To do so, I am learning all kinds of new things. That is, in part, why I haven’t been updating my website much these days. However, I want to add some photos today that I captured from the trailer for my one woman show Cracked which debuted this summer at the Windsor International Fringe Festival.

It is my newest technological accomplishment. It built patience and perserverence the past few hours.

I am also learning how to work my new video camera. Videos will be added regularly now.  There will be interviews with business owners (of a wide variety of ages) to gain their perspective on character and there will be dramatic vignettes to bring character and choice to life.

Enjoy.

Linda J Lord, makes her first appearance at the Fringe Festival in her one woman show, Cracked. Best known for her role as Miss Geranium in the Children’s Television Series, Miss Charity’s Diner, she recently appeared as Miss Prism in Under New Management’s The Importance of Being Earnest. Linda has been writing and performing her own Christian Drama for years and is currently the head of the Drama Ministry for First Baptist Church, Puce. Her back stage professional theatre experience includes work with The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival, Full Circle Theatre Company, and the University of Detroit. Linda studied at the National Theatre School.

In Cracked, Linda combines truth and fiction in the story of Leah, a self-made woman who has sacrificed much to advance her career as an archaeologist. Linda draws on her experience as a work/life coach and professional presenter to illustrate the cost of singular living. When Leah realizes that her decisions have cost her everything that matters to her, she cracks. Does she have the internal fortitude to pick up the pieces of her life and move forward?

Linda has been a successful soft skills and character development professional practitioner for 13 years. Beginning her business as an independent contractor with SkillPath Seminars, Linda provided high quality public and on-site training across Canada and the United States. Wanting to work closer to home, Linda continued her independent contract work with St Clair College Corporate Training Department and returned to school in pursuit of her coach training. She graduated from the Coach University Coach Training Program in December 2001.

Since then, Linda and her company, Coaching at Work, has successfully partnered with busy individuals wanting to succeed in life and career. Individuals come to Linda when they want to refocus on what matters most to them and need the fresh perspective that she provides. Using a proven system, personalized for the specific needs of the individual, Linda consistently delivers results. Past participants of Linda’s programs declare that their personal and professional lives have been changed for the better.

Linda has provided both group and individual coaching for Career Employees, Self-Employed Professionals, and Professional Practitioners in the areas of professional performance, soft skill development and applied personality theory to advance interpersonal effectiveness. She has provided facilitation and workshops to businesses and not for profit organizations focusing on strategic direction, goal setting, and action planning.

Currently, Linda is combining her theatrical experience with her business skills to create programs focusing on Character Development that assists young and old to cope with today’s performance pressures.

Linda’s first book, The Business Pitch (working title) is expected out in late 2009.

  So, this week we talk about creativity. I believe there is a link between perseverence and creativity. Sometimes when we struggle and face seemingly overwhelming obstacles, it is the time for us to tap into the creativity that resides within us. We cannot rely on the way things have always been done. We cannot depend on someone, or something, else to provide the answers we seek. We have to take time to think. We have to take time to contemplate what is the same and what has changed. We have to know what the real, underlying issues are. I am working on this for the workshop and for my business.

  For those who are available to attend this final workshop to raise money for the Odyssey of the Mind team, onWednesday, April 29 at 6:30 pm, please email me for details. I look forward to getting creative with you for the benefit of the next generation.

Each profession may have its own philosophy and code of ethics that members are bound to respect. There may be research, study, and continuous learning components. No one who considers him/herself a professional can expect to complete the minimal requirements and rest on the laurels of that education or training for their entire career. Professionalism is also reflected in the active service, both paid and volunteer, that professionals provide. They may serve as mentors and role models for others.

When employees demonstrate a high level of professionalism they will usually be rewarded with autonomy. They are trusted to know what has to be done, do it with diligence, and complete the assignment without fault. They will be afforded the opportunity to use their own judgement in determining how to solve problems and how to approach challenges. Because of their inherent work ethic, they take pride in the quality of their work.

Those who we describe as professional also have a particular way of being outside of the tasks that they perform. They tend to be cool under pressure, able to move easily between social settings and handle public events with confidence. Someone demonstrating professionalism is able to omit emotional outbursts when handling stressful situations. They maintain their focus, accept the urgency of the situation, and act responsibly when resolving difficult matters. By doing so, they maintain the respect of their peers, superiors, and subordinates,

Simple things like punctuality and common courtesy also contribute to a person’s sense of professionalism. Gossiping, backbiting, and sabotage are not tolerated in the repertoire of professional behaviours.

