by Karen Thrall | Dec 12, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN ENGAGEMENT, HUMAN IDENTITY, HUMANS COMMUNICATE
ENABLING IN THE WORKPLACE In the last article I shared my personal reflections and experience surrounding the topic of enabling. Let’s translate this hurdle of enabling into the workplace. What does it look like when someone begins to enable? I want you to fill...
by Karen Thrall | Nov 28, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN IDENTITY, HUMAN JOURNEYS, HUMANS COMMUNICATE
Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the topic of enabling. What I write in this article is my perception and perspective. I’m not a medical expert and do not have university psychological training. I’m reflecting on the word “enabling” based on my...
by Karen Thrall | Nov 15, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN ENGAGEMENT
When strolling on the beach it’s not uncommon to greet someone with a smile and be greeted in return with a smile. A word describing this kind of interaction is reciprocity. Yesterday, I needed to be focused and get some work done efficiently. Sometimes...
by Karen Thrall | Nov 7, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN ENGAGEMENT
How’s your company doing? Still doing the same advertising, marketing and promotional routines? How long has it been the same? What if you’re in a rut? And how do you know if you are in a rut? Simple. Are numbers increasing, stagnant or decreasing?...
by Karen Thrall | Nov 3, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN ENGAGEMENT, HUMAN JOURNEYS
My gregarious dreamer friend, Catherine Wemette from Washington, DC is incredibly personable; and guaranteed there will be no stranger in her midst. Catherine and I worked together at John Fluevog Shoes. and now we are chasing dreams together in the...
by Karen Thrall | Nov 3, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN ENGAGEMENT, HUMAN JOURNEYS
Meet my creative friend and daughter, Madison Padgett from Vancouver, Canada. I’ve always loved the way she writes and her perspective on life. And from the time she was 2 years old, we’ve had the most fascinating conversations. Madison engages...
by Karen Thrall | Oct 30, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN JOURNEYS
IT WAS LUCK! When I read Good To Great, it really resonated with me when Jim Collins wrote about Great Leaders believe in luck – they believe in good fortune. “Later, when asked to discuss the factors behind the enduring nature of the transformation, he...
by Karen Thrall | Oct 26, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN IDENTITY
The queen of hearts has been an icon I carry with me since Sept 30 2002. It reminds me to live from my heart, always. Where is your heart? As in, that on which your life centers? Have you ever said the phrase, “My heart says one thing, but my mind thinks...
by Karen Thrall | Oct 19, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN ENGAGEMENT
4 REASONS WE GET UPSET I was recently asked, “When we’re upset with someone is it because we see our reflection in their behavior?” Sometimes, yes, but not every time. There are four reasons we get upset with people. They mirror us. They hurt us. They...
by Karen Thrall | Oct 8, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN ENGAGEMENT
It was early in the morning. I decided to take the train to work. I wasn’t doing very well. I felt sad and chose to sit in the back corner of the car so I could stare out the window while wearing my invisible-you-can’t-see-me cloak. The doors open and I...
by Karen Thrall | Oct 2, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN IDENTITY
If you could take 6 months off with unlimited resources, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? 1. _____ Rest and relax and enjoy not having any pressing responsibilities 2. _____ Plan an outdoor excursion: _____________________________________...
by Karen Thrall | Sep 29, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN ENGAGEMENT
I want to expand my knowledge, so I added a trivia APP on my phone. The app is Quizoid, “Get smart with your phone.” I like it. I’m actually learning tidbits of information that I hadn’t known previously, and I’m enjoying it. I’ve never considered myself...
by Karen Thrall | Sep 16, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN ENGAGEMENT
Different cultures and different points of view are woven into the fabric of this world. Thanks to the world wide web, globalization is now part of our daily routine. The world is getting smaller. I’d like to share some initial thoughts about diversity....
by Karen Thrall | Sep 16, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN IDENTITY
I’ve been thinking about my line of work and what makes me so unbelievably passionate about what I do. As I reflect, there’s four non-negotiables that are important to me when working with teams, leaders and organizations. What are your non-negotiables?...
