Cynthia D’Amour on Leadership and Life

 In the moment I was honest.
I feel sort of goofy about my rant last night.

The feelings were real.
The perspective was off.
There are worse things in the world than only getting half of one’s leftovers.

I’m not totally sure what ticked me off.

I had had a nice day.
I’m usually pretty laid back.
Something did though.

Major lesson from the [...]

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And the skunk won.
Raindrop here.
Thanksgiving is usually one of my favorite days - this year was a different story.
We started out at Grandma and Grandpa’s.

Lots of good food.
Got to play with my cousin Tootie.
Life was good.

Then we went over to Aunt Angie’s and Uncle Dave’s.

No other dogs or little kids.
I was the center of [...]

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   May be closer than you think.
With Thanksgiving less than 24 hours away, the holiday excitement is growing by leaps and bounds.

Facebook updates bubble with happy expectations.
The grocery stores are jam-packed.
The planes are stuffed to the gills.

And yet, according to Carol Kivler of Courageous Recovery, it’s important to remember holiday time is not happy time [...]

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  I recently renewed my dues.
(You can guess with which association)
On Thursday afternoon, I got an email thanking me for renewing.

Form letter.
Links to a variety of “benefits”
Included my member number (which I never use)

On Friday, I got another email thanking me for renewing.

It gushed more - BUT did not use my name.
Urged use of “plethora of [...]

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   Raindrop here.
Mom has been spending too much time working.

Leaves me behind with Dad for days.
Makes me be quiet while she teaches online.
Lets the machine sit in her lap - instead of me!

Enough is enough.

She’s in Ann Arbor this weekend.
Dad is going to be at meetings both days.
She’s mine!

It’s time for a girls’ weekend.

Just me [...]

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  I was totally shocked!
Hasn’t happened in a very, very long time - and wasn’t a professional call.
A woman called me wanting advice.

She heard me speak several years ago.
Thought I could help her out.
I took the call.

Seems she was booked to facilitate a chapter retreat.

Focus: Getting more members involved.
Issue: She doesn’t know a lot about [...]

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   From my friends!
Today I finally turned in the manuscript for my new book, The Lazy Leader’s Guide to Outrageous Results.

In the book I take on the 110% martyr culture for volunteer leaders.
It’s the seventh - and best book I’ve written to date.
(You can check out two chapters at http://tinyurl.com/lazyprepub )

The process for this book [...]

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 What you need to know.
As a leader, you may find you have volunteers who are depressed.

They may struggle to function in their role for you.
The upcoming holidays can make it even more challenging.

Do you know what you are supposed to do when depression strikes your volunteers or members?

Should you try to cheer them up?
Do you [...]

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