Life's Negotiations

It's not easy to tell the truth, but it's worth it.

This is an excerpt from my upcoming book, called I'm Scared & Doing it Anyway. 

There I was on the conveyor belt of life in 2008, going along pretty darn happy most days, when I met a friend while he was visiting his family for Christmas.

What would you say with only had five minutes?

That's the question posed by the organizers of Ignite events around the world, and by me to the attendees of the Government Workforce conference hosted by the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD). 

I used a five-minute Ignite speech to show what's possible if you bring the format into the Government and work settings. 

Recently while speaking to two Comm 107 classes at the University of Maryland, I posed the question: 

If I know nothing else, what do you want me to know about you?

After their answers, I offered mine. It came from a personality test I took a few years ago. 

I nearly failed kindergarten.

It's a family joke that my mom had to visit school to prove to the teacher that I knew my colors (yes that was required to pass back then).

My teacher wasn’t sure, because I didn’t speak. 

When I'm upset, I often think or say the phrase, "you make me feel...". Know what I mean?

I'm taking time out of my series on How My Brain Tumor Will Change Your Life to talk about a common emotional trap. Looking outside for what's happening within.

There are a number of ways we can give our power to others, and many, like this one, are subtle.