I thought about abandoning the audition and going home. We had already waited for an hour in a lobby full of other little boys outside a meeting room in the Nashville Hutton Hotel, and I had a crazy night ahead of me with 3 other boys’ activities back in Nolensville. And, along with my angst over the recent firing […]
Justin’s Cracker Barrel Commercial – The Rest of the Story Read More »
Her eyes are piercing blue, an azure mix of intensity and compassion. I watch as she engages with my tribe- a tribe that holds a worldview so unlike her own, asks, listens, wonders, seeks, probes, gives. Kellie had arrived the day before, smiling and hopeful, flying in from her blue-state Seattle to my red-state Nashville.
Kellie’s Visit to Nashville Brings New Perspective Read More »
In my last blog post, “11 Upside-Down New Year’s Resolutions,” the final resolution was “SCARED- Because then you might be trying something that feels waaaay bigger than you.” I’ve heard from many of you that you are tackling something big this year. From moving across the country to starting a new business, we are all living
7 Steps to Handle the Tension of Inauguration Weekend Read More »
Hi. I’m Dr. Heidi Petak. Senior Creative with Hippo Solutions. Did you know misunderstanding is expensive? A few years ago, Cognisco asked 400 organizations in the US and the UK to add up the actual cost of misunderstanding in their workplace. It totaled 37 billion dollars! That’s a hefty price tag for not communicating clearly.
How to Reduce the Cost of Misunderstanding Read More »
Lights, Camera, Action! A few weeks ago, my two youngest boys were soooo sad to miss school for two whole days to star in a short film by the production company Seventh Story as a promo for an upcoming Lifeway parenting conference called “Etch.” I got to play their mom.
Warning: This 2-minute Parenting Film May Require Tissues Read More »
Last year, one of my blog posts received over 3,000 hits. I guess it hits a nerve for so many of us who wonder some days if we’re making a difference. So, here it is again, just in time for Mother’s Day. Click on the white triangle in the audio bar below to hear me
Mother’s Day and the Danger of an Open-Door Policy Read More »
I looked at the time. 6:13. My husband said he would be home by 6:00. The baby was crying, the toddler was pulling all the Tupperware out of the cupboard, the pork chops were cold, and I was ready to clock out. The front door opened. I stayed in the kitchen glaring at the pork
The #1 Key to Happy Relationships Read More »
“Would anyone like to role play a tough conversation?” I ask. By their response, it looks like I’ve asked if anyone would like their hair pulled out one strand at a time. They look down at the table, then sneak wide-eyed looks at each other. I had just finished teaching my 7 Steps to Tough
Finding Courage for the Scariest Step in Tough Conversations Read More »
An author friend of mine recently met with a potential publisher. Their first question wasn’t about the quality of her writing. It was, “How many Twitter followers do you have?” She only had 5,000, which just wasn’t enough to get her a book deal. If you’re a business owner, you know the term “platform.” It’s
Don’t Feed Your Monster Read More »
I love metaphors. Metaphors help us draw parallels between familiar and unfamiliar things. They bring understanding in new ways and paint concrete pictures of abstract concepts. Just before Christmas, my friend, Andrew, lost his job. With 4 kids and a mortgage, he needs fresh hope for the new year. And he’s not the only one. Andrew knows
Recycled Encouragement Read More »