Category: Change

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365 Coaching Tips: 139th, 140th and 141st

May 19th Coaching Tip: Parks are FREE.

What a way to introduce your kids to free entertainment by simply taking them to a park. Teach a child how to go find 10 different leaves or six different bugs or five different weeds or wildflowers. Ask them to go make a friend with someone else. Time them as they run or play. Parks are free and simply go underutilized.

I’m always amazed when I go to Central Park in NYC; no matter the time of the year, it’s busy and bustling. Mostly with adults. Adults realize how important it is to be outside, soaking up sunshine, laying on the grass, listening to the birds chirp, running or walking on the many paths. If we as adults get it, then let’s make sure that our children get those experiences early in their lives. Parks are free and might be one of the best educational experiences that kids can have.

May 20th Coaching Tip: Practice The Script.

Today I worked with a couple young advisors who are learning how to care for clients of their colleague, a senior advisor who is expecting to wrap up working in the next couple years. As these two are meeting the clients for the first time, they are simply listening and taking notes. For the second meeting, we are now working on scripting and practicing questions for them to ask these clients. They landed on asking them about their family tree. We agreed that who doesn’t like talking about their family tree. And the second question would be to ask permission to reconfirm the beneficiaries on record for their accounts. We practiced these questions and relief came to them with smiles. Then we added another part of the script. After these meetings with the clients, the young advisors would call clients back, at the request of the senior advisor. This ties the effort together, and the client is understanding that the senior advisor is still in charge, but delegating work to be done. Take time to practice the script. It will drive more confidence and comfort for all parties involved.

May 21st Coaching Tip: Stand Up to Greet People.

Recently as a client, I went into an office and was greeted warmly and professionally by a couple of the company’s colleagues. They both stood up and came out of their offices and workspace to greet me. But a third colleague just looked at me and stayed seated in his work cubicle. It immediately created an uncomfortable situation for the two who had greeted me, knowing that I was a client.

Coaching tip for today is simple: when a client approaches you, stand up and greet them. A simple handshake or even a quick standup and smile at them are both appreciated. If you don’t stand up, you may be sending a signal to that client that they don’t matter. Stand up.

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365 Coaching Tips: 133rd, 134th and 135th

May 13th Coaching Tip: The Pacers Are A Team.

By now, you are probably realizing that my love for basketball has me utilizing basketball analogies in some of my coaching tips. Last night, the Indiana Pacers soundly won their 7-game series versus the #1 seed, Cleveland Cavaliers. Very few of the NBA experts selected the Pacers. But, the Pacers have pulled together since the NBA All-Star break in February, and have been on a winning roll. They are winning! How? From my point of view, they each understand their role, their bench celebrates wildly and regularly, and 5-7 players each night score in double figures. They are a TEAM, achieving more than any of the experts expected. They have a couple NBA all-stars on their team, but they have a number of role players who are stepping up, accepting their role, and executing under pressure at a high level. They are the first team ever in NBA history to go to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals as a 7th seed and 5th seed. Never ever been done; leave it to a team to get it done!

May 14th Coaching Tip: Your Network Matters.

It’s one thing to have “Facebook friends” and “Linked In” connections, but it’s a whole different level when you can reach out to important people in your network to get a meeting with them. That happened today and yesterday. I wanted to gather some insights and feedback on an idea that I have, so I quickly shared why I wanted time with them, and they agreed to meet with me…and were also prepared to discuss with me.

Over 14 years ago when I exited Caterpillar, my career coach was instrumental in making me really leverage people in my network that can make a difference. And sure enough, one of those key people helped connect me with my current role at Merrill. It was pure timing. He and I had just connected on what I wanted to do, and then a week or two later, an opportunity was discussed while he was at dinner. He recommended me, then called me the next day. The rest is history; I’ve been at Merrill for nearly 13 years. Your network matters!

May 15th Coaching Tip: Thank you notes.

