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“Until one is committed there is hesitancy…the moment one definitely commits oneself, providence moves in.  So, whatever you do, or dream you can do, begin it.  Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”   -Goethe

The Watershed Group is celebrating 15 years in business!  When I started TWG in 1999 I was not certain of the future.  But as Goethe said, “…whatever you do, or dream you can do, begin it.  Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” And so I took the leap and never looked back.

What a privilege it is to be invited into organizations to offer perspective and guidance resulting in streamlined operations, financial stability and improved care for dying people and their loved ones. I never forget my work eventually touches dying people and that makes me happy.

As we move into the next chapter of hospice care, superb care will be the differentiator and being a willing partner to create the next new...

Each day Hospice leaders look death in the face and adjust their organizations to meet the needs of patients, caregivers, staff, donors, volunteers, referral sources, local/state/federal government regulations and the communities they serve; and do it in the midst of revolutionary change.  They must be fearless, they must be creative, they must be smart, they must be innovative and they must care.  This work is not for the faint of heart.

As many of us in end of life care attend the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Management and Leadership Conference in Washington DC this week, we must remember there are hundreds of people we can meet and access during this time together.  Listen, learn, share and have fun connecting with others who are committed to outstanding end of life care.  Recognize we are indeed all in this together, with a common purpose: support and care of those people facing serious illnesses and their loved ones.

It seems...

Do you work with a “team of experts”?  Or do you work with “expert teams”?  The job of a leader is to put together teams who believe in and live the organizations’ mission, who can influence and carry out change and accomplish established goals.  All the while trusting one another, respecting one another, and even loving each other and the work they do.

The UF Gator Boys are on top, once again.  The University of Florida Men’s basketball team is made up of strong players none of which were All American high school stars or any who will be #1 NBA draft picks. These players play as a team and because of that are currently ranked #1 in the nation going into the NCAA finals tournament.  What is their secret?  A single star player who shoots like a madman or a perfect ball handler or a giant who towers over all the others?

No, the Gator Boys are a team.  Not a “team of experts” but an “expert...

This time of year we are all focusing on new beginnings.  Goals are set, resolutions made and thoughts of “this year I’m going to …” are heard around the land.

Here is a thought, what if our goals went from how much weight we’ll lose or how much money we’ll make this year to how much happiness we will allow and how much love can we give and receive.  What if those were our measures of success instead of titles or status or stuff?  Don’t get me wrong; I like titles and status and stuff, but this year, I’m going to focus on happiness and joy and love first and see where it leads me.

I watched a wonderful Ridley Scott movie recently “A Good Year” with Russell Crowe as the main character Max Skinner.  Max inherits his uncle’s vineyard estate in Provence, France where he spent “the happiest moments of my childhood”.  However, Max was so focused on his work as a high stakes financial...

Socrates said “Know Thyself”.   There is no one more important to get to know than you.  Who are you, what roles do you play, what do you love, what makes you laugh what makes you cry?  When was the last time you asked yourself those questions?

In life we play many roles, some are chosen, others are placed upon us without our full consent.  In the retreats I conduct I ask participants to list all the many roles they play.  Which roles have the limelight right now and which ones would they like to spend more time with.

What roles do you want to have first on your list?  Some of the roles on my list include woman of faith, wife, daughter, friend, aunt, sister, business owner, writer, consultant, coach, recruiter, walker, boater, sunset lover, traveler, artist and I could go on.  As I write this I see that some of my roles are overpowering a few that I want to resurrect.  I’m going to challenge myself to refocus.

Will you?...

In my work as a consultant I have the good fortune to meet and interview all types of people.  I interview everyone from Board members, community leaders, internal staff, housekeepers to executives.  It is always my delight when I meet someone who is “real”; someone who is comfortable in their own skin, with a sensibility about life and not trying to impress anyone.  I know when I have found one of the truth tellers because I get “truth- bumps” (AKA good bumps) when I talk with them.

These people are everywhere, sometimes in the most unexpected places.  I was recently in a small rural town in the south conducting a program assessment.  I met a Board of Directors member who had been the Chief Operating Officer of the largest privately owned agricultural chemical company in the world.  Not in the largest in the USA, but in the world!

How did that happen?  This man came from humble beginnings of picking cotton, stripping...