SusanFee.com

PLEASE ACCEPT THIS GIFT

2009-11-05T05:54:00.000-08:00

The Halloween candy hasn't had a chance to go stale and the Christmas decorations are up! Wow, this year has been long is some ways and fast in others. The economy has affected many of you, I know. Businesses every where took a hit, yet we're still plugging along.

I want to give a sincere thank you to all of you who have continued to do business with me in one way or another through this time. Some of you have personally called me to let me know that when business picks up again, you will use my services. Now that's loyalty! Thank you.

If you are wanting to thank others who have continued to do business with you, I want to help. Tips booklets are a valuable yet economical way give a personalized gift. A perfect topic for just about every one at this time of year is Building Resiliency. Or perhaps other topics such as Positive First Impression, Dealing with Difficult People, or Secrets of Successful Presentations better suit your needs.

By ordering ten or more, the price drops to just $2.50 each. There's room on the cover or inside to add a personalized sticker or note. And, here's the best part. As my gift to you, for every ten you order, I will give you two more for free! Just place your order through my website, then send me an email mentioning my blog offer, and I'll make sure you receive your bonus booklets.

Thanks to all, and I hope this helps makes the end of the year a little bit easier for you!

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

2009-10-15T03:12:00.001-07:00

This video is a great example of changing behavior by reinforcing positive habits. What effect do you think this would have on health care reform?

Check it out here!

DOING THE LUCY WIGGLE

2009-09-07T05:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's where I eat my words! (Or, I learn not to post declarations that will burn me later). Here's the very short story of how within two months, I went from, "We are not getting a dog," to owning a dog.

We met Lucy. End of story.

Lucy came into our lives as a foster dog. She had been abused by her former owner, needed medicine for her liver disease, and a lot of attention. We could barely find her eyes because her fur was so long and matted. However, we quickly learned which end was what when she performed the "Lucy Wiggle." That's the unbelievably overjoyed, ecstatically happy dance she performs every time you enter the room - even if you were just there two minutes ago. Now, our whole family does the Lucy Wiggle. It's a great stress reliever, really.

After nursing Lucy back to health, we turned her back into the shelter so she could be adopted, just like we had agreed. Then we went on our summer vacation and my daughter cried every day. We all missed her. Halfway through vacation, the Animal Protective League of Cleveland called to tell us that past adoption efforts had failed and Lucy was ours if we wanted her.

Lucy has embedded herself into our hearts, and taught me a lesson about speaking in extremes. Here she is - before and after grooming:

Lucy is a Yorkie-Poo combo. Here she is just before getting groomed.

Wow! Let's all do the Lucy Wiggle!

My daughter and Lucy both found a spot of sunshine streaming through our front door to share an afternoon nap.

When I spotted this scene, I knew without a doubt that we had made the right choice.

SANDY & ME

2009-06-12T07:05:00.000-07:00

You may be familiar with the book, Marley & Me about a lovable yet out-of-control lab and the family that adopted him. Their story spanned years. My story takes place in two weeks because frankly, it's all I can take.

Meet Sandy, a lovable yet completely out-of-control lab mutt. Our family is fostering her through the Cleveland Animal Protective League where we are weekly volunteers. Sandy has mange (skin disease) and is staying with us temporarily until she heals. Our daughter, like most kids, was convinced she wanted a dog. This experience has taught her that what she really wanted was a trained dog, and preferably one that does need to go out at 6:00 a.m.

Sandy has an affinity for chasing birds, frogs, rabbits, deer, dogs, people and cars. She chewed through her harness, urinated on my carpet, put a 6-inch tear in the kitchen linoleum and taught us a lot about dealing with difficult behaviors.

Just like a lot of difficult people, Sandy appeared well-behaved at first. Then slowly, her true personality appeared. She bit me several times. I'm sure she'd justify it as "just playing" but the scars and bruises on my forearms tell a different story. (If she was a difficult person, she might accuse me of being too sensitive.)

Sandy on a rabbit hunt

For all her challenging qualities, Sandy has a lot of redeeming ones too. Besides being cute, she made my daughter realize she didn't want to be a dog owner after all. And, after walking Sandy three times a day, I'm sporting some pretty impressive biceps!

My daughter learning the realities of owning a dog!