Today, I received the nicest thank you note from a former colleague who reached out to me for some help. She was wanting to implement a number of technology and process changes with her team this week. After I heard about her successes with the team already and also hearing her say that there may be some resistance, she and I discussed her strategy; we landed on B & B, i.e. to get their Buy-in, give it to them in Bite sizes. So we worked on a timeline of what the team had already accomplished, reminded her to celebrate those wins, and then what further process and tech changes to implement over the next few months…in bite sizes…not all at once. Wanting her to be successful, I shared with her a quick 7-minute video that might just help her know what she was truly requesting and connected her with another leader who had already successfully implemented these tech and process changes. It worked! She thanked me today for helping her think over her initial plan, nudging her to slow down just a little and give them B & B with a timeline and examples. I played a small part in her success, but was smiling when I got her thank you note.

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365 Coaching Tips: 130th, 131st and 132nd

May 10th Coaching Tip: Say No to Price Increases.

Ever had that feeling when you’re feeling taken advantage of? For example, maybe your internet bill keeps creeping up higher and higher, then all of the sudden, the $35/month jumped to $50/month to $75/month? Welp, that just happened to me. Services that are doubling in costs may be ok to some people, but I’m saying no. I switched and locked in a 4-year guaranteed rate of $55/month with unlimited data and 1G. Say no to price increases that make your skin crawl. Have the courage to say no, take a few minutes and make the change, and take care of YOU!

May 11th Coaching Tip: Mothers love Mother’s Day.

Mothers love mother’s day. Why? Because it is ALL about them. And all they want is to be recognized, be around their kids and grandkids, share a meal, play a game, tell some stories, laugh, and spend time together. It’s pretty simple, and yet, why is that so many people miss it or “underthink it” or forget to even get a handwritten note, card, flowers, a treat for their mom? Not sure I understand, but it’s easy to resolve. Put a reminder on your calendar a week prior to Mother’s Day to help you be prepared and make it about her. Mothers love mother’s day.

May 12th Coaching Tip: The Best Want Feedback.

At the end of my day today, I coached one of the best female advisors in our company. She felt a bit stuck, as she mentioned that she hadn’t got much done since our convo in January. However, she is growing via referrals, especially with women, and plans to hire 1-2 more talented teammates by midyear. She’s also adding an intern for the summer. We also discussed how a couple of her teammates cannot get out of the day to day work, and do the more important work. By the end of the call, we had identified 3-5 prioritized things that she and her team can do this summer with the intern to help automate her practice to free up time for teammates, focus on the clients that she wants to replicate, and refocus the amount of time spent with segments of her clients. By the end of the call, she was smiling and was ready to set up the next call. The best leaders want feedback. They also want to be heard. Listen, listen, and then lean in.

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365 Coaching Tips: 118, 119 and 120th

April 28th Coaching Tip: Learning AI now.

Not sure why, but I’m not reading/listening to as many books on Audible as I have over the last few years. The Audible credits have been piling up; I have a couple upcoming trips, the weather is really nice for outdoor walking now, so it’s a great time to put in the ear buds and listen/learn. Popped open my laptop a couple days ago and downloaded three books on artificial intelligence (AI). Why? Because I had another leader tell me, “if you don’t understand AI and how it’s impacting every piece of businesses all over the world, they you will soon fall behind and become less relevant.” That direct statement hit me between the eyes and I was completely OK that he said it to me.

How has it impacted me already listening to five chapters on AI? I realized today that three different people were working in spreadsheets over a matter of month…and AI could have summarized the input in a matter of seconds or less than a minute. I’m using AI Grok on Twitter/X, the AI search in google that is now the first paragraph in search, Alexa in my home much more frequently for weather, traffic, and ongoing questions. Do I want AI to take over the world with our 8 billion people? NO! However, how can we utilize it to help our lives be more efficient? I’m learning AI now because I don’t want to be a senior who can’t figure it out later.

April 29th Coaching Tip: Time Zone Accuracy.

