Silence.

That is where we find gold.

Not because your grandpa told you so as a kid.

But because it allows for conversations to go so much deeper than if you would to try to fill the void with words – as we usually do.

Happy Lunar New Year!

It’s the year of the snake.

Wisdom. Strategy. Transformation.

All qualities associated with this animal.

All qualities for us to bring out more in ourselves this year.

Are you ready to shed your skin? To step into the new. The unknown. The realm that brings you closer to where you want to be?

Goosebumps. 

The sight gave me actual goosebumps.

And then it hit me: this happens every time.

After around the third conversation.

Not the goosebumps.  That’s just me.  Totally beside the point.

Can I still be me? 

This has got to be one of the questions I get most from people who work with me as they move up the corporate career ladder.

Why?

Because they have seen – and still see – so many examples around them of who they do not want to be.  Leaders who are at the level they want to be at acting in ways that makes them cringe.