COLLEGE GRADUATION RATES EARNS "F"

2009-06-05T03:03:00.000-07:00

They may be called Four-Year Universities, but the reality is we should call them Six Years or Longer. A new study conducted by The American Enterprise Institute compared federally reported graduation rates at 1,385 schools. They found that only 53.7 percent of first-time, full-time students enrolled in the fall of 2001 graduated from the same institution in 2007.
The study does not account for students who transfer, nor does it suggest why students drop out or offer solutions.

Having worked in a college setting for two years, I can tell you that one reason students drop out or transfer is because of social difficulties. So much emphasis is placed on getting academically prepared, and that's definitely important. But, many students sink or swim based on making friends and getting along with roommates. Transferring schools is costly, both financially and in terms of lost time.

If you're the parent or grandparent of a soon-to-be college freshman, please encourage him or her to think about how conflicts with roommates will be solved. Most say they'll "deal with it if it happens." They have no plan and no conflict resolution skills. If that's the case, clean out your basement. Your kid may be coming home!

I just updated my survival guide for managing such situations called My Roommate Is Driving Me Crazy! It offers over 250 conversation starters and solutions for solving roommate difficulties. These are skills everyone needs, no matter how long it takes to graduate! You can purchase it by clicking on the link above. It comes in two versions, hard copy or e-book. Include a copy as a gift when you're packing sheets and toilet paper - it'll come in just as handy!

FUN IN ANY LANGUAGE

2009-05-08T03:46:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness for Dora the Explorer! Parents may be familiar with the children's TV show that features a bilingual kindergartner who explores the jungles of Costa Rica with a map, backpack, compass, and friendly monkey. It's also helpful for adults who never learned a foreign language and will spend a week living with a family that speaks no English.

I'm embarrassed to say that the only Spanish I know came from watching that show with my daughter five years ago. Even so, our "voluntoursim" (volunteer + tourism) adventure in Costa Rica was a great success! We worked for Proyecto Asis, a wildlife refuge in San Carlos and lived with host family. In between, we experienced other parts of Costa Rica including ziplining and white water rafting.

For me, the best part was total cultural immersion with the host family. Somehow, we found a way to communicate in a mutual language that involved a lot of acting out of words. We learned that both families knew how to play the same card games, and spent our nights around the kitchen table playing Gin Rummy. While we were there life happend: a neighbor died and we celebrated my birthday. Anybody can experience the same tourist traps in a city, but those moments with our family were totally unique to us and cannot be duplicated. If you and your family think you might like to take a similar trip, check out Tropical Adventures.

Here are a few of the highlights of our trip:
We spent one night way up in the trees at the Tree House Resort. What an awesome experience to wake up surrounded by the tops of trees and a symphony of birds.

My daughter, Gabrielle with our host family's children and cousin as they headed off for school.

That's me ziplining in the jungle. Did you hear me scream?

My daughter, Gabrielle feeding a Kinkajou at the Wildlife Refuge.

Well, someone has to clean the cage of Perla, a white-lipped pecary!

Cooling off with a little white water rafting. I'm in front on the right, and my daughter is in the back - she held her own!

I can't think of a better way to have spent my 45th birthday! What a gift it was to experience the generosity of this family.

RIDING THE WAVES!

2009-03-29T15:31:00.001-07:00

Just had to post this photo from my visit to the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. That's me in front, on the left. What an awesome time I had at this facility! Just before this photo was taken, I rode my first 1,000 foot zip line (and screamed the whole way!). I had never white water rafted before either, so I was plenty nervous.

What I love about this photo are the expressions on each woman's face. Pure exhilaration. Pure joy! It is a reminder to me how important it is to live in moment, even during turbulent times. It's still possible, and actually necessary to have a little fun.

RELATIONAL AGGRESSION TIPS FOR GIRLS AND PARENTS

2009-03-16T12:21:00.000-07:00

On Saturday March 21st, the Cleveland Plain Dealer is planning to run a story by reporter Sarah Crump on relational aggression. I've emailed and spoken with Sarah several times and it appears she will be writing a very well-researched and helpful piece.

