In a coaching conversation today with Sherry Dushaw of Usborne Books, she tells me she’s had a leadership revelation from the behavior of chickens.  I have had the privilege of working with Sherry for a number of years.  This is one smart, accomplished woman.  I found myself intrigued that she could learn anything from a chicken.  Actually, I wondered if any of us could learn anything from a chicken.  But as usual, mother nature had a lesson for me.

Part of Sherry’s commitment to homeschooling has her teaching a zoology class this year to 4th and 5th graders.  The class is focused on birds, that’s how the chickens figure into the story.  Here’s the leadership part.  When there is danger in the barnyard the chicken has a couple of things she can do to protect her chicks, she can:

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The holidays are upon us and every one of us is going to take time off.  Are you ready?  Not emotionally, but is your business ready to ‘shut down’ for days without you going through huge anxiety about what’s not done…or how to come back?

A little planning goes a long way to keep you sane and keep your business on the right track.  In fact, a little planning goes a long way to facilitate taking the best care of yourself, your family, your business and thoroughly enjoy your year-end holiday.

What does it take exactly?

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Hi Everyone,

I love the opportunity during this not-quite-winter season to get together with friends and family over good food and wine and visit and relax.  I like to think about what I’m grateful for and appreciate my warm cozy house and the heat from the wood stove.  I feel very fortunate to have so much freedom in my life.  This last week I had some very difficult things to deal with as well.  I lost a friend to cancer and nearly lost another.

When I came to Jillian feeling lost and uncertain, she shared some great wisdom with me:  think about what you’d be doing if you didn’t feel what you were feeling and do that.  Some days it helps to put one foot in front of the other and do what is ours to do.  It can be the best medicine.

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