Tag: mentorship

Life is an Adventure

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“When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen.” – Winnie the Pooh

When my daughter, Miss O, was two or three-years-old, she took scissors to a squishy ball just minutes before we were supposed to leave to meet my dear friend, Katie. I was shocked – the mess, the destruction of a toy, our inability to be on time.

So when I apologized to Katie for being late and told her why, she laughed said one thing that changed my parenting experience forever (and for good). She said, “Everything is a science experiment.”

All of a sudden, the light bulbs went off in my head. Children weren’t supposed to sit in a corner and play according to the manufacturer’s directions – they were supposed to test things out, see what happens, and think outside the box. No wonder Katie’s children (already grown at that time) are such delightful people.

Two things stand out about this a-ha moment. First, the generosity of friends. Parenting doesn’t come with a manual so I have often relied on my friends to show me the way – and they have been so generous to do so. Second, the science experiment comment didn’t just change my expectations of how my kids should behave – it opened the door for me believing that I didn’t have to know everything about what we would try as a family.

I was fortunate to be able to explore that family adventure theme on this week’s The Life of Try episode with my friend, Natasha Dillinger. Natasha is an enthusiastic, yes-to-adventure, generous parenting friend who regularly shares her secrets on Instagram. In our conversation, three takeaways stood out to me:

  1. How saying yes to adventure can become a family habit
  2. Simple strategies for planning group trips
  3. Why flexibility and humor matter when plans fall apart

In our conversation, Natasha shares practical ideas for organizing group trips, helping children feel ready for unfamiliar experiences, making adventure affordable, and redefining success when things go wrong. Because sometimes the rain, the missed train, or the unexpected detour becomes the story everyone treasures most.

Links for this episode:

The Power of Saying Yes: Raising Adventurous Kids With Natasha Dillinger transcript

Natasha’s suitcasesinseattle on Instagram – If you are planning on visiting Seattle, the Pacific Northwest or just want adventure inspiration, I’d HIGHLY recommend subscribing!

Other Episodes You Might Enjoy

When Your Plans Fall Apart | How to Stay Resilient, Adapt & Keep Moving Forward

How to Create Opportunities in Life | Motive + Means = Success Mindset

The Courage to Try Something New | Lindsey Goldstein on Growth, Failure & Reinvention

Success isn’t always about finishing first. Sometimes the greatest victories belong to those who stay prepared, keep growing, and never stop trying.

(featured photo from Pexels)

If my work has encouraged, inspired, or helped you try something new, consider supporting it with a small “cup of coffee” donation. Your support helps me keep creating conversations, stories, and resources that cheer people on as they do brave, meaningful work.

You can find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/ and Instagram wynneleon

Creating Lift

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“If you see someone without a smile today, give ’em yours. ” – Dolly Parton

I think one of the most charming aspects of this WordPress community is the generous willingness to share knowledge. Topics like:

P.J. Gudka sharing blogging advice
Dr. Gerald Stein’s insightful essays based on a distinguished career as a psychologist
Edward Ortiz provides Thoughts about leadership, history, and more
Tamara Kulish shares notes about soul-healing
Ab offers a window into disability advocacy
Todd Fulginiti shares his music
Michelle provides tips for and inspiration on decluttering
Dr. Yvette Prior creating incredible anthologies with contributors we know and love,
Shaun sharing daily encouragement
and on and on. It is a remarkable wealth of experience, information and knowledge available to everyone.

This incredible wealth of sharing and curiosity is right inline with my recent Life of Try podcast conversation with Bruce Dorey, PhD. In his book, Lift: Passing the Craft, Bruce provides a research-based framework for how we can mentor and provide lift to others.

A few key takeaways from this conversation:

  • Lift, whether it be for an airplane or in our interactions with others, does not happen in a vacuum. We need to engage with others to have the opportunity to pass on our expertise.
  • Bruce talks about how many of the master artists like Rodin were part of a guild and employed many young artists in the making of art. He surfaces the craftsman model: journeyman, apprentice and master for passing on knowledge. He shares ways we can do that in business, not just the trades.
  • We delve into the power of awe and the innovative way that Bruce uses virtual reality (VR) to incorporate awe into his work rhythm.

