– Jane
· · · Jane’s Thread · · ·
Thanks for the Testimonial, Joan Cavanaugh
My talk this week about Living 25,000 Miles Outside Your Comfort Zone is Wednesday night. I got my first review after giving a Mastermind colleague of mine a sneak preview. Joan Cavanaugh, who has worlds of experience and has heard thousands of speakers, sent me...
My First Indiegogo Contribution
I've known Diane Ripstein since I joined the National Speakers Association in 1997. I knew that she was a communications expert par excellence. I'd seen her present to audiences and demonstrate her vast skills as a business leader and authority on the subject of...
3 Dozen New Outfits with Scarlett
I didn't buy a lot of stuff on my trip, but I do want to show off the few things I did purchase. Of course, my go-to professional for this assignment is always Scarlett DeBease. She was here this morning for under three hours, and we (she, really) came up with 36...
Comfort Zones ‘R Us?
On June 11 I'll be giving my first public talk about my Semester at Sea--the experiences I had traveling with 550 students around the world, visiting 11 countries, most of which are not touristy in the way Americans, especially me, expect. Things like heat (in...
My First Best Friend
When I attended Camp Chinqueka, a sleepaway camp for girls, back in the last century, I met Cookie, aka Marisabina, Russo. We were great friends back then and re-discovered our relationship when she attended my alma mater, Mount Holyoke College. She truly is my...
How Often Does This Happen?
When was the last time you were thanked for unsubscribing from a newsletter or distribution list? For me, it was on Sunday. Since I've arrived back in NY, I've been listening to my heart and gut and noticing what I feel like doing, versus what I should be doing....
My Hierarchy of Needs – Post Travel Post #1
My Semester at Sea (SAS) is behind me now. Ninety-plus days of luxurious freedom to travel, meet new people, see the world and not have any responsibility. As a Lifelong Learner (LLL), I audited classes--no papers, no exams, no getting called on in class. As a...
Feel the Bump
I received a certificate yesterday as I graduated from pollywog to shellback. This rite of passage was earned by 600 of us onboard while crossing the equator. The ritual included being slimed with blue fluids (fish guts, they said), jumping en masse into the pool...
Just Before I Leave
Twenty-four hours from now I'll be en route. I've been extremely well feted by friends and family. I've gotten to experience the glow of my life here, which I'll carry with me while abroad. Last night I said good-bye to my daughter and her family. On the way up to...
Five Days and Counting
Working backward from my departure next Tuesday, I'm figuring out what meals I still need to shop for and prepare, how many more loads of laundry there are to do and which articles of clothing I can safely pack away into storage to make room for my tenant. My...
How Do You Know It’s a Calling?
When I was a kid I thought that to be a grown-up meant knowing how to drive a stick shift car, speaking French and living in a Victorian. I realize these date me, but they represented a worldview that felt like it had my name on it. So did 'sailing around the...
It’s All About the Trip
With just one week to go before my departure, I've wound down my groups and have only a few more coaching calls before I climb aboard the MV Explorer in Kobe, Japan. My final preparations include getting my tax info off to my accountant, converting dollars to yens...
What is Your Time Worth?
My client Heather recently took a giant leap forward in her business and committed to office space outside her home. Her marketing business has grown exponentially, and it's time to take on staff and a physical presence in her community. She has a big vision and is...
Beware the Small Business Scammer
I received a congratulatory notice in my inbox that not only had I been nominated (I must've missed that email), but I had also been awarded the 2013 Best of Business Award in the Small Business category. This smelled bad from the get-go. Especially since the...
How Will You Be Different on May 2?
In a recent correspondence with a friend, after I told her about my upcoming voyage, she posed the question, "What will you do after your trip?" My resounding response was, "I don't know! That's why I'm going." Several courageous voyagers have accepted my Come Away...