Cynthia D’Amour on Leadership and Life

Yuck!
I’m staying in a lovely hotel.

On a non-smoking floor.
In a room with a great bed.
And smoky towels.

I noticed the first time I walked past the bathroom.

I could smell smoke - not too strong.
Wondered if I was being haunted by a ghost?
Or the hotel was burning down?

I knew it wasn’t a ghost.

Only my grandfathers smoked.
And [...]

Filed under: Rants, Savvy Leadership | No Comments »

Again.
After a long 12-hour day of flying, I finally arrived at my destination.

Washington, DC.
Only one last leg to my bed for the night.
A simple, short cab ride.

Then I got assigned to my cab.

The driver didn’t seem the brightest bulb.
But I was very tired.
So who was I to wonder?

As we left the airport, the real [...]

Filed under: Board challenges | No Comments »

Sort of.
Yesterday I fly to Vegas.

I was upgraded to first class.
(Always a lucky day in my book.)
And there was more.

It happened near the end of the flight.

The flight attendants were quite excited.
The CEO of the Golden Gate Casino was on the plane.
He had a gift for all the folks flying - a $25 chip [...]

Filed under: Recruiting New Members | No Comments »

   ARGH!
I’m wondering if it’s something to do with me having the flu?

Technology is usually really good to me.
Except when I blew up three microphones during a 30-minute keynote in Lousiana at a Chamber of Commerce Annual Breakfast Meeting.
(I was featured on the news three times that day!)

Today technology is driving me nuts.

I tried to [...]

Filed under: Board challenges, Rants | No Comments »

Raindrop here.
Mom has flu.

She brought it back from PCMA.
Tried to scare if off by dressing up yesterday.
It didn’t work.

Today it’s hitting hard.

She doesn’t look good.
Complains a lot.
She even rescheduled some appointments.

I’m trying to get her to go back to bed.

She laid down a while ago.
I hopped on her feet.
Tried to anchor her there.

She got [...]

Filed under: Adventures of Raindrop, Savvy Leadership | No Comments »

   At least my feet did!
Just spent the week in Vegas.

At PCMA convention.
Miles of walking to anything.
And everything.

First day there I almost gave up.

Arrived in Vegas with lingering plantar fasciitus.
Two miles into a stroll on the strip I hurt.
Bad.

Luckily we were almost to the mall.

Found The Walking Company.
Caters to healthy shoes.
My prayers were answered.

Walked out [...]

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

Imagine this…
You are about to fly to a convention.

Gone for almost a week.
Several thousand attendees.
Friends you want to connect with.

After going through airport security, you discover something is missing.

Panicked, you paw through your pockets.
Empty your backpack.
Do it again and again.

You realize you left your cell phone at home. Do you…

Proclaim it’s a great time [...]

Filed under: Savvy Leadership | No Comments »

   You?
Yesterday, on January 4th I went big.

I announced my Lazy Leader Road Show.
20 cites/dates across America.
Teaching leaders how to create a surplus of volunteers.

The biggest thing I’ve done…

My team is running the events.
We are leading the promotions.
I’m taking the Lazy Leader approach to the local chapters.

My stomach did a rhumba for much of the [...]

Filed under: Board challenges | 2 Comments »