If you’re interested in how to become a better mentor, build resilience, use technology more intentionally, find flow, overcome burnout, or create more meaning in your work, this episode offers practical inspiration and a new way to think about growth.

Here are more ways to listen and subscribe:

Links for this episode:

Creating Lift: Leadership, Mentorship, and the Courage to Keep Growing transcript

Lift: Passing the Craft by Bruce Dorey, PhD on Amazon

A Whole New Way to Work: A Map to Freedom and Success by Bruce Dorey, PhD on Amazon

Bruce Dorey, PhD on LinkedIn

 Other episodes you might enjoy

Brand Strategy for Humans with Nancy Martira

⁠Identity Before Strategy: How to Break Through Invisible Ceilings with Kevin Yoder⁠

How to Embrace What Makes You Different | Finding Your Purpose with Kym Gordon Moore

(featured photo from Pexels)

If my work has encouraged, inspired, or helped you try something new, consider supporting it with a small “cup of coffee” donation. Your support helps me keep creating conversations, stories, and resources that cheer people on as they do brave, meaningful work.

You can find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/ and Instagram wynneleon

How to Share: Secrets of Collaborative Leadership

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“The best leader is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and the self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” – Theodore Roosevelt

I played on a tennis team when I was in my 20’s. It was a loosely organized group of women who played at the public tennis courts. We were part of a league that created matches with other teams, some of whom were the “fancy” ones who belonged to a club with a pro.

But my team had a secret weapon: our coach, Evan. A quiet-spoken man who seemed to take everything in. He’d meet with us at practice and not only run drills to improve our skills but also strategically position who should play singles versus doubles, and forehand versus backhand.

I don’t remember our records of wins and losses so it probably wasn’t that great. But I know we got better as a team and also as individuals. It was largely because of Evan. He could see our strengths and vulnerabilities and help us position them to the best advantage.

I was reminded of Coach Evan when I recently talked with John Hernandez, the Director of IT at Leisure Care on the How to Share podcast. John has an incredibly collaborative leadership style and knows how to balance giving people on his team leadership, agency, and backup when needed.

In short, he’s a very good coach for a strong team.

John told me how he landed on this leadership style and how it’s worked as his team and responsibilities have grown. We talked about how people in technology can sometimes be protective of their knowledge and not want to share. And we discussed how AI changes the game for so many people in technology and how to wrangle it as an asset, not a competitor.

I asked John about how he adapts his message for people who are less technical. He brought it back to the power of telling a story and finding key beats, regardless of the topic.

This is a great episode about how leadership, openness, curiosity translates to infectious passion for sharing – and for team building. I know you’ll love it!

Takeaways

  • John emphasizes the importance of sharing knowledge to build effective teams.
  • A collaborative leadership style fosters a culture of openness and mentorship.
  • Technology professionals often hoard knowledge due to fear of job security.
  • AI is changing the landscape of IT, enabling more collaboration.
  • Storytelling can help convey complex technical concepts.
  • Creating a supportive environment encourages team members to grow.
  • Passion for technology can be infectious and motivate others.
  • Adapting messages for different audiences is crucial in IT.
  • Building a knowledge-sharing culture can lead to better team dynamics.

Here’s a clip of John describing how he landed on his leadership style:

Here are some ways you can listen and watch this infectiously energizing episode:

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

Secrets of Collaborative Leadership transcript

How to Stop Procrastinating and Start: The 10-Minute Rule for Taking Action – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