Today I scheduled a couple personal and work appointments. Two of them were on the west coast, and another I just wasn’t sure where they are located. As I provided dates and times, I added one letter: “E” for Eastern Time Zone. It’s really that easy and simple to be specific on requesting an appointment. Put a E for Eastern, or C for Central, or P for Pacific after the time. Because of taking the time to truly think it over, it makes the scheduling much quicker, with less back and forth.

When race fans drive to Indianapolis from the nearby state of Illinois, some get to the Indy 500 an hour late…because they forgot that Indiana is on Central time zone. One time, my godson drove from Illinois to Bloomington, IN for an event…and showed up one hour late. He was happy to be there, but darn it, that time zone accuracy got him. Be in touch and more efficient when you include Time Zone Accuracy.

April 30th Coaching Tip: Tidy Up Before You Leave.

We travel a lot and have multiple homes or places we visit frequently. To make our lives easier as we age, we like to do a few things before we leave: 1) tidy up the home quickly, so that it looks nice when you return, 2) run the dishwasher so that the dishes are clean and dry when we return, 3) do a load of laundry before we leave, so that the stinky isn’t stinky when you return, 4) quickly check out the items in the frig…if it is starting to look a bit icky, toss it, because it will be moldy when you return, 5) put the good items in the frig into the freezer, and we write ourself a note and put it on the counter on “what’s in the freezer”, 6) if we are gone for more than a few days, we turn off the water and the water heater, and put the thermostat on the eco mode, 7) arrange the transportation ahead of time (schedule the Uber, ask a friend, or plan for the car the be at the airport and share it’s location), 8) we have our favorite stuff at all the locations, i.e. lotion, deodorant, razor, hair stuff, key food items, our comfy shoes and clothes, vitamins, etc. Note: #8 allows us to travel with less stuff, and we don’t have to remember as much. Tidy up before your leave, which makes you smile when you return.

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365 Coaching Tips: 112, 113 and 114

April 22nd Coaching Tip: Leaders Want Coaching.

This evening after work, I talked to three good, long-term friends who are making huge decisions about careers and job transitions. One was a guy that I used to play with when we were kids (less than 10 years old), another is a woman who I’ve known well for 10 years because we have had some thoughtful and deep conversations over dinner, and the other was a guy that I’ve known for nearly 13 years and I’ve been his “bestie” as he made 3 career changes. Why did they all call me? Not sure, I can’t speak for them. But all three said, “I just knew I needed to talk this over with you, Jen; you listen well, ask great questions, and yet, still let me make my own decision.”

Who trusts you with very important decisions? How are you showing up for them? What can you do to be more helpful to those who need a confidant? How do you make time for them when you’re so busy? I’m not sure if the planets aligned or what, but somehow someway, I was able to work in 3 conversations last night with these wonderful people. Two of the conversations allowed me to “walk & talk” and get my steps in. These 3 are leaders in their families and the primary bread winners, so career decisions, incomes, bonuses, and the art & science of negotiation need thoughtful prep and practice. Leaders want coaching; but more importantly, these three just needed a long-term friend who they trusted to listen to what was going on with them. Leaders want coaching…and friends who listen.

April 23rd Coaching Tip: Don’t Miss Birthdays.

Tomorrow is my dad’s birthday, the 29th is my uncle’s birthday, and my grandmother’s birthday is May 24th. How do I know that? Because when I hear about an important birthday (or anniversary or key date), I simply add it to that calendar day as an event and select repeat “every year” in my iPhone. It takes just a few moments but it’s so appreciated by the birthday person when you remember and reach out to call them. Yes, I said call them. Facebook has a good way to remind us of birthdays, but in my opinion, it’s a somewhat lazy way to click on a pre-made “happy birthday” emoji and then click send. Seems a bit unemotional and disingenuous.

My recommendation is to pick up the phone and call people on or near their birthdays. Call them the day before and ask them about their b-day plans or call them the day after to ask what the best part of their b-day was. Bottom line: don’t miss birthdays!

