Last week I lost a friend to cancer. When I heard the news, I wasn’t sad. I was grateful. Here’s why: I’d known Pola Kelley for ten years. First, as the Executive Director of the Sedro Woolley Chamber, one of six local chambers in Skagit County, Northwest Washington. Then, through various photo and video projects...Read More

What are the differences between courage and confidence, and why does it matter? Let’s first address the differences:   Courage is linked to fear and anxiety, whereas confidence is linked to peace + happiness.  Courage requires action. Confidence is a state of being.  To help illustrate both of these, I’ll use a recent (unfortunate) event involving...Read More

I can’t think of anything original to say! Who would listen to me? Believing that you must be the one human on the face of the planet with something wholly original to say is egotistical. This thinking kills dreams and innovation. It crushes confidence and creativity. It has stopped many people from speaking their truth....Read More

I encountered the most unique (and somewhat disturbing) outgoing message last week while trying to find a vet who could see my dog. I woke up on a Monday morning to find my 10-year-old chihuahua-mix, Martin acting very strange. I thought he might be having a stroke. I scooped him up, ran out the door,...Read More

In light of the undignified behavior we witnessed during the recent Academy Awards, I’ve considered what it takes to emcee with success. In my experience, success boils down to your ability to facilitate with finesse by keeping five key principles in play. Demonstrating finesse in facilitation can be as simple as ensuring a meeting starts...Read More