Where Did All the Good Toys Go?

Holy crap. It’s happened.

I’ve hit that age where I look fondly upon my childhood and think children these days don’t nearly have it as good as I did. Today they have over-protective parents afraid that someone else might screw their kid up…eh hem…

Back when I a wee little one, we had some wicked cool toys that also taught us how to follow directions. And when we didn’t – there wasn’t a lawyer in sight. It was Dad saying “what did you do that for” or “I told you that would happen.”

That’s right. We learned respect through injury, and then when the toy just wasn’t dangerous enough – we loved the packaging.

Here’s a few of my all-time favorites:

• LiteBright: Full of color, weird paper/burning plastic smells, and waffle-type buns. That thing got hot!
  
  
• Sit-n-spin: Hours of entertainment with a side of vomit.
  
  
• Ice Shavers: Nothing like a little blood from the fingers when grinding that last bit of ice to really add flavor.
  
  
• Easy Bake Ovens: When they really were ovens, and brownies cooked less than an hour. Another great thing to learn the concept of “hot”.
  
  
• Bubble wrap: No matter the gift, bubble wrap ruled.

What have a missed?

Thanks @eeteter for getting this conversation started!
Heather

What do your employees say about you?

October 16th was just another day, or another holiday made up by Hallmark to sell more cards. It’s National Boss’s Day. An obscure holiday that is on our calendars, and for those of us with good bosses, makes us go “crap!”
But rather than the “I’m now sucking up to you” holiday that it could be, I think it is important as leaders to honor the amazing mentors we’ve had in our lives. And if we’ve been lucky, they’ve been our boss.

I’m lucky – I’ve not had just one, but three.

Three bosses in my career come to mind who’ve helped me develop as a professional, but also as a person. They have been in critical points of my career – my first boss out of college, my first boss after a career transition, and my current boss at Sage.

Now, I’m a boss, and a leader in my own right. Here’s my top 10 things I appreciate about these three major influences in my life:
10. See me for me - as quirky, stubborn, opinionated, and passionate as I am

9. Take a chance on the underdog – the person no one really knows, but willing to take the risk and bet on me. Seeing the skill in my experience, and not putting me in a box

8. Understand I’m human – I have bad days, just like everyone else. They forgive, and in fact, embrace it

7. Believe in my potential – and often stand up for me when others may question “why Heather”

6. Pick me up when I fall down – we all fall, but how we deal with failure, and our bosses deal with failure, is critical for our williness to step on the limb and take a risk. Perfection is a myth, and having bosses who understand this is critical for us over-achievers

5. Have my back – besides picking me up, having my back politically in the company is crucial. I trust you to support me, and when they show they do, no matter what, it’s awesome

4. Give me opportunity – I want to be challenged, learn new things, and grow

3. Coach me, teach me – I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, but teach me to be better, but also show me where I’m already great

2. Let me be free – trust that I’m working in the best interest of the company to the best of my ability

1. Value me for who I am, and what I can bring – above all else, take a vested interest in me and my growth, with or without the company we are currently in

Would your employees say this about you? Do you want them to, or do you care? You should. It makes the difference in their lives.

I want to thank you Terry, Victoria, and Krista, for helping me grow, develop, learn, and flourish. And be the boss and leader that I’m striving to be.
Heather

PS - I recently did a talk about career growth, and the role of bosses in that. Here's a few things you might find interesting

• Who's in Charge of Your Career - Blog Post for Sage


• Art of Career Development - Presentation for Charity Channel Summit, Oct 2011

Change the World - I Dare You

I watched this cool talk about “disrupting” yourself, in which Whitney Johnson (@johnsonwhitney) talked about her journey starting as a secretary on Wall Street to co-founder of @claychristensen's investment firm Rose Park Advisors.

The 17 minute talk is worth your time. She gives great examples from her own life, and companies, and individuals, including Eunice Kennedy Shriver who founded the Special Olympics. She summarized with the following tips:

1. If the path from where you are won’t get you to where you want to be, try going where no one else wants to be. If you can’t go through the front door, go in the back door, better yet, build your own door.
   
   
2. Iterate, iterate, iterate again until we get the model right.
   
   
3. Embrace your constraints. They are problems to be solved, and lead to innovation.
   
   
4. Be impatient. Impatient for quick wins, small wins, to let you know you are on the right track. Then, be patient for things to pan out, and confident that they will.
   
   
5. Start. Start now. Disrupt yourself, your status quo.

As I listened to the talk, I was thinking about my current role in strategy, and about the concept risk. In my life, I’ve “disrupted” myself at least 3 times professionally. Most of the time, my colleagues, friends, and family said I was crazy, and I took “steps back,” but always with the confidence of stepping forward – even though I wasn’t sure where the road would lead.

What about companies – big and small, and nonprofits? Heck, our government? What about leadership – and those we celebrate as “great leaders?” Is our definition of “great” always in hindsight?

I would argue yes…and at one time all disruptive ideas were thought of as crazy within the paradigm by which they were constructed.

