Acccolade for the Keynote: A Time to Creep, A Time to Soar: Lessons Learned from climbing Kilimanjaro (Accolades)

“Your breakfast keynote on, A Time to Creep, A Time to Soar: Lessons learned from climbing Kilimanjaro, was perfectly pitched. Many of us were feeling apprehensive about our subsequent treetop trekking activity and the thoughts and experiences you shared, and the way in which you presented them, resulted in a shift in mindset for everyone … Read more

Postscript: Mount Kilimanjaro Climb

Dear Readers: As you now know, I summitted Mt. Kilimanjaro Jan. 26th…I thank-you for the many emails you’ve sent wishing me well, cheering me on and supporting the cause for which I climbed. [youtube]lmxhf8zIX-c[/youtube] My January 15th departure for Africa, and summit day arrival on the 26th, may have come and gone, but I invite … Read more

Nina on Safari in Kenya

Back in Kenya now. Last night, while still in Nairobi, we were taken out to a restaurant named Carnivore, where, you guessed it, pretty much nothin’ but meat was served. A little reluctantly I tried camel, ostrich, crocodile and oxen heart. A little bit “yucky,” but at least I tried the “when in Rome” perspective. … Read more

Lessons & Reflections from Zanzibar

Well all this hydrotherapy I’ve been getting, between the Indian Ocean and the salt water pool, has pretty much healed my elbow injury received when I fell during the last few moments of my nine day hike last week. It’s incredible to me to comprehend that one week has already passed since last Wednesday’s Kili … Read more

Relaxing in Zanzibar

Well it’s hard to believe that it was a week ago that the 13 of us summitted Kili, for as hard as we worked at it for seven days of ascent, that’s how lazy we’re being now, lolling about at a lovely resort in Zanzibar (healing our wounds and minor injuries). So surreal. Early morning … Read more

The Summit Push

It’s now 8pm on day 6 and I’m at 16,000 feet. This is my last ascent camp, known as Barafu Camp. Summit day is tomorrow and we start out at 3am in the morning with our target to summit at noon or 1pm. Wish me luck!!! Here’s is a pic from our camp. See the … Read more

Day 5: The Wall

Today is the 5th morning of my 7 day ascent of Mt. Kili and on my trek to the summit, I faced a daunting 800 foot vertical climb of what is known as, the Great Barranco Wall. “Pole pole” (slowly, slowly) does it. Onwards and upwards I trekked finally reaching the top. I’m having to … Read more

This is it

Well I had a poor night’s sleep last Night. Awoke at 4:20 to the sound of a rooster crowing (that then continued on and off til sundown!) A few minutes later the sounds of faithful Muslims’ calling prayers, then, shortly afterwards, the repetitive striking of a nearby Hindu temple bell. I surrendered to the dual … Read more

The Eve of the Ascent

Seven hour bus ride today from Nairobi, Kenya to Moshi, Tanzania, crossing rural Africa in a way classic to what you might see on a travel or history tv channel or read in a magazine, e.g National Geographic. We experienced moments of adventure and uncertainty at the border and that’s all I have to say … Read more

Out of Africa – Kenya

A picture perfect Kenyan morning breakfasting in the cafe and strolling the university grounds, noting all kinds of birds and trees, including a fan shaped one called an East West tree, for no matter how this tree’s seed is planted it will only spread east west. interesting, eh? Afterwards, we visited a children ‘s school … Read more

Toronto Departure and Arrival in Africa

Sunday Night, Jan. 16, great flight(s)! Twenty-two hours of travel but here now. Second leg was spectacular from the clear blue and sunny sky that I saw from my window–second of two seven hour flights. Saw from my window Paris, the Italian and French Alps, the entire sunny west coast of Italy–the whole length…Genoa, Naples, … Read more

Maximizing the Probability of Reaching Your 5,882 Metre/19,298 Foot “Summit”

Saturday, January 8th to Thursday, January 13th, inclusive Well this is it my friends, the metaphoric 11th hour. And as for me? I’ve completely scaled back any walking or hiking now. Months ago I read that this is the advice offered up by modern-day coaches of elite athletes. Sounds good to me! However, I’m not … Read more

