Bonus Track

The Spoken Word In Decline: Mobile Communications

the decline of the spoken word: mobile communications

Mobile Communications I love my mobile device, LOVE it. I am happy to live in a time when any kind of communication can be achieved at any time. My mobile carrier is AT&T and for the most part, I have been very happy with the service – as a matter of fact, it seems to [...]

May 16, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

The Written Word in Decline: Social Communication

by Ray_anne

Social Communication is, indeed, a Culprit Several years ago, like any other who embraced the cell phone, I took up texting. And Facebook. And then came Twitter. And multiple other forms of social communication through the quickly written word. I fell in love with it and how it was so easily integrated into my life. I use it daily and nightly. [...]

May 15, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Has Routine Become an Anchor?

by Ray_anne

A Change Will Do You Good My life and work have changed over the last few years – mostly because I have learned to balance life and work – not an easy task. I have rested, actually taken vacations. And I have found value in that rest and what I call moments in the quiet. To wake [...]

May 14, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

It’s True about Money and Happiness

by Ray_anne

Fear of the Unknown I once stood behind a large family in line at a currency exchange booth in the South Pacific. I leaned in and realized that I couldn’t understand a word they were saying and thus began my worry that I would not be able to communicate with those who worked behind the [...]

May 9, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Exhaustion Has No Prejudice

by Ray_anne

Mainlining Sanity I have advocated in the past about the importance of taking a vacation. Part of my series on Mainlining Sanity has a great deal to do with taking time off to recoup, regroup, and regenerate. It is vital and we fail at this, often. We are a smart society, yet we have [...]

May 8, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Instant Cure for Stress: A Smile

by Ray_anne

Waiting on a Smile: Best Cure for Stress

Waiting on a Smile We waited in the outdoor terminal for our ride. We waited and waited. Someone named Norman (not his real name, I’m sure) was to pick us up and take us to the little house we had rented right on the beach. The aggravation was starting to set in for a [...]

May 2, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

How We Change: By Choice or By Experience

by Ray_anne

Change in the Making Tom Hanks has impeccable timing and his deadpan delivery made him a funny man with whom to be reckoned. It is that timing, I believe that also makes him such a great dramatic actor. His change from comedy to drama has resulted in him becoming one of the most celebrated and [...]

May 1, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

A Volunteer’s Life Passion Over the Rainbow

by Ray_anne

Over the Rainbow One time in the South Pacific – a long time ago, in a land far away – an older gentleman stood in the center of a baggage carousel playing the ukulele – my favorite instrument. Songs like “What a Wonderful World” and “Over the Rainbow” lazily spilled from his lips as he [...]

April 30, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

What I have Learned About Life and Careers: Be Willing to Fly

by Ray_anne

What I have learned about life and careers: learn to fly

Making Wise Choices A couple years ago, I made the mistake of watching Amelia with Hilary Swank before I crossed the South Pacific in a little twin prop plane. You are probably familiar with the story of Amelia Earhart and how she disappeared flying an airplane somewhere over the Western Pacific Ocean. Not the best movie to [...]

April 25, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Life’s Unrealized Privileges

by Ray_anne

Unrealized Privileges A couple years ago, I ventured to the small island of Aitutaki in the South Pacific with my fiance. It was beautiful, but so very primitive. There was not a lot of commerce and really the only things to do were to cruise around the island by scooter, swim/snorkel in the lagoons, and, well…, sight-see. It was incredibly [...]

April 23, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Being Productive Without Being in a Hurry

by Ray_anne

I Waive Your Wave Twenty years ago, while working for a children’s dentist, I carefully mixed cement for a temporary crown on a baby tooth. My boss - the dentist - waved his free hand frantically, in an effort to get me to hurry. Many things would cause my dentist to want me to hurry: behavioral problems [...]

April 18, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Why We Follow Those Who Lead

by Ray_anne

Land of the Pelicans Where I live, there are literally thousands upon thousands of pelicans that fly, dive, commute, eat, nest, and live. They are an interesting bird in that their size is significantly larger than the average bird (up to a ten-foot wingspan) and they can be seen flying either in formation with several other pelicans or [...]

April 17, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

You’re Either Solving a Problem or Part of a Problem

by Ray_anne

solving a problem or part of the problem

I love business. The fact that I do love business was a shocking revelation to me many, many years ago. I had always worked in the dental field, in a service-oriented role and for the majority of my dental career (fifteen years of it) was spent helping little children conquer their fears and become good [...]

April 10, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Casual But Powerful: Conversations that Need to Happen

by Ray_anne

A Conference of the Minds In the past, I have had the incredible good fortune of attending the ERE Spring Expo in San Diego – this is a conference and expo geared toward in-house or corporate hiring professionals. I am a big fan of any gathering where great minds, incredible technology, and brilliant conversations are [...]

April 9, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Lesson #1: Never Give Up

by Ray_anne

My Yellow Brick Road: Recruiting My first recruiting job was for a healthcare executive search firm that specialized in those “difficult-to-fill” Manager and Director level positions. We also thought we had the market cornered on providing the best search service; kind of like the yellow brick road being the only way to the great and powerful Oz [...]

April 4, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

A Real Smile or The Big Fake: You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do

by Ray_anne

The Big Fake Answering the “Are you Happy?” question isn’t always easy. Sometimes, we actually fake it. Sometimes, we have to. What else is there to do? Smiling your way through the day, even when you don’t feel like smiling, has an unlikely way of helping. There is a saying that goes something like this –> Sometimes [...]

April 3, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Are You Happy? Finding Your Rainbow

by Ray_anne

Are You Happy? It’s a simple enough question, but how would you really answer? Truly answer. We spend a considerable amount of time trying to cover up guilt, disregard regret, deny jealousy, and resolve contempt that we often forget our main pursuit – or what should be our main pursuit: Happiness. Happiness. A worthy pursuit, certainly. But [...]

April 2, 2013 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

My Lesson: Stay on Your Toes – You Can’t Prepare for Everything

by Ray_anne

“Do you want us to perform life-saving measures on the baby?” I think I barely blinked as the question was asked. “You mean my daughter?” I responded. “Yes, ma’am,” she hesitated, “your daughter,” came the somber response from the doctor who stood before me. She was flanked by two nurses, one holding a clipboard. I looked [...]