GreatnessRetreat

GreatnessRetreat Reconnect with what matters. Retreats for adventure, creativity, and mindful self-discovery.

04/10/2026

February 2024. Watching Iowa with my daughter.
She asked why I was taking a picture of this stranger, “Because I’m watching men wear a woman’s jersey.”
Clark 22.

All-time leading scorer (men + women).
Most NCAA tournament points.
Most career 3s.

What’s different?
She trained differently.

Many leaders told me how to be like others to move up.
Don’t be like others, I say.
I was told:
• You need a PhD → I didn’t
• Manufacturing folks can’t go commercial → I did
• Must carry a capital bag → I didn’t

Easy? No.
Differentiated skills? Absolutely.

Your difference is your edge. Just like 22.

Join the next Greatness calls! And learn more leadership tips. See the bio to sign up.

04/08/2026

This Wise Word Wednesday is: Urgency.

Last spring during a race my watch beeped - Low battery. Few miles left. Everything changed.

I didn’t push to finish, I pushed to avoid a DNF (Did not finish), because the race time was based on your own watch.

Leaders, where’s your urgency to perform? Do you need a “low battery” moment to move quicker?
Don’t end the quarter or year with a DNF.
Execute. Deliver. Finish.

For more leadership tips join a Greatness Calls!
See the bio to sign up.

04/01/2026

Are you 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱?

It’s a heavy word.

I’m coaching several people in this space right now, and here’s what I tell them:

Displaced (adj.)
Temporarily removed from where you were, but creating a space to reassess, realign, and discover where you truly belong next.

A few habits that I recommend while displaced.
• 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱.
• 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲.
• 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.

Being displaced isn’t the end. It’s your chance to reposition your life. Don’t waste it.

PS The photo was taken in Marseille where green space gets displaced and reimaged due to scarcity.

03/30/2026

I’ve been working on leadership presence for 25+ years.
And trust me… you would laugh at some of the things I’ve done and not done.

Presence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s practiced. Reworked.

That’s exactly what we’re diving into in my next Greatness Calls! workshop:
Leadership Presence is a Practice.

Sign up in the bio.

03/26/2026

The art of waiting for the right moment: KAIROS
There is power in the pause, as my gym instructor says.

This past week, it became apparent to me that forcing a change when it wasn’t ready to be received was the wrong decision.

Just like these peonies, some things need a moment (in the fridge) before they’re ready to bloom.

Write Kairos somewhere you’ll see it this week and notice how the timing of our actions can shape your impact.

03/19/2026

Today’s word is “repartee.”

A succession or interchange of clever retorts, amusing, witty back-and-forth that keeps the mood fun!

It describes my work peers when we are together.

In my new role, I’ve discovered that repartee is the secret sauce that binds us as a team. It’s the joking at the start of a call. It’s a phrase someone says, like “50 little Horvats” that inspires someone to create an AI-generated image (shown). This playful banter transforms us from coworkers into a tight-knit unit. Yes, we take our jobs seriously. We aim to win in the market. We deliver. But who said we can’t have a blast doing it?

Reflect for a moment: Are you creating Repartee among your peers?

If your answer is “no,” remember last week’s word was VILLAGER. You have to be a villager to create a village. So take the lead and find ways to sprinkle a little repartee magic into your day-to-day!

Some say CASH is king. I believe CULTURE is king. Let’s turn our workplace into a hub of camaraderie and joy!

03/16/2026

Tomorrow I am hosting the next Greatness Calls! which is a monthly developmental workshop.

Topic: Conversations That Open Doors: The 20‑Minute Networking Framework

If you are networking to expand your knowledge, seek a new role, broaden your talents - - - this workshop is for you!

Sign up in the bio. It’s Free!

03/11/2026

Banzai is a Japanese exclamation meaning “ten thousand years” or a wish for long life, joy, or celebration like shouting “Hooray!” or “Long live…!” in England.

At our National Sales Meeting, Tyler explained this word and then brought the word to life. When he cheered BANZAI and the rest of the audience followed his lead. He sparked a movement. He created an energy that united the room.

That’s the leadership lesson: passion ignites change. Passion inspires people. Passion unites people.

If you’re ready to explore your passions more deeply, join us at the next Greatness Retreat in Asheville, a space to reconnect with what drives you.

BANZAI!

03/05/2026

“You want a Village? You have to be a Villager! “

I was inspired by my daughter to change my originally planned wise word from “invitation” to “villager” based on her own advice she gives friends.

For many attending my retreats, socialization is a high priority. The truth stands: if you want to socialize, you can’t sit back and wait for others to extend an invitation. You need to be a villager and take the initiative to invite others into your village.

Here are some villager ideas:
- Organize a dinner or coffee date a friend or two
- Start a book club to explore new reads together
- Go with your village to a cooking class or flower arranging workshop

02/27/2026

11 assumptions are made in first 7 seconds of meeting someone

These judgments often include perceptions of your:
• Credibility
• Intelligence
• Trustworthiness
All core components of leadership presence.

Loved workshopping this recently at MSU.

Your presence speaks before your words do.
Fair or not. Bias or not. It happens.

Don’t take for granted those 7 seconds!

02/26/2026

This crooked tree wasn’t accidental.
It was shaped to guide travelers by our indigenous people.

A reminder that paths are often marked before us. We just have to pause long enough to see them.

Honored to bring this reflection into our Asheville retreat including time near the Cherokee Reservation.

Join us, your next trail marker is waiting.

Sign up for an informational call in the Bio.

02/25/2026

Wise Word Wednesday: PIVOT
End of February.
8 weeks into the year.
Time to pause and ask:
Do you need to pivot?
As a business owner, healthcare leader, mom of two college adults, board member… I’ve made intentional pivots in 2025.
Career.
Greatness Retreat (more workshops + speaking).
Even stepping back from board work — for this season.
Each pivot was deliberate.
And it’s paying off.
My health is better.
My mind feels clearer.
I feel giddy again about what’s ahead.
If life feels heavy….pause.
Where might you need to pivot?

Photo from Australia 🌹
Roses blooming behind me… blurred, but full of color.
Because life is like that sometimes…
a little blurry, but still beautiful.

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