I would also argue that we have an individual and collective inability to predict the long term outcomes of any one or multiple decisions. Despite all the analysts, research, modeling…

Yet there are those companies, and people who change the game, and redefine what “new” success means.

Be bold – be brave. Your ideas may seem wacky to some, or lack the majority understanding on how that will change the world, make money, or increase stockholder wealth. Maybe in hindsight – you were the catalyst that changed the world.

Thanks, Whitney, for the talk.

Heather

Team Need a Boost? Make a Playlist

Want to get team members pumped about an important meeting, strategy session, collaborative project or event?

Make a team playlist.

Why? Because making a list that has a piece of every member's personality does a couple of things:

1. It shows you value their personal style and uniqueness, which also relates to valuing their individual opinions


2. It provides a non-threating way to "break the ice," and find commonality or differences with song choices/styles


3. It gives every team member a 'rally cry' that resonates with them, creating a personal energy for the project


4. It is FUN

I recently did this with a team for the first time. Yes, they thought I was a little bit crazy. The request went something like this:

Please send to me 2 song titles/artists that resonate with you. Can be an oldie but goodie, all time favorite, or favorite/catchy for now! Something that gets you pumped, excited, or in a creative state of mind…. Otherwise, you’ll get to listen to my mix now and again…

We ended up with a playlist of 24 songs, of which we rotated randomly through during breaks, exercises, and even in a car to dinner. Was it worth my little bit of effort to put together? You bet.

• We laughed, talked, and joked


• We had a safe space where all voices were welcome


• We learned a lot about each other And...
  
• We accomplished our goals for the session, even ending 30 minutes early and excited about the next stage.

Was that all because of a playlist? Probably not. But if you are struggling with your team - try it out. And tell me what you think.

Rock on,
H

The Invitation: What Will You Do When Opportunity Knocks?

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know if what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
-Excerpt from The Invitation, Oriah Mountain Dreamer


A long, long time ago, someone I barely knew gave me the book, The Invitation. I was embarking on a massive career transition, against the odds, and against all what my friends, family, colleagues, and logical self seemed really risky, and a little foolish.

Guess what?

I'm still winning.

Why?

First - I define what "winning" means, not society, family, friends, or colleagues.

Second - I trust that all experiences leads to wisdom, and value the journey way more than the end result (hey - you know me, this is important too, but not at all costs. I'm willing to fail and admit it)

I sound way more bold than I am. Risk is semi-calculated. I don't always know how I will "get there", but I trust that I will always land on my feet no matter what.

The next time you are presented with an opportunity will you shudder with fear, and take the safe route? Or will you hedge your bets, love the journey, and come out a winner in your own eyes?

Take the invitation....its way more fun.

H

I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Gosh-Darn It, People Like Me

I've been terrible about going to the gym, or staying in shape, for a few years. It's been a slow decline, and I've taken some satisfaction that the 20lbs (ok, ok, maybe more like 30lbs when I was a bit of an unhealthy skinny) has taken about 5 years to pile on.

My personal love-hate relationship with food has been in existence, um, forever. I don't know the stats, but count me into the group who struggled with body image issues and distorted perceptions of self. There were times I wouldn't eat, and if I could have made myself throw up, I'd probably been bulimic.

I played sports growing up, which to me, was a savior in terms of justifying eating. I also remember doing research on anorexia and bulimia for a middle-school project, which made me keenly aware the pitfalls of eating disorders.

So, being the smarty pants, I stayed on the edge. Not ever quite happy with myself, but where I figured I was out of reach of any "real" harm.

Except for when I'm severely stressed out. Then I go into "control" mode and either control all food and exercise excessively - or, worse - binge. (Still can't purge. Small blessings).

Where am I going with this?

Well, tonight I got my butt kicked at an at-work "bootcamp." Two realizations occurred, that I'm actually excited about:

First, I am out of shape. But rather than feel deflated, it reminded me why I like to work out.

Second, really I don't feel bad or like a bad person that I've been enjoying food (which in my emotional brain is a direct correlation to weight gain. Intellectual brain knows better.)

If you know me, you are probably surprised a little by the post. Today, I'm a total food snob, and love dining out. I enjoy eating, rather than looking at food as a horrible necessity by which I have to consume to survive.

In some ways, this weight gain has been good for me. I've learned to have less and less judgement on myself, and bought a few new pairs of pants and shirts in the next size. You know what? People still like me anyway....

Sure, I'd like to drop 20lbs this year (and yes, I will be counting 'cause I can't help it). But for now, I'm going to enjoy the physical activity for what it is - a fun activity that makes me feel better.

Rambling.....

Every spring I go through a bit of cabin fever. Cleaning out of the old, wanting the new - or maybe - just wanting to break the norms.

My allergies have sucked this year, forcing me to stay inside and be on antibiotics, which, thankfully, have saved my lungs from their ever-building congestion.

But I've not been able to run. which feeds my cabin fever, which builds an self-feeding loop...yup, I'm aware.

