Laura Wolfe Coaching LLC

Supporting the Evolution of Careers, Leaders,

& Climate Consciousness

Need to Hang Together

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Laura Wolfe Coaching & Consulting

Laura Wolfe Coaching & Consulting

I followed an online conversation recently which concluded with the thought that women need to stop being so critical of each other and support one another as we are. Accept that my style is different from your style and that neither is necessarily the only way or perfect. But if it is right for who you are, then it’s right. (And I’m really glad for you.)

As a woman, it takes courage to stand and defend another woman when she is being pushed around by others or the system. If you don’t, you’ll probably have a little nagging guilt that stays with you for a long time. (And that’s bad energy.)

Also, ladies, don’t be so threatened by other women. Connection and collaboration and referrals and public praise and endorsements and having a wing(wo)man are so much more powerful than a letter from an attorney. (Which is also some bad energy.)

That’s it for this week. If we aren’t already connected via social media, send me an invite. I’d love to be in your network and have you in mine.

Finally, check out my new look and thanks for reading!

Your thoughts on this one?

Many Ways

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Festigals

Festigals

I had a blast last weekend at Festigals. One of the many high points was hearing Mary Von Kurnatowski talk about the work of the Tipitina’s Foundation and receiving the gift of Goin’ Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino.

Later at lunch, a group of us were discussing serving others at many different levels. Mary Von K has had the awesome opportunity to affect the world on a large scale by providing instruments to kids and supporting musicians. A person at the table said that she knew that serving could also be as simple as giving those she encountered a kind smile. Someone else shared the story of sending a note to the boss of employees who always took care of her. In turn, the boss bought the employees lunch.

This conversation reminded me of a Katrina lesson. An amazing thing about natural disasters is that they bring out a deep-rooted need to serve in most people not directly affected by the event. The Katrina lesson is this: so much need exists in the world that there is a perfect fit for how you can give. After the storm, my husband and I volunteered at the Parker Coliseum on the LSU campus where more than 1300 pets were being sheltered. Taking care of these family members that had to be left behind was a great experience.

And in the same way, on a daily basis, an opportunity (need) is out there for you to act on, using your gifts to make the world a better place. Some big, some small, but all important.
What’s your favorite way to serve?

My Dog is an Extrovert

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Pearl

Pearl e. girl

Of that I am sure. Pearl draws energy from being around all creatures including humans, dogs, and cats. You can see her enthusiasm as she interacts with any and everyone; she gets so excited we worry she might pop. If Pearl sees someone behind us on a walk, she will sit refusing to move, and wait for them to catch up so she can say hello. And this dog really loves a parade (except for the drums).

The Extroversion/Introversion dichotomy was popularized by Carl Jung and is a way to describe where people direct their attention and get their energy. Extroverts prefer to be outer focused and involved in activities with others and get energy from being around people. Extroverts enjoy being ‘outside their self’.

The Extroversion/Introversion dimension is often conceptualized as a continuum and at the opposite end are introverts, people who have a preference for their inner world of ideas and thoughts. They recharge from time alone and enjoy being ‘inside their self’. According to Jung, we all have an innate preference for either extroversion or introversion, just like being right or left-handed.

That’s not to say that Introverts can’t engage in extroverted behavior successfully and vice-versa.

The recent buzz about Introversion has slowed since Susan Cain’s wonderful book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking hit bookstore shelves more than a year ago. But I’m glad for the conversation it created around the idea that people differ on something as fundamental as where one directs their attention and gets energized.

Understanding whether another person is naturally an introvert or an extrovert can help us all interact more effectively with others at home, school, or work.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert? What about your dog?

Mixed Bag

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BR Blues

Another wall by BR Walls

Happy Friday!

First off I’d like to give a shout out to the BR Walls Project.  We attended the Unveiling Party — Wall #6 – “Baton Rouge Blues” by Charles Barbier. It’s great to see art creating community. Or is it community creating art?

Last week’s thought-provoking blog post by Anne-Marie Slaughter brought to mind the book, In a Different Voice by Carol Gilligan which I discovered 20 years ago while in grad school. Definitely worth a quick review. How do you imagine your place in the world of work – as in a web or on a ladder?

And on another unrelated topic, I’m quickly becoming a fan of Dorie Clark and appreciated the tips she shared in her no nonsense post on How to Become a Professional Public Speaker.

Finally, for the last few weeks we’ve been doing home-improvement and (again) I’ve realized how expensive it is and how tempting the unhealthy choices are when you eat out every meal. So thankful to be able to wash and prep fresh fruits and vegetables in my own kitchen again!

What’s up with you this week?