Workplace Wisdom...
Discover Fulfillment in Life and Work
with Michelle Y. Drake

This past Tuesday my oldest son Michael graduated from High School. There were few dry-eyed parents in the crowd. As the evening progressed I found myself listening to the speakers and thinking...who are they talking to? And why are we really crying? Is it for the end of those students childhood or is it for our own missed opportunities as we reflect on the years since we sat in those graduation seats?

The graduates were being encouraged to go out and discover who they are and what they want to do with their lives...most of these kids know that they need to figure this out and are very passionate about what they are about to go discover.

I think that about 80% of the parents, friends and families sitting facing the graduates are who that message is better suited to.

The question to the graduates...

What do you love and how will pursuing that shape your life?

turns into this question for the adults in the audience...

Do you love what you do? How have your career choices shaped your self-image, your quality of life and your family life? (if you think your kids don't know you are miserable at your job...you are kidding yourself!) What am I modeling for my children?

If we as parents get better at living our authentic life, we can help our kids go out into the world ready to explore all of the options they have with a fearless approach that can only translate into success, no matter how you define it.

So as you help your child with their life choices...be brave with your own!

Labels: inspiration

I just met with a very unusual woman last week. She agreed to be interviewed for my book...Thanks for the Bonus...I Quit!

She is an Interfaith Reverend who is trying to find her own way. Admittedly, she does not fall into a clean category for leaving a paying job to find a new one that is more fulfilling...but her story is one that I think many of my readers will relate to.

Her job, by way of programming from society and her family, was a typical 50's housewife. She was to have no career of her own, and support her man and family in anyway that they needed.

The job which she left was her marriage...her bonus was alimony...and now that her children are just about grown, she needs an income. Toward the end of her marriage she started to take random classes in spiritual practices...She found she had a natural talent for these practices and for inspiring people to also explore. She found her quiet in exploration and found her passion in helping others in her community learn to explore. As her "job" was ending...she trained for her next career...and an Interfaith Reverend was born.

Be open to learning about who you are and the talents that may lie dormant in you!

Labels: inspiration

This past week I was at a reception for an organization called Raising Change. Raising change produces products and services that help non-profit organizations raise funding (change) for social change initiatives. Also attending this reception was Debi. Harris....from the Women's Funding Network.

We spoke about ideas for small businesses to partner with non-profits to help advance causes that the business owners feel passionate about and link non-profit organizations with the lifeline of our communities...small business owners. These alliances help small businesses project who the business is to the communities they serve.

I would like to challenge you to think about what you stand for in the local and global community and find ways to support organizations that are working those causes. You will feel more fulfilled and if you are a business owner...you will prosper for putting goodwill out into the world!

Labels: inspiration

In a program development meeting for our Leading the Way Business Mentoring Program we were brainstorming on the following question:

What is the largest challenge for small business owners?

Isolation was the answer that came to mind.

The feeling that no one understands the pressure and responsibility of keeping the business growing and successful. The amazing realization the staff looks to ME for financial stability for their families.

Scary Stuff!

It got me thinking of when I started my first business, Saxton Consulting. I had left my position teaching business courses at Bryant & Stratton College and lept into a training and coaching practice in the town we had just moved to. With no network to build off, I felt very alone...especially at all of those awful networking events I attended.

It was difficult to navigate during thoses first few years. I often wished that there was someone with the expertise, the experience and tools to take me by the hand and lead the way towards success and growth.

I muscled through growing my business but made many mistakes.

I had the advantage of my business degree but needed plain old business sense...which only time could give me. If I had a team of advisors they could have kept me from straying too far off the path. It is not impossible without mentors...but the ride is much easier with them.

I am so excited about the Leading the Way program because the first session starting in September will provide those advisors to women entrepreneurs.

It is kind of like a good 'ole boys network...for women!

If you own a business...
or your quiet voice is directing you toward becoming an entrepreneur...

You Don't Have To Go It Alone...

Let us help you by Leading the Way!

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Labels: news, organizational-effectiveness