What if the key to overcoming procrastination isn’tfinishing—it’s simply starting? In this episode of The Life of Try,Wynne Leon shares a practical 10-minute strategy for beginning before you feel ready, taking imperfect action, and building momentum when a goal feels overwhelming.Explore why starting can feel so difficult, how the Zeigarnik effect may keep unfinished tasks active in your mind, and why one small first step can help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence. You’ll leave with a simple challenge: set a timer, make one imperfect move, and give yourself a clear next step.If you’re ready to stop procrastinating, get unstuck, and take action on something that matters, this episode is your invitation to begin. Then continue building momentum with How to Build Habits That Stick featuring Dr. Mike Rucker.What will you start today?
  1. How to Stop Procrastinating and Start: The 10-Minute Rule for Taking Action
  2. The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes
  3. The Power of Saying Yes
  4. Growth Takes Energy| How Rest Helps Habits Stick
  5. When You Know You're Not Going to Make It

Links for this episode:

John Hernandez on LinkedIn

How to Make a Difference

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“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” – Mother Teresa

I try pay extra close attention when I hear the same message from many sources. It’s like a wake-up call that is too powerful to ignore.

Here’s a message that I keep hearing: Getting involved with an issue or cause you are passionate about will change your life as well as do good for the world. To make a difference, start small, stay local, and be consistent. I’ve heard that in conversations with filmmaker Peter Samuelson, activist Sam Daley-Harris and now in this latest episode of the How to Share podcast with Sharon Eubank.

Sharon is the Global Director of Humanitarian Services for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are talking about her book Doing Small Things With Great Love. It is such a helpful and hopeful book that provides a blueprint for effective service.

Sharon shares a few of the 92 stories in her amazing book that she provides as illustrations of the 12 principles for effective and lasting service. Based in her years of experience working in communities near and far, Sharon has distilled some thoughtful truths that inspire us to action.

We talk about how we sometimes don’t feel we can make a difference as individuals and why sometimes it seems easier to contribute to project far away than the ones in our own cities and towns. Sharon gives some great examples of why local solutions for local problems are more effective.

We talk about how service and volunteering can make such a difference in our own lives. Sharon not only provides a blueprint for effective and lasting service, she also provides some suggestions to get us started doing small things with great love. I highly recommend this book!

This is an incredible episode that gets to the very heart and soul of collaboration – how we can be useful to one another. I know you’ll love it.

Takeaways

  • Sharon emphasizes the importance of local solutions for local problems.
  • Volunteering can be a transformative experience for both the giver and receiver.
  • Mentorship plays a crucial role in personal and professional development.
  • Small acts of service can lead to significant community impact.
  • Overcoming barriers to service often starts with individual passion and energy.
  • Building bridges of understanding is essential in a polarized world.
  • Effective service requires understanding the needs of those being helped.
  • Storytelling enriches the experience of service and community engagement.
  • Creating opportunities for connection can foster a sense of belonging.
  • The cycle of replenishment is vital for sustaining service efforts.

Here’s a delightful taste of Sharon describing the magic of volunteering:

Here are some ways you can listen and watch this inspiring episode:

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

How to Stop Procrastinating and Start: The 10-Minute Rule for Taking Action – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

What if the key to overcoming procrastination isn’tfinishing—it’s simply starting? In this episode of The Life of Try,Wynne Leon shares a practical 10-minute strategy for beginning before you feel ready, taking imperfect action, and building momentum when a goal feels overwhelming.Explore why starting can feel so difficult, how the Zeigarnik effect may keep unfinished tasks active in your mind, and why one small first step can help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence. You’ll leave with a simple challenge: set a timer, make one imperfect move, and give yourself a clear next step.If you’re ready to stop procrastinating, get unstuck, and take action on something that matters, this episode is your invitation to begin. Then continue building momentum with How to Build Habits That Stick featuring Dr. Mike Rucker.What will you start today?
  1. How to Stop Procrastinating and Start: The 10-Minute Rule for Taking Action
  2. The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes
  3. The Power of Saying Yes
  4. Growth Takes Energy| How Rest Helps Habits Stick
  5. When You Know You're Not Going to Make It

Links for this episode:

Doing Small Things With Great Love by Sharon Eubank at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Audible

Sharon Eubank on LinkedIn

How to Make a Difference with Sharon Eubank transcript

(featured photo from Pexels)