A Trail To Remember…

or, How I Almost Got Caught “With My Pants Down”! Because I was so cold last time I hiked Hockley, this day I decided to dress extra warmly. I pretty much threw on every winter hiking garment I owned! For some strange reason we all compare notes before we start off on our hikes, while … Read more

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

Well it’s “crunch, crunch” time, and I don’t mean the sound of the snow underfoot at Rattlesnake Point this past weekend. I mean less than seven weeks to go until Kili departure. I’m feeling it now…the need to focus on strengthening even further those muscle groups that will see me up and down the mountain … Read more

Feel the Pain (or Cold?) and Do it Anyway

Another heavy-duty hiking weekend completed, now. Saturday, November 20th, just a 7K urban hike through west-end Toronto’s High Park. The real story, however, is Sunday, November 21st’s trek. On Sunday morning, I awoke in the predawn with a sure-fired sore throat. Although not fully conscious, I recollect thinking, “Uh oh, I simply can’t get sick…not … Read more

Buck Up for an Urban Surprise

On Sunday, November 14 we chose to walk a quicker, urban trail that, although wouldn’t give us much in the way of incline or rough terrain training, would help us log some serious “Ks”. And so we hiked the “Discovery Trail” along the Humber River, picking the path up in suburban Toronto’s/Etobicoke’s James Gardens and … Read more

Back in the saddle again

On Saturday, October 30, 2010 I started back with my personal trainer, Cecilia Gauvin. She’s fabulous! What an inspiring, loving, yet gentle, “butt-kicker” she is! I finally returned after 6 weeks off, due to my back injury (tripping on those pillows in my bedroom a few weeks back, the story around which I shared in … Read more

Projects that are “bigger than a breadbox”, or, “How much shopping is too much shopping?”

On Friday, October 29, 2010, I went shopping for more hiking clothing. I’ve discovered a new passion and activity that I intend to embrace all the rest of my days, so I’m fine with the big initial outlay of funds for appropriate gear and clothing but, boy, I seem to need, “one more thing, one … Read more

Gift of Rainy Day Hikes

Last Sunday, October 24, 2010, I hiked my longest hike (kilometer-wise/17K) to date, along Rattlesnake Point/Crawford Lake Portion of Ontario’s spectacular Bruce Trail. Drove there in the sopping rain at 7 a.m. It rained all Saturday night. The kind of rain you can hear through closed windows. The kind that wakes you up. Which it … Read more

Busting the Myth: Who, you climb a mountain??? Honey, you’re not the type!

I’m having some fun telling certain people I’m climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro because some people (who don’t know me well enough, perhaps), think they’ve got me all figured out; as such, they just can’t fathom me doing something so “out-doors-y” as climbing the world’s tallest freestanding mountain. In some people’s minds, I’m just, “not the type” … Read more

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

My Dear Working Wisdom subscribers, clients (and potential clients), colleagues, friends and anyone who may have just now found their way, serendipitously, to my website and blog! I have BIG personal news that I so wish to share with you! In January 2011 I will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and am raising funds for a … Read more

The Motivation to Write

Three of my friends are currently fretting over the writing of their books, or rather, their lack of it. I too know this feeling from time-to-time. An idea can brew around in one’s head for quite a while, but getting those first few words down are always the hardest, especially when you feel your motivation … Read more

Three Questions

by Leo Tolstoy One day it occurred to a certain emperor that if he only knew the answer to three questions, he would never stray in any matter. What is the best time to do each thing? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at … Read more

Funny Days

My darling 12 and a half year old Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, Angus, was diagnosed with terminal, inoperable Oral Cancer on August 6, 2009, but is still in fine enough shape for now to be with us a while longer. He’s just in need of some special consideration and TLC. I’ve started pureeing Angus’ food in … Read more

The Sound of Service Excellence

Are professional graces and manners–polite on-the-job behaviours and attitudes once thought a matter of “common decency”–going the way of current stock markets? Are many workers, of all stripes and in all industries, experiencing such a sense of smoldering stress that they either cannot or will not demonstrate anything beyond the bare basic technicalities of their … Read more

Using Your Contacts and Actually Asking for What You Want

The other day a beautifully dressed young man, attired in full business regalia, knocked on my door wishing to make his professional introductions as a newly minted financial advisor with a well known financial institution. He was inspired to try the good old fashioned, door-to-door approach of stirring the pot to secure new clients. Funnily … Read more