At the time the story comes out, I will be attending the American Counseling Association conference, after having spoken at the Tri-State Camping Conference on this very issue. For parents whose girls attend camp, you know that the same issues can take place there too. Just in case parents may be searching for additional information, I wanted to post some tips I shared with Sarah Crump and offer other resources.

First, for girls who are being targeted, here are some tips:

• Determine what you control. You have no control over other people and circumstances. But, you have full control of how you respond. Your response can influence any situation therefore you’re not helpless.

• Choose your response. If another girl is being mean to you, there are four ways to respond: ignore her, be mean back, talk to her face-to-face, or tell an adult. While I'm not encouraging being mean back, I'm being honest in saying that it is an option. Most likely, you've already tried it. Now, it's time to honestly assess the best choice.

• Know the pros and cons. Ignoring a situation may work, but if things continue or get worse, it’s time for another response.

Being mean back may feel good in the moment, but it can also escalate bad feelings. Is it worth it?

Talking face-to-face can increase understanding but doesn’t guarantee cooperation or an apology.

If you’re feeling stuck, the situation is rapidly growing worse, or someone is in danger of being harmed, it’s time to ask an adult for help. Specify the help you want, especially if you fear the adult will take over.

• Express your stress. We make better decisions when we’re calm. Manage your stress daily through exercise, pursuing hobbies, journaling, talking to a trusted adult, prayer or meditation.

• Expand your friendships. Develop new friendships so that you’re not relying on one person. Measure healthy friendships by asking yourself, “After I spend time with this friend, how do I feel about myself?” If the answer isn’t positive, neither is the friendship.

Parents, if your daughter is a target of relational aggression, here are ways you can support her:

• Listen with empathy. Allow your daughter to describe her situation and express her feelings without interrupting, correcting, or minimizing. She needs to feel heard and at the same time, talking out loud helps her understand herself.

• Coach, don’t solve. Avoid taking over. Help your daughter sort through her options, but be careful about solving her problems. This is her chance to learn valuable conflict resolution skills.

• Skip empty platitudes. Telling girls, “Just ignore it,” or “That’s just how girls are,” leaves them feeling minimized and hopeless.

• Ask empowering questions. After your daughter explains her situation ask her, “What do want to do about this?” Help her weigh the pros and cons of her response. Ask her, “What part of this situation do you feel you can control?” to help her set reasonable expectations.

• Support healthy coping skills. Help your daughter develop healthy ways to manage stress such as exercise, hobbies, journaling, volunteering, faith, and expanding social connections.

I've posted a few videos on YouTube that you may find helpful. Also, check out my website for my E-Seminar BFF! (Except When We're Not): A Parent's Guide to Helping Girls Develop Healthy Friendships.

Finally, if you or your daughter would like to see me for counseling, please contact Lakeshore Educational & Counseling Services at 800-600-5327.

STAND OUT IN JOB INTERVIEWS

2009-02-28T03:27:00.000-08:00

The current economy is causing many people to brush up on their job interview skills. As you know, in a competitive marketplace, you're lucky to even land an interview. If you do, you certainly want to make a strong, positive impression. Here are five interview tips from my appearance on WKYC's Good Company (watch video).

1. Be consistent. Know how you want to come across and communicate that message consistently in every aspect of your communication. Consider your online social networking, how you answer the phone, voice mail message, ring tone, email signature, and of course how you communicate in person. You are always "on." Your job may not come from the interview, but from someone who you meet socially. Project a professional image in all circumstances.

2. Develop a five-point agenda. Based on the needs of the position, develop five strong talking points that you can support with specific examples that clearly illustrate why you are a good match. If you're going for a sales position, scan your personal history for examples of working with tough customers or winning over big sales. Supporting your strengths with a story makes you memorable and demonstrates proof of your skills.

3. Tell your story in 60-seconds or less. Be able to tell the above agenda points briefly! Attention-span is short and you must be compelling. Practice delivering your stories out loud. The last thing you want to do is ramble.

4. Focus on benefits. How will you benefit this company? People often make the mistake of saying why the job would be good for them, not the other way around. If you can't say how you could benefit the company or organization, don't bother interviewing.

