Cynthia D’Amour on Leadership and Life

  Meant no sleep.
I was excited yesterday about my volunteer leader stimulus program.

My head has been whirling.
Feedback strong.
Nerves on edge with the stretch.

Decided to work off the energy that afternoon.

Zinging quite a bit.
Did a double workout.
Ahh relief.

I crawled home.

Had a relaxing evening.
Felt sleepy.
Went to bed.

There I discovered my error of judgment.

The extra exercise did give [...]

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  One of my favorite songs. 
Dr. Clotaire Rapaille says the impossible dream is part of my American imprint.

As Americans we love to dream big.
And then make it happen.
According to his culture code research.

I heard Clotaire speak last week.

Part of the UM School of Art & Design Penny Stamp Lectures.
Offered free to the community.
Always makes [...]

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   Darn Bunny!
I woke up Sunday morning to sunshine.

It was Easter.
I smiled remembering the thrill of Easter baskets at the breakfast table.
Overflowing with chocolate bunnies and eggs.

I was wistful as I went down the stairs…

Did I believe in magic?
Could the Bunny have left some chocolate eggs for me?
On my kitchen table?

I turned the corner into the [...]

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   Can’t wait for the next one.
On Wednesday, I attended my first Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw meeting.

It’s designed for established business owners.
Launched by a few women who didn’t find what they needed in other groups.
Focus this month was sales.

It was not your usual boring business meeting.

Assigned each table sales subtopics such as finding leads or closing [...]

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   Do you know what matters?
It happened again…

I’m on a committee.
We were asked to give feedback on an issue.
Had a rousing conversation.

And then dead silence.

What happened?
Did the chair share our thoughts?
Did anything happen as a result?

Paul Harvey always gave the rest of the story.

Well we want it too!
Did our time matter?
Don’t we deserve to know [...]

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   And shook with fear.
Raindrop didn’t understand what was going on.

One minute I was screaming loudly.
The next had tears streaming.
Then moaning again.

My focus was on Michigan State losing the NCAA Championship game.

Her focus was on me.
What was wrong with the alpha dog?
Raindrop didn’t know what to do.

She ran to her “safe spot” near the kitchen.

Wouldn’t come out [...]

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  It’s just trash now.
This week we got six fliers from the same company.

Two individually rubberbanded to our porch handrail. (UGH!)
Four in our newspaper box.
But not delivered with the paper.

All from a pizza place from the next city over.

Why are they farming my neighborhood?
One of the best independent pizza places is a block away.
And a dozen other [...]

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   But I did.
I have hit my fill for online communities.

I really don’t want to join another.
I’m happy with what I’ve got.
I don’t have any time to invest in others.

It’s more than just the time issue.

I’m tired of asking people to be my friend.
Many communities don’t have enough people to succeed.
Why make the effort?

I cringe [...]

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