LIFE
The Discomfort Zone
I’m currently in Mexico with my husband and two daughters. Ivy, my ten-year-old, has spent a considerable part of this trip in her discomfort zone. It started with a girls-only bike ride. Ivy was by far the youngest participant in our group of nine bikers, organized...
The Active Mindset
In relationships, I can see that I have the active mindset when it comes to those closest to me, but I’ve been passive in other relationships. I see this with family members whom I don’t see regularly and know there is more that I could do to stay connected.
Our Experience With The GRIT Challenge
Amanda and I are in the middle of our 5th month of doing GRIT, which is prescribed daily workouts that differ each day of the week. When we first started them, we didn’t think our bodies would be able to handle everyday workouts, and we were super worried about the...
Mom, Is Santa Real?
When she learned the truth, she felt like she was the last to know. We’ve all been there and it’s not a great feeling. We talked about it more on the way to school and I did my best to remind her that, in fact, she’s not the last to know. “Now it’s your job to keep that magic alive for all the younger kids,” I said.
Find a Way
Last week our shoes were borrowed by the neighbor’s dogs. (You read that right). The dogs are super friendly, always greet us when we come and go, and I always take time to pet them. Then one day we had to leave our shoes outside because they were muddy. The next day...
If Happy Things Annoy You
We all have control over what we want to put out there. There are times in the past when I’ve been snarky or dripping in self-pity or even downright mean. But I’ve learned that that’s not who I truly am. That’s not who I want to be.
Traveling Minors
At the ages of 10 and 12, it’s time my daughters take a greater role in navigating the logistics of airline travel. After all, I was only 15 when I left for my first study abroad program in Russia. Not that I think they’re ready to ship off to Eastern Europe, but they...
When We Document, We Get Paid in Confidence
When we document our progress, it pays us with measurable proof, which feeds our self-confidence, which is critical when doing hard sh*t.
LEGACY
The Gospel of Story
I attended a Writers Guild luncheon yesterday and had the honor of introducing screenwriter and novelist Samantha Silva. She detailed her journey from screenwriter to novelist and all of the pitfalls she experienced along the way. Nearing the end of her talk, she...
Talent Craves Dedication
Like any worthwhile endeavor, writing requires practice and dedication. There are no overnight successes. You don’t sign up for your first marathon and expect to win, or decide to take up French and think you’ll be fluent tomorrow.
My Dream Office
My environment has a huge impact on my productivity and the quality of the work I do. Because of this there have been times when I’ve tried to create the perfect office. I wanted to optimize my environment. You have to have the right desk. And lighting. What about...
Letters to My Daughters
This is how I create legacy. It takes very little of my time to create something in which my daughters will find great value.
Do It Anyway
Mike did a live radio spot on Idaho Matters, a show on our local NPR station. We had the opportunity to speak with Gemma Gaudette about ImpactClub Boise... what it is, how it works, why it’s important. When I speak in front of people or on the radio, I sweat. (I sweat...
Life is Not a Seasonal Sport
Life is not a seasonal sport. There is no off season. You must play the long game.
Getting More Than You Give
Rake Up Boise is an annual event where individuals and teams volunteer their time to rake the yards of elderly and disabled residents. Every year I captain the Raking Writers, a team I put together from members of the Idaho Writers Guild. The resident we were last...
Scrappy and Proud
My 7th grade daughter just won 6th place in the city-wide tennis tournament.
To say I’m proud is an understatement. Here’s why.
6th place was frustrating to Emilia because she lost two very close matches. But what she failed to see was how much of an underdog she was in this tournament.
LIVELIHOOD
Your Team Matters
In my mid-thirties, I looked into joining a soccer team. My kids were little and I wanted something to keep me active, but also an outlet outside of my home. I’d played soccer as a kid and teenager, and had always loved the game. The local adult league had an...
The Engineer & the Fork in the Road
He’s the embodiment of analysis paralysis. Everything must be perfect before moving forward. The problem with that is… there will never come a time when everything is perfect.
On Stopping to Think
Yesterday morning I decided to drive our youngest daughter to school. We only live a few blocks away and she typically rides her bike, but it was bitterly cold and windy. Checking the time also told me that if she rode her bike, she’d be late. I decided to take a few...
StoryAthlete
There’s your Heroic Self and there’s your Lesser Self. The Lesser Self says, “I’ll get in shape starting Monday.” The Heroic Self doesn’t say anything, because she’s too busy working out. You get the idea.
True Fans
I’m a firm believer in the power of true fans and that authenticity is the way to create them. There are the obvious benefits to true fans. We gain evangelists, we produce revenue, and let’s not discount the fact that it just plain feels good. There’s a secondary...
If Happy Things Annoy You
We all have control over what we want to put out there. There are times in the past when I’ve been snarky or dripping in self-pity or even downright mean. But I’ve learned that that’s not who I truly am. That’s not who I want to be.
The Gambler & the Investor
Ryan Fletcher, the guy who runs both the StoryAthlete and GRIT challenges in which Mike and are taking part, wrote the other day about the difference between gambling and investing. Gambling is exciting. There’s a rush that goes along with it. Spin the wheel and who...
Producers versus Consumers
In committing to move, to achieve, to advance toward goals and dreams, we force ourselves up off of that couch and take a step into a scary world. We do this when we realize that the idea of staying on that couch is more horrific than any monsters we might have to confront along the journey.