5. Send a handwritten thank you note. Want to really stand out? Send an "old-fashioned" handwritten thank you note to the interviewer and the receptionist. Offer specific details from the conversation and recap. Why the receptionist? Because that person's opinion of you matters a great deal. If you were rude or unprofessional with him or her, then turned it on with the interviewer, the receptionist will often share this observation. Of course, check the spelling of names. One misspelling can ruin the whole effect!

Find more tips in my booklet, Positive First Impressions: 83 Ways to Establish Confidence, Competence, and Trust.

CALL TO SERVICE

2009-01-21T12:08:00.000-08:00

Change has come to America, but what about you? In his inaugural address, President Obama challenged Americans to roll up our sleeves and get to work in the name of service. Every where I go, I'm hearing people talk excitedly about how they'd like to contribute. They want to do something. What about you?

There are so many worthy projects, so many needs here and worldwide, that I think some people don't know where to start. The problems are so overwhelming, so instead, we do nothing.

If that's you, I'd like to add my own challenge: Start to make positive changes in your own circle of friends and family. I'm not talking about charity, but making connections, doing good deeds, and offering kind words. What if we just concentrated on being better spouses, parents, co-workers, and neighbors? I'm convinced that the change we're all looking for will come from within and move to larger circles. It's hard to serve large, nationwide projects when we don't serve the people in our own home and community.

So start to make that change, but start small, and keep at it until you've got it. The pay-it-forward method of service may not seem as glamorous as flying to a third world country, but I guarantee you it's a long-term investment with lasting benefits!

WILL POWER

2008-12-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

I'll be filling in as co-host on my husband's Cleveland radio show this month (Q104). As much as I look forward to "playing" on the air, timing is everything. I was NOT there in November when one of my favorite actors, Will Smith, was in studio - darn!

Will Smith with Cleveland's Q104 Morning Show Host, Allan Fee

I love this guy. His appeal for me is not so much his acting, but his positive spirit. If we could catch a little of this man's positive outlook, there's nothing we couldn't accomplish! He is the epitome of high emotional intelligence. He is very aware of his likability factor, how he affects others, and how to share his contagious spirit.

But, he's not just all about positive thinking - he's a man with a plan. When it came to transitioning from a TV star to making movies, he and his agent researched the top-ten grossing movies of all time. Here's what they found:

10 out of 10 had special effects
9 out of 10 had creatures
8 out of 10 had a love story

So, Smith set out to make movies that included these three proven success factors. Remember, "Independence Day" and "Men in Black"? There's a huge lesson here. When it comes to the field in which you want to be a success, document what other successful people do and DO IT. Seems so simple, but I find many clients get stuck trying to recreate the wheel. Someone, somewhere has walked before you. Find the most best example you can of the success you desire and become it.

Ask yourself, how does a successful person in my field speak? Dress? Behave? Think? What habits does he have? Who does she surround herself with? What books or education does this person possess? You get the idea. This applies to anything you want to achieve: healthy relationships, weight management, personal satisfaction, or career success.

For a little added inspiration, here is one of my favorite interviews with Will Smith when Steve Kroft profiled him on 60 Minutes in 2007. Part one contains a great story about a brick wall - how would you have responded to this challenge? Part two discusses his financial blunders and subsequent rise into movie stardom.

WORKSHOPS ON DEMAND

2008-11-06T04:11:00.000-08:00

Those who have heard me speak know that I believe conflict can foster creativity. If you never had a problem to solve, what else would inspire you to come up with new ideas? For some months I have been hearing from clients and individuals that they wanted to book or attend certain workshops of mine, but couldn't. Either I was speaking in a part of the country that required too much travel, or training budgets were too tight. I wanted to come up with a way that people who requested training could still receive it, but how?

I finally hit upon an idea that I believe is affordable and convenient. I have been busy creating a new training option I'm calling E-Seminars. Very soon you'll be able to choose from a number of my most requested topics and download the seminar right to your own computer!

E-Seminars will consist of a 60-minute podcast (MP3) and workbook (PDF) that you can download and listen to at your convenience. You'll be able to review and revisit the material at any time by saving it to your computer. And, here's the best news! Each E-Seminar is affordably priced at only $25!

The first E-Seminar to be offered will be one for parents called, BFF! (Except When We're Not). A Parent's Guide to Helping Girls to Develop Healthy Friendships. Visit my website, www.susanfee.com, for additional titles each month. If there is a particular topic you want produced as an E-Seminar, please let me know!