If you want to rate your own level of professionalism, go to my website, www.lindajlord.com and download a free checklist. Already on the website? Visit the Downloads tab at the top of the page.

My predisposition is always to start with self-understanding. Personal learning and self-development will continue to be critical in the growth of youth leaders. The more they are able to deal with the paradox of strengths and weaknesses co-residing in their body, the better able they will be to manage other demands of leadership. With self-understanding comes the opportunity to develop character: what a person does even when no one is looking. A strong individual who is in touch with his/her beliefs, core values, and personal standards has the foundation for becoming a strong leader.

In conjunction with character is courage. Leadership is not easy. Relate professional leadership back to National Parent Leadership Month. I believe it takes a great deal of courage to provide leadership at home. It’s tough to make the hard calls and to follow-through with consequences for poor behavioural choices. Leadership in business is no different. Everyone of us has to be ready to take a stand for what we believe in and against what we don’t. Leadership puts you out there; on the line and in the trenches.

Other ‘soft’ or interpersonal skills that will be important include the ability to create rapport with staff and colleagues; how approachable they are and how able they are to create a safe environment for others to thrive. Another skill to develop is that of caring for others. Compassion and understanding will continue to be necessary for those in leadership; mixed with a healthy balance of accountability. I always believe the art of listening and asking questions will be valuable. The ability to really hear what another person is saying is a gift to any relationship.

I have been focusing on the soft side of leadership, but of course there are other capabilities to be considered. In a world of overscheduling, we have taught our youth to stay busy. But in reality, we should have been teaching the value of taking time to think more. I believe leaders who can think for themselves and are creative problem solvers will be in high demand. As well intentioned as we have been to provide for the next generation, perhaps one of the skills we have sacrificed is their ability to think and act independently; with discernment and wisdom. Time to reflect on a situation. Time to consider the possibilities and the implications of rash choices. Complex decision making and dealing with ambiguity will demand leadership with a specific skill set. Innovation and mental agility to meet the demands of everchanging markets will challenge leaders of tomorrow.

And since we are crafting these leaders to meet all the needs of industry, they will be required to understand business, provide direction for daily operations, and inspire those around them. Oh, and be able to balance all of this with a personal life.

It’s a tall order and I am confident that those youth leaders are being taught and nurtured at this very moment.

What I have observed in my practice, and is supported by independent research, is that there is a list of consistent attributes shared by successful business owners. I have provided them for you here.

They are: self-aware, self-starters, persistent, able to take personal responsibility, are organized, hardworking, a good decision maker, trustworthy, connected, ambitious, patient, and maintains an internal locus of control.

I will be looking at each of these attributes more closely. Stay tuned.

You may have read the articles, bought the planners, and attended the seminars, but like most people you are unable to sustain your best intentions. You have so many options to fix your life that you don’t know where to start or how to know which suggestions would work best for you. It is a hit and miss proposition.

To really reclaim your life, you need to get back in touch with a few simple facts: like who are you, what do you like and dislike, and what matters most to you.

I should warn you. This is not an easy process. Once you decide to take back your life, you will be faced with daily opportunities to abandon the project. There will be others, who you expected to support you, who will appear to want you to fail. You see, they like things the way they are. It is your idea to make changes, not theirs. You may even become overwhelmed yourself with the sheer magnitude of the task. Please, don’t lose heart. It is well worth the effort.

How do I know this? Because I walked where you are now walking. I was stressed and stretched thin. I was touching a lot of things, but not doing anything particularly well. I was treating my business like a hobby. I was overcompensating with my children. I was always busy and always tired, but not accomplishing much. And then things started to fall apart.

Trust me, I have tried everything. I wanted the easy way out; the quick fix, but I realized there was no such thing. If I really wanted things to improve, I had to be willing to do the difficult work to make sure that happened. It wasn’t easy; or fast. There were days that I didn’t see any progress at all. It seemed too daunting and close to impossible. But I did not give up. I reminded myself regularly of the reasons that I wanted to change and the potential rewards on the other side.

It was worth it. My business is better than ever. My children are thriving. I have a wonderful husband. I take time for my key relationships; including the one I have with myself, and I start and end each day with a prayer of gratitude. Are there days when I struggle? Yes. Are there days when it slides into hectic haven? Yes. The trick is not to buy into the pitch that it must be like this every day or to make my dreams come true. I have to choose to stay focused. I have to choose to stop working. I have to choose to spend time with my family. And the beautiful thing is; you can choose, too.