This is me
If you look closely you'll find a healthy mix of genuineness, sincerity, sweetness, fierceness, confidence, sensitivity and a teensy bit of mischievousness and fearlessness. I'm passionate about my life, my family, and having fun. I strive to find a balance in those - just maybe not in all in the same day
Ryan and Juliet
These are my twins, Ryan and Juliet. They are 7 in this picture. Watching them grow into the little humans they are has been, and still is, the most amazing experience of my life. They fill my heart with love and my soul with joy every single day. They keep me balanced and grounded when life takes uncertain turns. Life is just more precious with them in it and never to be taken for granted.
Tiger Joe
I'm one of those dog owners where people ask to be reincarnated as my dog. I'm 100% confident that they’d find it better than winning the lottery.
Believer
"The moment where you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever being able to do it"
~Peter Pan
Laughter
“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.”
~ Audrey Hepburn
Leader and Coach
People are different. Remembering this is key to being a successful leader and coach.
When you accept a person for who they are, empower them to use their strengths, and help them grow in their own abilities they can realize how to soar. A successful coach understands and leverages all the different skills and talents on a team to help them solve their own problems, learn from their successes and failures, and unlock previously hidden insights.
I’ve learned the value of asking questions and continuing to dig deeper until we understand as much as possible about a situation. Truly listening to your team members is the hardest, but more important skill when coaching. If you can achieve that, you’ll find working together to find the solution becomes much easier and far more fun.
Process Enthusiast
"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and the job's a game. " ~P.L. Travers, Mary Poppins
Every situation is unique. You need to gather information and learn about the current situation before blindly running out the same old solution. When working with a new team I understand the people I'm working with: What are their strengths? What do they enjoy and what do they avoid? What is the dynamic of the working environment (collocated or remote)? What are we trying to do and what skills are needed? What processes are followed and where is there a complete lack of process? What confuses and frustrates people? The questions are endless. But knowing what questions to ask is all part of the challenge.
As I learn and assess, I start to make small changes, test, adapt, and repeat. I truly believe it's in this journey where the fun resides. If solving the problem were easy you probably didn't learn much and you likely found your sense of accomplishment fleeting. Learning to enjoy the thrill of innovating, changing, learning, and even making mistakes has proved to be the most fulfilling and satisfying part of my career.