But how many ways are we not aware of our own self-fulling cycles? I see people blame others, or not understand. Silly, really, since at the end of the day we really are just proving our worth - expressed in various strengths and characterizations that make this world fascinating....

So, before you jump down that person's throat about something, think they are out to get you, or even, think they are totally wrong - give them the benefit of the doubt.

After all, you don't know the shoes they've walked in and the experiences they have had to reach the opinions they are expressing...

My Dogs Are Too Smart....

So...

I love my dogs, but sometimes they can be a pain in the butt. Ginger, the long-haired, Prima donna dachshund, and Rocco, the 3.5-lb terror chihuahua, make quite the couple.

They like to bark at everything, every noise, everyone. Demand attention, and treats at 8:00PM every night. I like to call them "donkeys," just because I think its funny.

Well, they are no jackasses. I put them outside for the morning while our cleaning person went to work on the house. They barked at the door consistently, which annoyed me, and I repeatedly said in my strongest, deepest voice said "NO."

Finally, they were quiet. All was good, I went into my office to work. Suddenly, Patricia came into my office and stated "I think your dogs are at the front door."

"Huh? How can that be?"

"I don't know, but they are out there."

And sure enough, there were Ginger and Rocco. Apparently, they decided that the back yard wasn't good enough, and wanted in. They squeezed beneath the front gate, and tried the front door.

I have to say, I caved. They are hanging in the house, barking at the vacuum cleaner.

I'm a Reader, You're a Reader, Wouldn't You Like to be a Rockstar, too?

I'm a pretty passionate person. Love great causes, root for triumph over stereotypes, and hug puppies. You'd say "of course you bleeding heart, you would support early childhood and family literacy programs."

But there is where you are wrong. I'm incredibly uncomfortable around children, and self-diagnosed as "baby-phob." They all freak me out. And no, I'm not an only child and have about 18 first cousins.

But I believe that children, starting before birth, should be read to so strongly that I've dedicated my time for the past 5 years on the board of an amazing organization called BookSpring.

Why am I so passionate about BookSpring? Because I'm living proof that the greatest, long-lasting gift a parent can give to their child is the love of reading. And thanks to Mom - I'm an avid reader, and some would argue or see me as successful.

If you're a reader - can you be a rockstar too? Sponsor a child in our upcoming Read-A-Thon. And if you don't think your contribution is enough to make a difference your wrong. Just listen to these kids.


Our future will be in there hands....


PS - Note to you parents - read to your kids. This isn't an economic problem, this is a priority problem. Take time. It makes the world of difference.

H

Doing What's Right

I've had something that I could have swept into a box, put on a shelf, pretend I didn't have, and let it go.

I was a picture of my ex, with his brother and grandfather, when they were young. It's a nice picture, and in fact, maybe not one he remembered having at all.

My grandfather passed away on Dec 2, 2010 unexpectedly. Part of our grieving and celebration was to gather and look through photos that we all had of Bob, and share memories, moments, and stories of this man who we hold so dear to our hearts.

I won't say it was an easy call, even though it would seem such. It was a hard call, to dial the number and wonder how the conversation would go - Argue? Cordial? Real? All that I really wanted was to do what was right.

And it was fine. That picture is worth more than the arguments, differences, and how the relationship (or lack thereof) came to be years later. It's about stepping into the uncomfortable and doing what is right.

Regardless...

Places I Don't Pee

Recently I've had surgery to my sinuses. While all is healing well, it's not without its inconveniences, one of which having to take baths.

While I love a good relaxing, candle-lit, soft-music, wine-in-hand bubble bath, it's just not the same. I've been thrown back to being a kid.

Clean water to start. Scrub the face, move onto the hair. Shampoo using the back-of-head-in-water technique (head-down-over-the-the-sink/tub makes my nose bleed), rinse, repeat, and condition. Only then can the body wash begin, which still leaves a soapy residue since the water is already filled with face wash, shampoo, conditioner, and now, body wash.

I miss the shower. Plus, you just can't pee in the tub.

2011: My "Merging"

Wow. Another year bites the dust. 2010 had its share of highs and lows - just like every year does. And like every new year, I look to emerge from the prior, dust myself off, and step onto the tantalizing green grass of the next.

Part of my journey is trying to figure out how I want to engage with the world, particularly now that information is only a few keystrokes away, and social media has continued to merge the circles by which we navigate.

On one hand, I rebel like mad, not wanting to segment who I am. On the other hand, I segment like mad to keep some sort of separation between these circles.

Why?

My minor in psychology tells me that I fear rejection (well, no shit), and that I fear people won't like "all" of me. So I think separation will keep me "safe."

The reality is that I'm as transparent as they come. And if you know a little of me - you probably know a lot about me. There is really nothing to hide.

So, this year I'm taking the plunge. Accept my Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and blogs for what they will be. Sometimes they'll be serious, sometimes funny, sometimes downright silly.

But they all will be me. Happy 2011.