April 24th Coaching Tip: Heavenly Birthdays.

Today would have been my dad’s 86th birthday. Many in our family reached out and connected with my mother, who is 84 years old now and was married to dad for 63 years, to share fond memories and wisdom that we all got from my Dad. Some of our family members didn’t know what to say/text to mom; they were uncomfy to bring up Dad. We encouraged all the family members to share fond, funny and good memories of Dad.

I learned alot from this lil exercise. Send love, positivity and goodness on heavenly birthdays. Celebrate the life of those who have passed on. Share the stories of how they impacted you while they were on earth, alive and thriving. Remember those heavenly birthdays.

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365 Coaching Tips: 109th, 110th and 111th

April 19th Coaching Tip: Celebrate Others.

When someone turns 80 and throws a party, go! That’s exactly what my uncle did. He (at 80 years old, too) flew in from Denver on Good Friday. We relaxed most of the day before the party, then I drove my uncle around 4pm to this 80th birthday party of one of his fraternity brothers (Blair) from Indiana University. About 7pm, my phone rings and my uncle & Blair’s wife were calling me to invite me to the party to meet their family, taste some of their bourbon collection, and eat some of the remaining chocolate desserts. How could I say no to those three requests? Fast forward to 10:45pm, my uncle and I are in the car driving home after listening to a duet of live music that Blair had hand-picked, laughing hysterically with his family, and lugging those yummy left-over desserts (moist, chocolate fudge cake and chocolate covered strawberries) home to enjoy with Easter dinner. Join in the fun and celebrate others. It was Blair’s big 80th birthday and what a party he threw!

April 20th Coaching Tip: Catch The Sunrise.

It’s Easter Sunday; to us, it’s one of the most beautiful mornings to get up early and catch the sunrise to be reminded of the good news ahead for us eternally. The evening before, we headed up to our lakeside condo, which faces east, and the Easter sunrise was glorious. It was worth the effort and a great reminder to just get up and catch the sunrise.

April 21st Coaching Tip: Think Ahead.

The next three weeks have me hitting multiple cities, speaking to multiple groups with multiple presentations. In reviewing my timeline, I set some time-blocking on my calendar to work on the high priority and very specific items to help ensure that I stay ahead and don’t fall behind. I also asked myself who can I leverage to help stay on schedule and completely on point. Earlier this month when I delegated a key piece of the prep work, I inspected some work that was done by others so help ensure that it was complete and accurate. Unfortunately, it was not completed accurately, and it may put my reputation as a speaker and a facilitator of a session with three others somewhat at risk. Thank goodness the “think ahead” mantra was in full effect, and we have time to recover/fix the work and get back on track. Think ahead!

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365 Coaching Tips: 106, 107 & 108

April 16th Coaching Tip: Pay Attention To Messages.

Our flight was delayed this week for an hour, then it pushed another hour. Since we are well-seasoned travelers, we knew that these delays would most likely lead to a long, uncomfortable evening in the airport. After the second delay, we quickly discussed our options, paid our restaurant tab, and made the decision to head back home so that we could sleep in our own bed and watch our favorite show at 830pm. Glad we made this decision, because we found out that our flight was delayed from 7pm to 12am, and then ultimately cancelled. Pay attention to messages, they might just save you some angst; I’m sure others weren’t paying as much attention and got angry at the delays and ultimate cancellation. Pay attention…and trust your expertise.

April 17th Coaching Tip: Plan For The Future.

Recently I met with two key leaders; believe it or not, they didn’t know it, but they were in the moment helping me plan my future. One really needed me as a business coach and trusted advisor, while the other wanted to hear more about my background and how I might be able to help others (since I have nearly four decades of business and leadership experience) in the next few years. These two discussions have me really thinking about my future. I’m asking myself: WHO can I help? on WHAT topics? and WHEN do I do this? and WHERE do I want to do it?