BAIL OUT OFFERS GOOD NEWS FOR MENTAL HEALTH!

2008-10-08T03:30:00.000-07:00

Americans are suffering plenty of stress these days due to Wall Street's financial turmoil. It's either ironic or tremendously good timing that included in Congress' bail out package is the passing of the Mental Health Parity bill which offers the same coverage for mental health needs as medical. Talk about tenacity - it took 12 years of work to get it passed! Read more from the American Counseling Association:

"After many long years of effort, ACA and other mental health advocates have gained the enactment of strong federal mental health and addictive disorder parity legislation. On Friday, October 3rd, the House of Representatives passed a financial rescue and tax policy bill, including landmark mental health and addictive disorder parity protections.

The section of the legislation on parity--entitled the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008--will require most private sector health plans to provide insurance coverage for mental and addictive disorder services on the same terms and conditions as other types of care. The parity provisions had been included in a package of highly popular tax policy extensions approved recently by wide margins in both the House and Senate, but that had been stalled due to disagreements over the extent to which they should be paid for. The tax extenders, including the parity language, were combined with the financial rescue package passed by the Senate on Wednesday."

If you are suffering in these turbulent times, PLEASE don't hesitate to seek help from a licensed, qualified therapist. We are all working on our coping skills right now. If you have no idea where to start, always begin by taking care of yourself, then reaching out to others.

You'll find practical steps for dealing with adversity in my booklet, "Building Resiliency: 68 Coping Strategies for Surviving & Thriving During Adversity."

BULLYING INVISIBLE TO ADULT EYES

2008-09-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

The new school year has been underway for about a week and the bullying has begun. It doesn't take long for the bully-target relationships to become established. Some of the bullying will appear invisible to adult eyes because it will happen online or in the form of text messages. For girls, the bullying can be more subtle - just with an eye-roll or exclusion.

I'm pleased to be the keynote speaker for a conference on Cyberbullying and Relational Aggression taking place Saturday September 27 at the Lorain C.C.C. Spitzer Conference Center (Lorain, OH). Campus Impact is putting on the helpful event for educators, therapists, social workers, and anyone else concerned about this topic. Visit their web site to register or call 440-864-2011.

If you have questions or situations you'd like me to address during my presentation, please feel free to post them here! Also, consider starting a group for girls to teach them how to build and maintain healthy friendships with a copy of the Circle of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Facilitator's Guide.

EYE CANDY

2008-07-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

Mixing children and glass may not seem like a good idea unless you're renowned glass blower Dale Chihuly. I came across this amazing work called "Eye Candy" while visiting the Indianapolis Children's Museum. It's visible from all four floors of the museum where interesting facts are posted about the piece, like how it's dusted (very carefully...)

On the ground level, Chihuly found a way to actually make his art interactive by creating stations for kids to replicate the structure with similarly shaped and colored plastic pieces.

On the wall nearby is a framed copy of Chihuly's original rough draft notes when conceiving this piece. What impressed me so was that he not only imagined the art work, he also imagined how people would react to it. His drawings include kids shouting, "Cool!" and "Wow!" and "I want to try that!"

What a great lesson for all of his when considering having a conversation, pitching a new idea, or creating a presentation: Consider the affect you want to have on others, then create the work that will inspire that reaction. So often, I think we just concentrate on what we want to say, with little thought of how others may respond.

After spending four hours at this museum hearing kids squeal with delight and parents look up in amazement, I think Dale Chihuly has the process right. Everything he imagined came true, at least during my visit. All I can say is, "Wow! I want to try that!"

SUSAN'S SUMMER READING LIST

2008-05-31T03:38:00.000-07:00

There are so many ways to get information these days, why bother reading a book? Because it's good for your brain. Just like muscles, the brain benefits from a good workout and reading is more of a challenge than processing images or speech. You have the time to pause, imagine, infer meaning, and process insight. All this mental activity will help keep your memory sharp, your learning capacity nimble, and your mind hardier as you age.

So what are you waiting for? Pick up book and start working that brain! Here are few of my favorites. I'll be adding to the list as the summer progresses as I have a ton of new reads waiting to be devoured. Please post your favorites too. Let's start a thought revolution!

