by Gwen Bortner | Abundance
[featured-image single-newwindow=”false” id=”130904-PinkyBrain” alt=”Pinky and the Brain”]Image via Flickr by JD Hancock[/featured-image]
Even though I don’t have kids, that does not stop me from watching (and thoroughly enjoying) lots of cartoons. One of my favorites in the mid to late 90’s was Pinky and the Brain by Warner Bros. The premise of the show is that two genetically altered lab mice share a cage (and are friends). Each episode began with the following dialogue sequence:
Pinky: “Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?”
Brain: “The same thing we do every night, Pinky—try to take over the world!”
And thus the story began!
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by Gwen Bortner | Abundance
[featured-image single-newwindow=”false” id=”130815-Shamrocks” alt=”Shamrocks”]Image via Flickr by v923z[/featured-image]
I am lucky – I have a job that I love, and I am very good at my job! I earn a reasonable living wage! And I don’t take any of this for granted because I know that I am the exception, not the rule. At this point in time, 90% of my income is generated through teaching.
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by Gwen Bortner | Tips & Tricks
Some people often like to say that someone is “a born leader.” That may be true to a point for some, but most leaders aren’t born into leadership – they become leaders. Even those with natural leadership tendencies have to hone their skills.Those that appear to be “naturals” usually just started at an early age. But I believe anyone who wants to lead can if they follow these three simple leadership steps.
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by Gwen Bortner | Tips & Tricks
[featured-image single-newwindow=”false” id=”130719-Microphone” alt=”Microphone”]Image via Flickr by comedy_nose[/featured-image]
In my professional development class, How To Teach It, I often get comments about the challenges of being in front of a group – more commonly known as stage fright. Below are the methods I have successfully used for years in managing stage fright to the point it rarely happens any more. And none of these techniques require you visualizing anyone naked!!
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by Gwen Bortner | Tips & Tricks
I love movies – lots of movies – but I particularly enjoy a “surprise” movie. A surprise movie is that movie you decide to go see because a friend wants to see it or the one you watch because there is nothing else on and you feel like vegging out on the couch. You expect it to be bad, or just okay, and then it turns out that it is really good. I felt that way about Legally Blonde. What could have been a completely ridiculous movie was surprisingly good. But I particularly loved the smart character of Elle Woods — everything you expect plus a whole lot you don’t expect!
As I was reading an article today on the Harvard Business Review blog I realized what great leadership skills Elle actually displayed throughout the movie. The pink-wearing, perky blonde is not our typical image of strong leadership, but read on and I think you might agree that we should all aspire to be a bit more like Elle; she’s an excellent example of strong leadership.
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