My abilities to influence and develop others, solve problems, be comfortable working locally and globally, and have a focus on client experience are valuable to a wide variety people. Now’s the time (no matter your age) to Plan for the Future. YOUR future!

April 18th Coaching Tip: Inspect Your Decisions.

Yesterday I went to inspect a late change that I made in the house remodel project that we have in progress. I had made the original decision to go with an off-white paint color (named after the dog breed, West Highland White Terrier). I really thought it was a good choice, as I compared 8-10 different off-white colors. However, the name grabbed me emotionally since we used to have two Westie dogs. When I saw this color on the walls of the house, it didn’t feel right, as it had too much yellow in it. I had to make a change, just had to. Quickly, I selected a brighter white, named “White Snow.” My painters went to the paint store, grabbed the new paint, started painting and said, “much better…what should we do with the West Highland paint?”

Since it was my decision to change the color, I knew that I had to drive back to the remodel project and go check out the new paint color on the walls. Sure enough, it looked so much better and the white was brighter. It made me smile! And this week we received a permit for the new proposed garage, so we will utilize the paint that was already purchased/bit yellow for the interior of the garage. We all agreed with the changes. Recommend that if it is YOU who makes a change on an important decision, go check it out and inspect it.

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365 Coaching Tips: 103rd, 104th and 105th

April 13th Coaching Tip: Happy 413 Day

Received a simple text today from a former Can Do Scholarship “student” who has become quite a businessman, with work experience at Enterprise Rentals and Caterpillar. The text was simple: “Happy 413 Day”.

Antonio was a 4th grader, sitting on a gym floor, when I first met him and share the promise of a $1,000 Can Do scholarship when he graduated from high school and progressed to college. He said when he heard me mention this, it was the first time ANYONE had talked to him about college. Fast forward to his senior year in high school. Antonio is a good student athlete and was recruited to play college basketball at Univ. of Southern Indiana. He didn’t receive a full scholarship, so he really needed the Can Do scholarships. We awarded him $1,000, and then an additional $6,000 for his senior year since he was on track to graduate from USI. What a memory Antonio has, sending me a simple “Happy 413”. Note: the 413 stands for getting 4th graders to post secondary education and also is my favorite verse in the bible, Phil 4:13.

April 14th Coaching Tip: Meet in Person.

Over this past weekend, I met with very important people in my life. My best friends and my mom. It could have been very easy to stay home, watch every stroke in the Masters golf tournament; however, I made the choice to have breakfast with a couple of our friends on Sunday morning (which allowed me to have fun cooking in the kitchen, making plenty of leftovers for all week) before I jumped in the car and drove for an hour to meet my mom for a late afternoon lunch. These are very important people in my life. As I age, I want to have no regrets as my life closes in and nears ending. I want to say that I spent time with those that I loved, I made memories, we met in person, we laughed, we cried.

April 15th Coaching Tip: Tax Day, why wait?

Simple question: why wait and create unnecessary stress? Everyone earning an income in the USA knows that tax day is on or very close to April 15th. Every single year.

Statements start rolling in during late January and throughout February. Get a folder or envelope or a folder in your email, label it “2025 TAX INFO” and keep putting info, receipts, donations, etc. in it throughout the calendar year.

Don’t wait, as that causes unnecessary stress on you as well as your tax pro/CPA/accountant.

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365 Coaching Tips: 100th, 101 and 102

April 10th Coaching Tip: 100.

Today I am pleased and thrilled to report that this is the 100th day that I have been writing coaching tips in 2025. 100 days straight of writing purposefully is a record for me, and I’m even more committed to doing it the entire year of 2025.

100 is also a goal for me; hope to live and see myself as an active centenarian. Active for me means walking and using my brain. My grandmother lived to just short of 88, and she smoked most of her adult life. My mother is active and is 84. My dad lived to 84, and his dad lived to 80; they both were active, driving, working on their farms, caring for their horses and happy doing it.

For right now though, I’m happy, healthy, and active at 60. And glad to be sharing coaching tips for the 100th day in a row. Thanks for reading and providing your feedback.

