Last Saturday I had the pleasure of doing my first build day on site with Habitat for Humanity Bucks County Women Build. While I really enjoyed the seminars earlier this year I didn’t know what to expect from the day. All I knew was that I had set my intention to do whatever was needed, have a good time serving others while working on a team, and make whatever I got assigned to do into a meditation and learning experience. Good news is that I managed to do all of the above!

I ended up working on the team assigned to laying cinder block foundation. So I spent the day digging hard soil (lots of rocks in this area as I know from my own yard), chipping away mortar, mixing concrete, and laying block. While I was initially frustrated, it did indeed get better as my crew leaders had promised. I might add my crew leaders were the best — the right mix of helping, encouraging, and letting you learn as you go. What I kept thinking about for most of the day as I did the work was this famous Zen story:

“Before Enlightenment chop wood carry water, after Enlightenment, chop wood carry water.”

What that means is that the tasks are the same, but who you are being as you do the tasks is totally different. While I am certainly not claiming enlightenment, I can say that I am so much better at being clear, open, and present with a task than I ever was before. Even tasks that are exhausting and not quite my cup of tea. Instead I did my best to approach it with the bigger picture in mind — serving families in need of decent housing and with the mindset that anything you do can be a meditation if you choose to allow it to be. And, when you do that a whole new world opens up to you.

I am certainly not going to turn to masonry as a career any day soon. In fact when one of the crew asked me if I wanted to make block laying my new career, I jokingly said “I’ll choose root canal or death!”. What I did gain was a whole new respect for people who work in construction or some sort of physical trade. I also was reminded how crazy busy my mind is, how quickly I get bored and frustrated when things aren’t going according to my expectations, and just how soft we all get with totally sedentary jobs.

While I am just now getting over being extremely sore (reminds me that while I am in good shape…hiking, biking, kayaking and weight lifting do not directly translate into block laying) — I am eager to go back and do another build day in June during their Women Build A Thon. First, I must get busy raising money so I can do so.

I highly recommend checking out a Women Build in your area. It is incredibly satisfying and amazingly empowering.

I recently had the pleasure of attending some Habitat for Humanity Women Build seminars. Yes indeed I was drunk with power learning how to safely use a circular saw as you can see here…

Tomorrow I am doing my first full day of building on site. Kim (my partner) is doing it too. I’ll let you know how that goes.

What struck me about the learning sessions were:

• What an awesome group of women
• What could be more empowering than learning how a house is built and knowing that you have the knowledge to apply to your own living situation?
• You get to have a lot of fun
• Ultimately you give back to a great cause

Where might you be able to stretch the limits of your comfort zone and try something new? What would get you really jazzed about giving back to others in need? To me tomorrow will be a great stress buster and empowering experience. I can’t wait.

So I am looking forward to tomorrow…wish me luck… I’ll let you know what I learn about myself and working in a team in the process.

I’m still basking in my trip to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four in Tampa, Florida and will have a variety of insights to write about in the coming days. One comment that was made on ESPN as I was watching games leading up to the Final Four was about an opposing player commenting about what a swagger Candace Parker the star player for Tennessee Lady Vols has. Well you know what — on her the swagger works and is totally authentic.

I’m sure you’ve seen people who have a strut and an air about them that seems so arrogant, pompous, and fake, right? Well, that’s because it doesn’t fit who they are. If you’re trying to swagger and you don’t have the goods, well, you look like a jerk and other people try to avoid you (or mock you) at all costs. That holds true whether your domain is the basketball court or the boardroom. If your presence, personality, and the way you carry yourself doesn’t match who you really are… you appear fake and contrived. Not to mention, I bet you don’t feel very comfortable in your own skin either because you’re attempting to hold up a facade. Read the rest of this entry »

Ever have a problem or challenge that you just can’t seem to solve? Perhaps you’ve stewed over it a while, tried to force a solution, and gotten frustrated in the process? You toiled away for hours or days on end to no avail. Then, all of a sudden out of nowhere an idea comes to you when you least expect it – in the shower, taking a walk, shopping for groceries.

We’ve all had this experience. I know myself in my many years doing computer programming I might hit a snag and then go absolutely insane trying to find a problem. I would toil, curse, scream, and rip my hair out and not be able to solve it. Then, if I walked away from it or simply asked someone with a fresh set of eyes to look at it – boom – there is a simple answer and the problem gets solved in a matter of minutes the path forward gets clear in an instant.

What if you could tap into this ease and power from the get go? Well you can, if you’re willing to put things on the back burner. Read the Rest of How to Put Your Problems on the Back Burner…

Letting go is such a misunderstood term. It just rings with feelings of so much loss for so many of us. No wonder we’re fearful of doing it - I mean who wants to feel like that?

Yet letting go is one of the most important tools you can have for creating a great life, not taking things personally (especially in business), and feeling comfortable in your own skin.

Each spring we often launch into big spring cleaning at the house. We move the couches, clear out the cobwebs and dust bunnies, clean the carpets, tidy up the yard… you get the picture. We launch into action in our physical surroundings which is great, but it is not the whole picture.

What about letting go and spring cleaning inside and out? How often do you consciously clear the cobwebs from your emotional world, your schedule, and your relationships? My guess is not often enough. I say that because I speak from experience!

A very important fact is that: Having a high quality life usually has much more to do with what you let go of or remove from your to-do list than what you add to it.

Want to learn more?

Join me for this free interactive call to start spring cleaning from the inside out.

When: Monday, April 21st

What time: 6:30p EST

How Long: 60 minutes or less

Where: Anywhere via phone

To Register: Class has past, but if you’d like the recording - contact me and let me know.

The call will be recorded so even if you can’t make it live, sign up to receive the recording.

Hope to “see” you there!