Sticking with the brain theme, I love this new book by John Medina. He offers 12 "rules" of the brain from the latest research that will help in every day life - like why you remember some people's presentations and not others, how stress really affects us, and the truth about multi-tasking. He makes some bold suggestions about how to overhaul our school system too.

A related book is The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine. If you've ever wondered why women (and teen girls) behave the way they do, you'll find the answers here!

Think you know what makes you happy? Think again! The author challenges every long-held conviction about what we think will make us feel fulfilled. This is not a how-to book about how to find happiness, he leaves that up to you, but this book may make you steer your search in a different direction.
If you've heard me speak about making a positive first impression, you've heard me quote this book. Gladwell offers compelling examples from business, fire fighting, police work, health care, and even personal relationships about the way we make snap judgments. He also wrote The Tipping Point, another thought-provoking book about marketing.

Although this book has been out for ten years, it's still every bit as relevant today. (In fact, Gladwell quotes it often in Blink.) If you've ever doubted your gut instincts, this book will prove how to trust those little red flags.

I love memoirs and I picked this one up quite by accident. I'm so glad I did. Haven Kimmel's writing is hysterical and touching. Here's what Publisher's Weekly said: It's a cliche‚ to say that a good memoir reads like a well-crafted work of fiction, but Kimmel's smooth, impeccably humorous prose evokes her childhood as vividly as any novel. Born in 1965, she grew up in Mooreland, Ind., a place that by some "mysterious and powerful mathematical principle" perpetually retains a population of 300, a place where there's no point learning the street names because it's just as easy to say, "We live at the four-way stop sign." Hers is less a formal autobiography than a collection of vignettes comprising the things a small child would remember: sick birds, a new bike, reading comics at the drugstore, the mean old lady down the street.

On my can't- wait-to-read-list is the new release from David Sedaris, "When in Engulfed in Flames." I've read every one of his books - so, so, funny. If you have yet to encounter his work, , you're in for a ride!

THANKS NACM!

2008-05-22T03:24:00.000-07:00

A big thanks to the National Association of Credit Management for having me back to speak at your annual Credit Congress. As always, your group is delightful to work with and your members are GREAT workshop participants.

If any of the folks in my sessions have follow up questions, post them here. I'm excited to hear of your progress as you practice new techniques. Remember to join me for my teleseminar in June on "Dealing With Difficult People."

All the best,
Susan

SEE YOU IN LOUISVILLE!

2008-04-23T03:47:00.000-07:00

(Photos: Brian Ebner/Optic Nerve) Speaking at the 2006
Athletic Business Conference

Hi to all the members of NACM who will be attending the national congress in Louisville. I'll be speaking on May 21 and I'd love to see you there! Here are my session times:

8:30-10:00 am Facilitation Skills
1:30-3:00 pm Secret of Change: Making the Emotional Connection

Email me questions ahead of time if you'd like. Or, if you'd like to set up individual coaching on any topic, I'm taking appointments 5/20 and 5/21 in the evening.

UP, UP AND AWAY!

2008-03-07T12:47:00.000-08:00

Yes! We did it! The skies cleared, the wind died down, and the Goodyear Blimp sailed into the sky yesterday with my dad in the co-pilot seat. When I saw him sit down and put on the headset, I was grinning and crying at the same time. I said a million thank yous in my head to answered prayers, to all who made the flight possible, and to my father for all he has done for me. What an amazing feeling to give something back to him.

Our whole family was able to go and we were joined by another couple. The man was 91 and had waited two years for his flight. It just goes to show that having life-long dreams keeps you young.

Watching the blimp coming out of the hangar.

My dad - 82 and proud of it!

Preparing for the six passengers to load for our one-hour flight.

My dad getting ready to cross one off his life list!

An unexpected bonus - Allan and Gabby were able to go up too! Thanks Goodyear! (Gabby was a little nervous, can you tell?)

MOVE OVER MEAN GIRLS!

2008-02-27T03:28:00.000-08:00

After months of writing, editing, planning and unexpected delays, my new Circle of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Facilitator's Guide has finally arrived! Like the anticipation of an overdue baby, I am thrilled to finally have it in my hands, and even more excited to get it into yours!