Back-to-School and Back-to-Professional Conferences:

How to get the best bang for your conference buck Here it comes…almost back-to-school time once again, and time for something else, too! The professional conference season–autumn meetings and beyond–is almost upon us, as well. Attending such events offer up such a deluge of information that, as one colleague expresses, “It feels like you’ve just … Read more

PowerPoint Bored’em

I recently was the closing speaker at two events where speaker after speaker after speaker–all senior executive-types–read, word-for-word from their scripts, while hiding behind the podium in half-light and letting the bells and whistles of PowerPoint presentations deliver the main thrust of their messages. One “reader” would have been bad enough, but four? five? and … Read more

Happy Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day to you! This date marks the second anniversary of the launch of my first book, Getting Passion Out of Your Profession: How to keep loving your living…come what may. And what a passionate year it’s been, indeed, fulfilling a record number of client demands and engagements for my conference keynote and workshop … Read more

Coping With the Last Stretch of 2007: a.k.a. Workplace Stress Time’s Last Hurrah!

Okay, this is it. Don’t get scared. Here we are–finally!–the last of 2007. For many, this week marks the home stretch before holy-days and vacation time. For others, the end of December merely represents a couple of extra days off work, followed by the stress of holding down the organization’s fort while coping with the … Read more

Intrapreneurial Networking Masters

Organizations have embraced teamwork for at least the past two decades. Now comes the importance of recognizing the art of internal and “on purpose” networking. Many people still think networking is an on-the-side, personal activity for career pathing beyond their current positions and organizations, but employee dedication to broadening personal influence and wisdom, while still … Read more

Appreciating Staff, Colleagues and Yourself!

Sometimes, in some “sick” corporate cultures (bewildering as it may seem), expressions of staff appreciation rarely, if ever, occur. What’s an individual to do? It’s nice, and even feeds the soul, when your employer acknowledges and appreciates your professional gifts and talents but, if they are not being recognized, at least acknowledge them for yourself…it … Read more

“The Experience starts now!” At least that’s what they promised

I traded in my old modem for a new one today; this required a visit to one of my service provider’s retail outlets. Now I’m in “the business” of championing service excellence, employee motivation, how to feel and how to demonstrate authentic passion for your profession (whatever it is you “do” for a living), so, … Read more

Blinding Flashes of the Obvious

Have you ever thrashed around in the emotional pain of indecision, or found yourself suffering from “paralysis of analysis” regarding a particular personal or professional issue or choice? Of course you have. Everyone “goes there” at some time or another, don’t they? And–thank goodness–sooner or later we all find our way through the instability of … Read more

From the frying pan into the fire

I cut my first teeth (years and years ago) in organizational development under the banner of a large organization–large enough to sustain its own intimate coral of management development workshop facilitators. After a few years I felt under appreciated, under recognized and under utilized, therefore I quietly–as most do in such cases–started an external job … Read more

The Flight from Hell and Teamwork Lessons Learned from Hurricane Alex

Back on April 26, 2007 I blogged about the challenges and down-right fright of flying in small, weight-imblanced planes and drew parallels between imbalanced planes and imbalanced work lives. I also mentioned–in that blog–another air-bourne fright I experienced trying to get home from a speaking engagement in the Bahamas during the first hours of 2004’s … Read more

The Sanjaya Factor

What is it? Well here’s one of my dirty-little secrets…I watch American Idol. Yup–Religiously. It started off as something that my daughter and I could sit down together and watch and have a laugh and be entertained, chat, etc. And then she got bored and abandoned ship (weeks and weeks ago). What became of me? … Read more

Toying with a digital scale and the “weight of the world”

With amazing regularity I read newspaper articles and the likes, about workplace stress getting the better of workers and undermining maximum workplace productivity. These articles always put the blame on the stresses of the job, but I’ve noticed something quite interesting about stress and the seeming “weight of the world” bearing down on me, while … Read more

What comes first…the chicken or the egg…the job or the passion?

“Age may wrinkle the face, but lack of enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”, so says Samuel Ulman. So how are you protecting your working soul from “wrinkles”, these mid-winter days? Where are you at regarding your daily stores of enthusiasm for all you do on-the-job? No energy for enthusiasm in these doldrums days of seemingly endless … Read more

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