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Relationships that Work for You | by Tiffany Monhollon

Don’t Let Guilt or Fear Steal Your Thanks TodayYesterday

After the blessing was said and we sat down to our festive holiday meal on Thursday, my grandmother asked us all to share something we are thankful for, but this year, there was a caveat: something we’re thankful for that we don’t normally think about in terms of gratitude.

As we went around the table, the answers my family shared were fascinating. My husband, an artist and designer, said he was thankful that God gave us the ability to create. My dad, who works in medicine, said he appreciated the fact that we can distinguish and enjoy different flavors. My mom, a preschool teacher, said she loves the fact that as humans, we have the ability to learn and develop.

The holiday is over, so you may be wondering why I’m writing a post about thanks today. To be honest, it’s partly because I was spending time being unplugged over this holiday and partly because even though it’s great to have an excuse to stop and think about all you’re thankful for, all the normal, ordinary things we take for granted, we should be thinking about thankfulness more than just on designated federal holidays.

But let’s be honest. Even though it shouldn’t be, being thankful is sometimes really, inexplicably hard.

It’s been an interesting journey for me, the last year or so. It was about a year ago that I decided it was

Leadership Alive: A Lesson, A Book Review, and A ChallengeOctober 29

Chuck had reached a point many bloggers reach. He was ready for something new. So, Chuck took a step and launched a new blog despite people who say starting a new blog is a mistake. He ignored the noise and pressed on, determined not just to duplicate but to shatter his former success.

One day, Chuck had a big idea. His idea, borne, I’m sure, partly out of his own experiences, aimed to help other bloggers who’d been where he’d been: Bloggers who were writing great content but had few readers. He knew there were thousands, millions, of people out there who needed a solution to this problem. I can tell you one thing: Chuck’s not the only one who’s ever identified this problem. He’s probably not the only one who ever had an idea of how to solve it.

But Chuck did what most people never do. He didn’t just see a problem and come up with a solution.

He moved past the fear and did something about it.

We Need Chuck to Lead Us

Chuck Westbrook’s story is a great one, undoubtedly. In fact, it’s unfolding right as we speak. It’s exciting to be a part of a movement like this. The motion it creates is undeniably exciting. The potential is extreme. He has the ability to touch so ma

Social Media Reality Check: How Deep is Your Brand?October 28

In case you missed the news, social media is officially mainstream! OK, so the announcement may not have you jumping up and down or ringing up everyone you know – not even grandma – because it hardly constitutes news. In fact, research shows that 60% of web users access social networks at work. Social networking is arguably ubiquitous, as it transcends generational and social lines on a growing basis. In fact, Ning.com - one site dedicated to helping users create their own social networks is itself increasing exponentially and predicts to have over 4 million social networks by 2010. On almost a daily basis, another major corporation announces jumping on the bandwagon to create their own social network.

The Appeal and the Problem
In the era of personal branding, one of the most widely-acclaimed and accessible tools you can have in your toolbox is apresence is social media. The logic behind this is simple: social media has the ability to connect you to som

Social Justice in an Uncertain EconomyOctober 15

Many things define a generation. What happens to us, around us. The culture we’re immersed in, the technology that shapes our norms and opportunities, the pulse of a society, the issues that divide and bind.

One of those issues binding us all right now is the shaky shape of the economy. The news is unavoidable. The constant ups and downs in the market has everyone from wall street to main street panicked.

It’s a time of incredible uncertainty, to be sure. A time that will mark our generation. But with that, it’s important to realize that it’s also a time of incredible opportunity.

That’s because it’s more than simply what happens passively to a generation that defines it. The actions we chose, the choices we make, set the course to define the landscape of the future.

That’s where social justice comes in. Because the facts are these: when it comes down to it, in tough times, the easy choice (the one that to be honest, most people will make) is the course of self-preservation. When money gets tight, giving gets tighter, too. It’s a trend many organizations are already bracing for.

But here’s why the issue becomes so much more pronounced: in times like these, there is also an

Dare You to Stop.October 1

Every day, every moment, it surrounds us. Online, in person, on our phones; groups, events, opportunities; shows, movies, magazines, literature. We live in a truly saturated world. There’s more for us to do than we could ever think to fill our lives with.

My DVR alone is a great example. Only a few weeks into the new TV season, and I already have so many unwatched shows recorded I have to delete some each day to make room for the new ones. I don’t even have room enough for all of one distraction in my life. That should probably tell me something.

But here’s the problem: it can be such great stuff. Interesting people. Cool ideas. Groundbreaking programming. Globe-crossing networking. State-of-the-art toys. Thoughtful remarks.

It’s so good, we forget sometimes. I forget. It’s easy to ignore, really. But some of it is just stuff. Stuff that nevertheless fills our lives. Keeps us going so close to 24/7 there’s a sleep crisis in our nation. Solidifies “busy” as the best summary status update for a generation. Keeps us from ever stopping long enough to really get to know ourselves along the way. Or did you never wonder where the term “quarterlife crisis” came from?

So here it is. A simple dare. Three steps you should take now, before you do anything else. B