19 August 2015

Tool Talk

I love visiting women in trades to talk about what is trending in the industry. As non-traditional women, we have always needed an extra drawer in our toolboxes, not just to carry our unmentionables and lipstick, but what about the tools that you can’t see? We chatted about this with the Sisters in the Brotherhood at the Carpenters and Millrights College in Lower Sackville recently.

In an industry that is ripe with opportunities for conflict, the ability to communicate well is a staple. The better communicator will often be hired first. The better communicator can nip a potential disaster in the bud. If you’re at a loss as to how to start to develop this skill, check out your local Toastmasters Club. There is probably one in your area.

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

photo by Smaku / Flickr
I remember the first time I was in a workshop and we were given a mirror and introduced to 'mirror work'. The old me, the one who was more of a black and white thinker, couldn’t help but wonder what this hocus pocus was all about.

At the time, the focus was on loving our body and we were asked to look into the mirror and repeat the phrase, “I love my body.” I cringed in the beginning, but over time I learned that our reality is created from our beliefs and this work was going to take me where I needed to be. I just needed to suspend my disbelief for a moment.

Nowhere do I see this same resistance in others as powerful as when I ask them to say, “I love making money.” It is almost as if I am asking them to say a dirty word.

I get responses like, “I don’t do what I do for the money,” and “My work is heart centred.” I recognize these phrases because 6 years ago I was in the same boat. I, too, was challenged to think differently and I, too, resisted. But that has all changed. Monetizing what we do doesn’t mean that we leave our heart at home. It just means that we have more balance in our lives.

Money allows us to do a tremendous amount of good in the world. We can feed our families and, for those of us who are the primary breadwinner, that matters. We can give to charities or set up scholarships at local learning institutes. Money makes many good things possible.

Grab a mirror, look into your eyes, and say, "I love making money." How do you feel?

1 August 2015

Where will you go today?


 Many years ago I was introduced to the music of  the lovely Laura Smith, Nova Scotia talent. the lyrics of one song in particular has stuck with me and I often find myself humming the tune. "I go there, I go there to find stillness when the wind might blow me away." Of course the place that she was referring to was a place where she went in her mind not an actual physical location. 

I had a lovely discussion this morning with a very interesting person I am getting to know and we talked about how important it is that "we go there" when we want to create something new in our lives. It isn't just the logical choices that we need to make - get out there and sell a product, write a good report, etc., success also requires us to go places in our mind to pave the way for the journey.

What you think matters as much as what you do.

Where will you go today? "There's a place that I go, not for pleasure, not for show. I find comfort there."