April 11th Coaching Tip: Relationships Matter.

My haircut appointment today was squeezed in to her 9am timeslot. Little did I know, I was the only person on her schedule for the entire day. She said, “only…for YOU!” I felt bad and good at the same time. Felt bad that she arranged her one and only appointment around my schedule. Felt good that she said, “only…for YOU!”

She knew I was back in town for a few days, and knew it was important to me to get me hair done. I remembered to ask her about her new condo, about her son’s rash and her daughter’s trip for Spring Break. Relationships are a two way street, and they can be beneficial for both people if we simply listen, remember, and ask again. Take time to listen to people and you’ll be surprised what can result. Make your relationships matter.

April 12th Coaching Tip: Let’s Go to Gas City, IN.

Four of us jumped in Michele’s new SUV and we headed out to dinner, and then on to Gas City, Indiana (yes, that’s actually the name of the town) to see Grammy-winning singer Amy Grant. We could have easily postponed it or not gone (we all were busy, had curve balls thrown at us this past week), but Michele had grabbed four tickets well in advance, and we were going.

Had any of us ever been to Gas City? Nope! But Gas City (population: 6,000) has invested in their town, county and school system, and worked with state on some economic development grants and they now have a new performing arts center (approx. $20mil investment) that seats over 1,800 people. Their goal is aimed at enriching the community with diverse entertainment and fine arts experiences. It seeks to inspire and foster artistic growth among the youth, positioning itself as a cultural cornerstone for Gas City, enhancing its reputation as a center for arts and creativity.

We had a blast, so glad we went, made memories and laughed, sang, and came home “full”. More importantly to me was how the community came together to take the risk and build a performing arts center. I wish them great success and also am thrilled for all ages to participate in keeping this new center thriving for years to come. Go to Gas City, IN.

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365 Coaching Tips: 91st, 92nd and 93rd

April 1st Coaching Tip: Ask For An Exception.

Recently was working with an advisor who is 3-4 months from announcing his retirement. He received a major curve ball: his succession plan (with a female advisor that has been his business partner for more than 13 years) is in limbo. The female advisor now faces an existential health situation. It’s drastic for her, and for the soon to-be retiring advisor. After we discussed this tragic situation, we thoughtfully started discussing options. By the end of our very important and focused call, we had identified seven options. And the 7th option ended up being the “ask for an exception to the policy.” He’s now working the details on that option even further, because as he says, desperate times require desperate actions. He’s going to ask for the exception; my bet is that he will get it due to his story and prep, and his relationship with leadership.

April 2nd Coaching Tip: Those “T” Words

As the workday wrapped up on April 2nd, threatening weather with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes scattered from Dallas, TX to Toronto, Canada. And in Indiana, there were multiple sightings and touchdowns of tornadoes within one mile of our rental homes in Carmel, IN. But before all of this threatening weather started occurring around 8pm, the United States announced new and higher tariffs, after the stock market closed. There was an immediate and thunderous loss in the markets across the globe. Lots of “T” words, that can and will drive anxiety, fear, anger, and isolation. Think of how when a tornado is closeby, we quickly move to isolate inside in a safety room/basement/closet. When it thunderstorms, we tend to get inside, too. When tariffs are announced, this tends to drive isolation by countries…self-preservation versus decades of collaboration.

April 3rd Coaching Tip: Hopeful “T” Words

Today, I’m thankful that none of my friends, family, and rental homes were impacted by the tornadoes in Central Indiana last evening. It’s Taco Thursday and Thirsty Thursday, so let’s make it through the day to celebrate an upcoming weekend. With the tariff announcements came a sell off of the stock market; this timing might just be a good time to jump in the market and buy when prices are lower. I sure took advantage of it!

How YOU respond to daily and weekly announcements, happenings and untimely realities that impact your world is on YOU. It’s YOUR decision. Your attitude and how you respond will be remembered by others, but more importantly, it will help you be resilient thru these times.