continued
As soon as I opened my mouth at the start of the first meeting working with a new client—a mining company—I was abruptly interrupted by the head of HR. “Sorry Christine, but I may have neglected to mention that we always start our meetings with a ‘safety share.’” I must have given her quite a … Continued
Let me start by sharing some very interesting facts I dug up the other day. 78% of Americans feel stressed at least one day in a typical week — and 15% of them are stressed every day. Women are more stressed than men, while Gen Xers (ages 41 to 55) are the most stressed generation. … Continued
Do you regularly shut off your devices and “leave work”? Do you have specific and agreed-upon hours in which you are no longer “on-call” for answers to work questions? Are you thankful you are not working 24/7 these days like others you know? If you couldn’t answer yes to at least one of these questions, … Continued
In the past five years I’ve coached almost 400 female leaders, so it’s not surprising that I’ve worked with many top performers as they face the challenges that come with becoming a new mom. Some may have struggled with fertility issues, the emotions around getting pregnant, deciding how and when to share that news with … Continued
You have your favorites. I know you do. Those adages and maxims that you pin to your workspace or jot in your planner for inspiration. Don’t bring problems, bring solutions. I always liked this one. The first time I heard it, it struck like lightning. Such clarity and wisdom. Words to live by. But some … Continued
The Twin Towers were tumbling. Pedestrians panicked and ran for their lives. Brave first responders charged up staircases into danger zones, attempting to rescue men and women trapped by terror. How did you respond to the shock of two airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001? Most of us were far … Continued
This week I had the luxury (yes, luxury) of meeting up with two friends I have not seen in ages due to you-know-what. These friends are brilliant entrepreneurs who historically have spent thousands of dollars and hours on their personal development—like myself. We are usually the first to join a mastermind group or sign up … Continued
If you weren’t around for the famous line from “A League of Their Own,” here’s Tom Hanks (circa 1992) delivering the incredibly famous line “there’s no crying in baseball.” Clearly we can see there’s no crying in baseball, but it poses the question: is there crying in business? A client of mine brought up a … Continued
“I can’t believe how burnt out my team is. And people seem even more frustrated with one another than usual.” I’ve had similar conversations with many clients throughout the pandemic, but something was different this time. This client’s team had been working around the clock since the start of the pandemic, and they were losing … Continued
Last week I was listening to another podcast by Glennon Doyle and had another ah-ha moment worth sharing. Before I dive into the meat, let me start by explaining my values from a young age. I remember believing that I could be anything I wanted to be when I grew up (thanks, mom). I also … Continued
We’re living in a world that’s always on. Transitioning to a virtual reality this past year changed the way we communicate, and at the same time, gave our colleagues unlimited—and unmitigated—access. The professional demands we used to be able to leave at the office have permeated our private spaces. You don’t have to be a … Continued
I just published the 11th episode of my podcast, Best Boss Ever, and I’m starting to see a pattern: the best, most influential leaders are also—necessarily—ones that we trust (and the ones that trust their employees). You might be thinking, “Well, obviously Christine.” But I want you to take a second to think about everyone … Continued
How often do you shy away from trying something new because you’re afraid you won’t be good at it? A client recently complimented me by saying I’m a natural at coaching and training. If they’d said that back in 2008, when I’d just begun my business and was worried sick I’d fail, I probably would’ve … Continued
Imagine if feeling rested was as simple as getting a good night’s sleep. I know it’s not just me. Coronasomnia aside (yes, that’s a real phenomenon), I’ve often found myself bone-tired regardless of how many hours I’ve slept, or the fact that I spent all day sitting at my desk. My “aha moment” came during … Continued
Many of us are still stuck in lockdown limbo, and there’s no denying that this global pandemic has changed the professional world forever. With home offices replacing cubicles and some job-related perks that may never return (RIP business travel), I’ve found that COVID-19 has forced many of my clients into a career identity crisis. Part … Continued
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a woman who wants to do it all, sometimes to my own detriment. For me, that means juggling a variety of balls, the most important of which are work, motherhood, marriage, and, of course, my own health and well-being. But Christine, didn’t you write a book about being … Continued
I have a three-year-old son named Xander. He’s adorable (most days) and he really loves superheroes. More specifically, wants to be the Flash. And if you know the Flash, you know that he travels at the speed of light. So imagine my joy, after eight or nine hours of back-to-back Zoom meetings, when the first … Continued