My smartphone surprised me. It was about 7pm, and I had just gotten back to my hotel room after a long day at an out-of-town speaking engagement. I was startled by a flash from my phone, with the message, “Good evening, Colette” and photo of what looked like a row of brightly lit New Orleans…
“Envy is the art of counting the other fellow’s blessings instead of your own.” ~ Harold Coffin Connecting with others often brings warm, fuzzy feelings of affection, mutual understanding, and inclusion. But let’s face it, all that can go out the window quickly when someone you know gets something you want—like that promotion, that new…
As a professional speaker, it’s not uncommon to review presentation notes or nap on a 6 am, 5-hour flight to the east coast. So recently, when I woke up to witness my male seatmate peering over my tray table and reading my women’s career leadership notes, I was not surprised. Yet, his actions laid the…
Change is inevitable. As humans, we reject change naturally because we are creatures of habit. Even the most adventurous individuals often long for rituals and everyday normal routines. After all, consistency and control over our schedule lowers our stress. Yet, if you strive to be a leader and a person of influence in your place…
One of the questions I am asked as a speaker who teaches the power of relationship building is this: How can I be more influential in the workplace? You already understand the benefits of being an influential person at your place of work. People look up to you, respect you, etc., and this…
If all your teachers walked, talked, thought and looked like you, your education would suffer greatly. What makes you think mentorship is any different? Whether protégé or mentor, when cultivating connections, diversity matters to maximize learning and growth. Talent takes many forms. As a leader, you may know this intellectually, yet still find yourself guiding…
As a professional speaker, I’m always stressing the value of mindful, genuine communication in building effective business relationships. So, it’s no wonder I get excited when I hear of companies ready to step outside their comfort zone to put this into practice. That’s especially true when corporate leaders show they’re willing to break out of…
Can you remember the last time you spent an hour with someone between the ages of 12 and 64, when neither of you checked your phone? Let’s face it—these days, media-free time is a rarity. In fact, according to research reported on Axios, we check our phones 50 times each day on average, with some…
How did Kendra Scott go from designing jewelry out of her spare bedroom with a $500 investment in 2002 to being valued at $1 billion in recent months? This smart, savvy businesswoman knows and leverages the power of connection. Witnessing Kendra on the platform at a recent event, I walked away with certainty that your…