It's filled with over 65 small group activities to help girls ages 8-14 develop confidence, positive friendships, and emotional resiliency. The exercises are designed to help girls learn more about themselves and gain empathy for others.

If you work with girls in any capacity, from classrooms to camps to scouts - I believe you'll find the guide to be worthwhile. Plus, I'm offering one year of free support consultation to implement the ideas - so look out mean girls! A new dialogue is about to begin.

ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH YOUR CAREER?

2008-02-03T08:33:00.000-08:00

Do you wake up every day excited about your job? Or, do you feel like you're just earning a paycheck until you figure out what you really want to do? I believe every person has unique strengths. The most satisfied individuals know and value their strengths, and build a career and lifestyle around them.

If you're feeling stuck or dissatisfied with your career, join me Tuesday February 26 1:00-4:30 PM at the Holiday Inn in Independence, OH for my workshop, Strength-Based Career Management. You'll learn why it's a waste of time trying to be "well-rounded" and how to re-discover what you've been good at for a long, long time but may not have had the courage to acknowledge.

This program is sponsored by the Cleveland Chapter of the National Association of Credit Managers and is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. The fee is $55 . To register call (440) 871-7878. Feel free to post your questions here pre-program. Hope to see you there!

CHANGE YOUR LIFE IN 2008!

2007-12-15T03:52:00.000-08:00

Are you ready to make a change in your life? Maybe you've tried before and it just didn't work. Or, you know you want to change something, but what? How?

I'll address these questions and offer specific steps you can take when I speak at the Lakeshore Professional Retreat taking place February 1 & 2 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Independence, OH. It's two days filled with education, networking, and relaxation. Do as little or as much as you want!

On Friday night following dinner, I'll present "The Seat of Change: Making the Emotional Connection" (6:30-8:30 PM). Saturday, I'll present, "Strengths-Based Career Management" at 8:30 am AND 1:15 pm. There will be several other speakers and vendors.

For more information, prices, and registration contact Lakeshore Educational & Counseling Services at 800-600-5327.

UPCOMING MEDIA APPEARANCES!

2007-11-17T05:18:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is upon us, and for some that means spending way too much time with annoying relatives! If that's your story, tune in Monday November 19th to Cleveland's Good Company (channel 3, 10:00-11:00 a.m.). I'll be offering survival tips on managing the pressures of extended family.

If you need more than tips and want to talk about reducing your stress levels, consider a few counseling sessions. You can make an appointment to see me in Independence by calling Lakeshore Educational & Counseling Services at 800-600-5327.

On Friday December 14th, I'll be joining my husband once again for the Q104 morning show (5:30-10:00 a.m. EST). Tune in live or online. We'd love to hear from you!

Take care,

Susan

PARENTS, ATTEND THIS FREE COLLEGE & CAREER PLANNING SEMINAR

2007-11-12T02:56:00.000-08:00

If you're the parent of a teenager headed for college, trade school, or the military I highly suggest you attend the Parent Education Series Wednesday November 14, 7:00-9:00 PM at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center in Brecksville.

It's free, but you have to register online or by calling 440-746-8115. The organizers have a terrific line up of topics and I'll be speaking on Developing Self-Reliant Students. It's perfect for helping you and your child think ahead for those last couple years in high school and beyond.

Hope to see you there!

Susan

FOCUS ON THIS

2007-10-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

For readers of my Communication Tip Sheet, scroll down for the debrief:

What you focus on expands. This is especially apparent when we’re upset with someone. It’s as if we put on glasses that filter out everything but annoying traits that we compile to make our (distorted) case.

Instead, what would happen if we focused on what’s going right, or solutions versus problems? This does not mean problems should be ignored. It’s important we acknowledge situations that need to be changed. But, the only way change comes is by focusing on it.

We are constantly blocking out helpful information because we are so focused on supporting our pre-determined story. Test yourself. Watch this video of students playing basketball and count the number of times the white-shirt team passes the ball. IMPORTANT: Watch the video before reading any further!

DEBRIEF: When you were busy counting the number of passes, did you notice the person dressed in a gorilla suit enter the picture? After beating his chest several times, he exits. If you did, congratulations! Most people miss the whole thing.

If right now you're saying, "What gorilla?" Watch it again! Then look around. What else might you be missing?