Cynthia D’Amour on Leadership and Life

   Having fun.
How far will you go to get attention?

Raise your hand?
Speak up?
Play a harmonica while dancing on a street corner during rush hour holding a wrench-shaped sign promoting your company?

I saw the promoter last week.

In Lakewood CO.
Dancing for all he was worth.
Jamming on his harmonica.

He amused rush hour drivers.

With his joyful antics.
Definitely made me smile.
(In spite [...]

Filed under: Getting More Members Involved, Recruiting New Members | 1 Comment »

   What do you think?
On Saturday James and I ran errands.

Gone for a few hours.
Pulled in our driveway.
Noticed a big white flag on our door.

A political candidate stopped by.

We weren’t around.
So he left his literature.
Stuck in our screen door at face height.

I was peeved…

His action told others we weren’t home.
What if we were on vacation?
If we [...]

Filed under: Board challenges | 4 Comments »

   It’s been a long week.
The problem began last Sunday.

Flew to Denver.
For several days with a client.
Very full days.

Within a matter of hours, the problem hit.

My lungs were heavy.
And so was my head.
Oh the pain…

Walking to the car left me breathless.

(Almost worse than working out with Joy Queen of Torture!)
It was a total drag.
And created [...]

Filed under: Savvy Leadership, Volunteers | No Comments »

   If you keep secrets.
Saw an ad for a local organization.

Was excited with their offer.
Didn’t realize they did the service promoted.
Something I’d been looking for.

The ad told me to go to the website for details.

So I did.
And found nothing about the service.
Not on the front page - or any other page.

I even tried my hand [...]

Filed under: Board challenges, Keeping members | 2 Comments »

   Yet all together.
Today I saw a dad and two sons.

Eating lunch together.
At a nice restaurant.
Seated in the extra special area.

They did not talk for the bulk of lunch.

All three had iPhones.
Consumed by them.
Ignoring each other.

They didn’t seem angry with each other.

Just busy.
Typing away.
Shoving food in their mouths.

At the end, the two boys got up [...]

Filed under: Community building, Savvy Leadership | No Comments »

   And got focused.
I spent the last week in white space.

Unplugged from my normal pace.
Focused on me.
Creating space to think.

I needed the breathing space - desperately.

When I take it.
I grow leaps and bounds.
New ideas take my biz to next level.

I don’t take it often enough.

I haven’t unplugged like this in years.
It felt good.
A buffet of Miracle [...]

Filed under: Keeping members | No Comments »

   Whew!
This weekend I hit a turning point in my new exercise program.

First month complete.
No massive transformations apparent.
Not feeling the gym.

I wondered if it was worth the time investment.

Two hours a day.
Pain that followed.
For what?

Began to talk myself out of it.

The gym membership was month-to-month.
I’m traveling a ton in May.
Lots to do and little time.

Shifting [...]

Filed under: Board challenges, Cynthia's Fitness Adventure | 2 Comments »