Week 16

Last week, what I remember of it:

The good:

1. Worked on several projects for clients
2. Finished three marketing pieces -- one of which is a surprisingly fresh, storytelling piece that I hope my clients will enjoy.  Had fun working on it with graphic designer Elisabeth.  I really feel the flow when creating these materials, especially when I feel passionate about the story we are telling.
3. Conducted our April community dialogue seminar about being authentic at work.  Strong dialogue, continuing to prove the method.  Excellent service from the Widder Hotel makes these seminars feel a little bit like a spa experience.  One aspect of the seminar unfortunately also hits my "not perfect" list below for other reasons.
4. Spent some time with a former colleague who always is fun to talk with and has interesting ideas.
5. Facilitated my first Professional Women's Group of Zurich dinner event as the Chairwoman.  I feel good to be a leader of it because it is so international, diverse and supports a range of choices through retirement -- and also because the changes I've made in my life to reduce travel allow me to do it!

The "not perfect"

1. A smaller group attended our dialogue seminar than expected because of "no shows."  I must learn to manage this situation.  The session did NOT crash and burn as a result because it is designed for small groups; the participants who attended brought spirit and enthusiasm.  But it creates more energy when the group is a bit more diverse.
2. I became more irritable than necessary when someone said "there are no complaints about you" in a context that I could hear paraphrased in my ear:  "We are so perfectly the role model of who you should be that we will stand in judgment and let you know what you should do differently."  What is that?  Arrogance?  Ego?  Of course, the one other person who stands out in my experience as once having said something like that to me in a professional role then role modeled how to get fired for misconduct some years later.  I think I'll keep an ear to my voice and let others make their own choices. Wish I had focused on that idea before being irritated!
3. Did not finish all of my invoicing

And finally, what I learned:  that it is great to have the time to do more than just jump out of an airplane, into a taxi and onto a hotel bed.  I saw more of Amsterdam last week than in the dozen other times I have visited.  All because I took a little time to look around when I could instead of doing 100 e-mails.