Problem Solving

Have you ever given a mouse a cookie? You probably have not. Well, neither have I. But if you did, you’d quickly find that one small gesture can spiral into a series of unexpected requests, along with some messiness.  Sound familiar? It’s a lot like our project initiatives, where one decision leads to another and…

In 1931, Albert Einstein wrote an essay titled The World As I See It, in which he reflected, “A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of others, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same…

My neighbour recently had their roof replaced, but it didn’t go quite as planned. Mostly because…well…there wasn’t really a plan. Or any communication. It all began with collecting quotes. Contractors came and went, each offering a different price. Some estimates were low because they only covered the basics, while others included every possible item they…

Did you know the average person has between 10,000 and 70,000 thoughts a day?  I think it’s safe to say that those of us leading projects sit on the higher end of that scale, closer to 70,000 thoughts per day. Between deadlines, talkative stakeholders, and the occasional “Did I send that email?” or “Where are…

I’ll admit it. I’m a stickler, and I know it. It’s one of the reasons I’m good at leading complex projects. But it also means that sometimes I can drive myself (and others) a little bananas when plans go off track. Not long ago, a new acquaintance found out I’m a project manager and laughed,…

Last weekend I stayed in a tiny home for the very first time. It was small, cozy, and charming, with everything I needed. Life felt wonderfully simple. My friends and I have been challenging each other lately to cut out unnecessary clutter and live with a little more lightness. None of us plan on moving…

I was riding the train this past weekend, happily watching the scenery roll by, when the next stop brought some excitement. A bunch of people in colourfully themed costumes suddenly swarmed the doors I was sitting next to, led by a frazzled organizer determined to pack the entire group into one car. Meanwhile, the conductor,…

How productive were you this past week?  I was super productive.  Want to know my secret? It wasn’t a new app, a fancy planning tool, or working longer hours. It was something much simpler: I spent time alone. Time for yourself I used to be a go-go-go kind of person, filling every waking moment with…

“There are a thousand thousand thousand ways to learn how to meet this world.” Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, Poet It’s been a busy past year, and I’ve had my share of stressful situations to work through. I’m sure many of you can relate, especially with how quickly our world keeps changing. That’s why my annual trip…

Continuing from last week’s article about problem solving without pants, I’d like to briefly talk about another situation that popped up while on my latest volunteering adventure. Since my event was a weekend-long music festival, I needed a volunteer wristband. I showed up early to a big field, about ten minutes before the check-in tent…