Cynthia D’Amour on Leadership and Life

   I miss her.
Raindrop is at Camp Grandma this week.

Raindrop’s deathly afraid of fireworks.
They started going off last weekend in our neighborhood.
My parents live in a less explosive area.

I didn’t realize how much I would miss Raindrop.

Sure, she sits and stares at me when I work from home.
And we have early morning negotiations.
(She lets me [...]

Filed under: Savvy Leadership | No Comments »

   Now!
I started working at 5:30 AM today.

I have a lot on my to-do list.
Seven hours later I’m grumpy and hungry.
(Time flies when you’re having fun.)

I stop for a moment.

James leaves to pick up lunch.
I grab something to drink.
And then it happened…

My universe shifted.

A voice in my head bellowed.
“Ma’am step away from the computer.”
Like a cop trying [...]

Filed under: Savvy Leadership | No Comments »

 No one saw me - again.
Just tried to participate in another chat on Twitter.

No luck.
No matter what I tried.
I was barred from playing somehow.

I did reach out for help.

@JeffHurt gave me some advice.
Alerted others.
And at least made me feel noticed.

That said, I missed out AGAIN.

It was an interesting discussion.
I made some great comments.
Which no one saw!

I don’t have [...]

Filed under: Getting More Members Involved, Savvy Leadership | 2 Comments »

   Surprise!
Last week I facilitated ADA’s Leadership Institute.

It was my fourth year.
I keep the energy pumped up.
And run the front of the room.

Periodically during each day I face a corporate challenge.

Partners and sponsors give 10-15 minute talks.
I listen for connections to previous general session speakers.
Showcase my discovery as soon as they stop speaking.

“Did you notice this partner [...]

Filed under: Savvy Leadership, Sponsors | No Comments »

   My heart sunk.
James picked me up at the airport late last night.

I had been going for five days.
Facilitated ADA’s Leadership Institute.
Very tired and dreaming of bed.

“I’ve got some bad news…”

I clenched - who died or was sick?
Mom? Dad? Raindrop?
Whew! All were alive.

Then James told me Raindrop was attacked by another dog on Saturday.

The [...]

Filed under: Adventures of Raindrop, Savvy Leadership | 3 Comments »

  Huh?
Just got an email from a woman I didn’t know.

She offered to let me use her article on potty training accidents.
For my Active Member Minute e-zine.
What’s that got to do with Chapter Leaders and their success?

Here’s the main advice for accidents…

Be comforting.
Don’t despair.
Be ready to clean up.

Why did she send this to me?

It’s a [...]

Filed under: Savvy Leadership, Volunteers | No Comments »

   Or my birthday!
It a sweet morning…

Woke up early with no problem.
Enjoyed the birdsong outside my window.
Smiled at the beauty of my special day.

I started down the steps to launch my new year.

And literally went flying.
Thump, thump, thump!
I fell halfway down the stairs.

I was stunned.

In pain.
And thankful grasping the railing broke my fall.
I was also [...]

Filed under: Board challenges, Savvy Leadership | 7 Comments »

   Will you?
I’ve been struggling with working too much.

Lots of exciting things going on.
The Lazy Leader Transforms America tour efforts launched.
And I’m traveling to speak quite a bit.

I’ll always have stuff like that going on.

But I’m putting in a lot of extra time too.
Hours seem to expand geometrically.
18 hour days are not shockers.

I’m tired of it.

And think I [...]

Filed under: Lazy Leader Road Show, Savvy Leadership | 2 Comments »