by Karen Thrall | Aug 27, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN IDENTITY, HUMAN JOURNEYS
DREAMS: CREATING YOUR DREAM WORLD By: Catherine Wemette I’d like to introduce you to my gregarious dreamer friend, Catherine Wemette from Washington, DC. Catherine and I worked together at John Fluevog Shoes. And now we are chasing dreams together in the world of...
by Karen Thrall | Aug 27, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN JOURNEYS
DREAMS: DREAM SMALL By: Madison Padgett I’d like to introduce you to my creative friend and daughter, Madison Padgett from Vancouver, Canada. I’ve always loved the way she writes and her perspective on life. And from the time she was 2 years...
by Karen Thrall | Aug 16, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN JOURNEYS
Fear. Of? ______________________________________________. Fill in the blank. My Aha Moment: Every human on the planet can write something on that line. Isn’t that incredible?! Think about that for a moment. The entire human race, from every region...
by Karen Thrall | Aug 10, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN IDENTITY
One thing I have learned over the years is this: character is more important than reputation. I’m not the only one who holds this stance. I think those who know what it’s like to endure hardship relate to me. “Character cannot be developed in ease and...
by Karen Thrall | Aug 8, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN JOURNEYS
It’s a scary moment when you open a door and enter a room where all you see is darkness; and you know you have to maneuver through its corridors without a glimpse of light. Which is scarier, not seeing or the unknown? “You must do the things you think you...
by Karen Thrall | Jul 29, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN JOURNEYS
An acorn falls from the tree. The rains come and it begins to sink into the ground. Below the surface in the quietness of earth, the roots push and break through its shell. The acorn grows; diving to deeper depths of soil. In this dark place where no...
by Karen Thrall | Jul 21, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN ENGAGEMENT
My good friend of 12 years, Nathan Rooke, is an innovator, a businessman, a family man, a humanitarian, a philanthropist, and a dreamer. Once a year we would meet for lunch and catch up on our lives and our news. It was effortless to spend time...
by Karen Thrall | Jul 14, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN IDENTITY
So, you’re in leadership. You have weighty responsibilities. People look to you for solutions and successful outcomes. Currently, you’re somewhat concerned. You’re looking at the outgoing and incoming dollars, and you’re not sure about the best plan to execute....
by Karen Thrall | Jul 6, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN JOURNEYS
There is nothing idealistic or romantic about failing. It is part of life. It is humbling. It is discouraging. It depletes us (for a moment), yet reminds us (if we so choose) to remain relentless. How bad is it, really, when we fail? Is it really that awful?...
by Karen Thrall | Jun 20, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN ENGAGEMENT
photo by: chrissardegna.com I’m concerned. I strongly believe businesses that provide any type of service need to be continually trained on how to interact with humans. Providing extraordinary service and excellent human engagement is electric! It’s...
by Karen Thrall | Jun 12, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN JOURNEYS
Been thinking about the phrase, “Don’t lose faith”. In the Disney movie, Pocahontas sings “Just Around The Riverbend”, and she asks the following question: “Do you still wait for me, dream giver? Just around the river bend?” In the New Oxford American...
by Karen Thrall | Jun 1, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN ENGAGEMENT
We have the right to be nourished. It’s a phrase that is used in one of our seminars. It’s one of five developmental stages that shapes who we become as adults. I was on a business trip in Boston, visiting the Fluevog team. It was during an autumn month....
by Karen Thrall | May 22, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN ENGAGEMENT
One of my favourite seminars to facilitate is on the topic of confrontation.We begin with a few general characteristics that typically surface and the participants choose which they prefer: deal with it now or deal with it later. Now the dialogue begins! In small...
by Karen Thrall | May 16, 2015 | ARTICLES, HUMAN IDENTITY
(photo by: Robert Faric) The question I want to know is: What do you want? I’ve observed that it’s easier for us to list what we don’t want. But can we truly list what we want? Can we speak it forth? Can we proclaim without apology? Do you think it’s...