Recently I was at a dinner which turned into a one-up discussion on steroids. We have all been at one of these gatherings where folks are comparing and competing for the best “fish story” of the evening. What was amazing to me was this: they were not trumping each other with positive achievements or the “outdoing of the Joneses” – they were trolling on about their lamentations, ills, and 12-miles-in-the-snow-with-no-shoes stories. What is up with this trend?

This past week I was back in my hometown celebrating my father’s (and his identical twin’s) 85th birthday. As I was walking through my childhood neighborhood one morning, I needed to cross the street to avoid the sprinklers. I had not walked on the other side of the street in probably 20+ years!

Those of you who follow my posts know that the first half of this year has been humbling relative to those who have been riffed, downsized, or have simply made the decision that where they were is not where they want to be. Folks are waking up to their new reality: could this be the ‘control, alt, delete’ moment in my career?

Recently I stumbled across a book with which I was impressed and intrigued by their approach to solving problems and establishing creative solutions! Many of my clients are wrestling with the same old issues and in many cases are approaching their resolution in the same old way. This book challenges us and encourages us to get out of our rut and look at things differently – all from “inside the box.”

Recently, I have been working with a number of executives who are being put through their paces to explain, persuade, and justify their approach to their Board and to other senior constituents. Needless to say, many grow frustrated. What is one question which can help to ‘cut the fat’ from those conversations?

This past week was unprecedented for me. I had 4 – four – individuals, in 1 week, tell me they had been ‘riffed’ from their current roles.These individuals have had strong careers and are worthy, capable contributors. However, now they are faced with (what they perceive as) a tremendous setback at a stage in their life where most – if not all – thought they would be somewhere else. What gives?!

It is hard to believe it is July already and we are half way through 2013! Many of my clients have lamented they are not where they wanted to be at this point in the year. Yet, one thing I know for sure – if we stop pursuing whatever goal we aspire to achieve, we are guaranteed not to achieve it! So, what can we do to get our ‘mojo’ back?

Recently, there has been much fanfare about the importance of back-up singers. In fact there is a new documentary, Twenty Feet from Stardom, that pays tribute to these nameless though gifted performers who stood 20 feet from everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Michael Jackson. I have noticed and admire a single trait of these back-up singers.

Ever felt a bit out of control of your time, your day…your life?! In two and half words – who hasn’t?! This past month, many of my clients have been juggling with their over crowded lives with sending kids to summer camp, graduations, weddings, mid-year results, and keeping all their plates spinning. How do we stay balanced, together, and aligned with how and where we want to spend our time?

Okay folks, let’s be honest. We have all compared ourselves to others at one point or another. The reason the phrase “I’ll have what she’s having” (from that fabulous movie ‘When Harry Meets Sally’) resonates with so many…is that it is not ONLY about what Meg Ryan was acting out!! We compare and contrast ourselves with others around lots of things. We often do this to gauge how we are doing based on what we see others doing.