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Just as I was adjusting to losing a job, its income, and benefits (see last week’s email if you missed that bit of excitement), this happened. First, let me be clear; I am fortunate. I’m not ou…
Just as I was adjust…
Just as I was adjusting to losing a job, its income, and benefits (see last week’s email if you missed that bit of excitement), this happened. First, let me be clear; I am fortunate. I’m not out on the streets or sleeping on friends’ sofas (done that before). My gratitude for all I have is sky-high, and in the broadest sense, I know I will survive this challenge. But sitting at my desk, three days post-firing, reviewing and replying to job postings, I was unprepared for this. Here’s some backstory. When Covid lockdowns occurred, many of my friends joked that I no longer nee…
James Swan
March 25, 2023
As I work to grow my private Coaching practice, my position as a Business Success and Strategy Coach for an international online marketing agency has filled an important role. Steady income, a benefit…
As I work to grow my…
As I work to grow my private Coaching practice, my position as a Business Success and Strategy Coach for an international online marketing agency has filled an important role. Steady income, a benefits package, and camaraderie with some brilliant people make this an essential part of my life. Last Wednesday was my monthly one-on-one with my team leader, a guy I greatly admire and have learned a lot from. As the Zoom screen opened, I knew something was up. Joining Dave was Julia, the firm’s COO. It took just a few seconds for Julia’s presence to be explained. “Today would be m…
James Swan
March 17, 2023
Have you ever taught a cat to bark? It’s a very involved process. You will spend weeks, months, and years diligently repeating your instructions to the cat, “I need you to bark.” You may …
Have you ever taught…
Have you ever taught a cat to bark? It’s a very involved process. You will spend weeks, months, and years diligently repeating your instructions to the cat, “I need you to bark.” You may even demonstrate to your feline companion the exact sound you desire them to produce. Morning, noon, and night you will drill the cat, using various intonations for more significant impact but always returning to the primary request, “Bark.” After years of consistent, creative, and laborious effort, you feel you’ve reached the apex of training. Confident in your actions and believing w…
James Swan
March 8, 2023
It should have been a simple event. There should have been no stress, just relaxed fun with a group I enjoy spending time with. On deck was a small (35-40 person) supper staffed by a seasoned gr…
It should have been …
It should have been a simple event. There should have been no stress, just relaxed fun with a group I enjoy spending time with. On deck was a small (35-40 person) supper staffed by a seasoned group of volunteers. Planning meetings were perfunctory; supply lists were drawn up, assignments were selected, and with one week out, everything was on track. I arrive on schedule on the event day, expecting the kitchen to be in full swing with meal prep. Instead, I realized that my right-hand person (the one writing up the lists of assignments during our planning session) had utterly dropped th…
James Swan
March 1, 2023
What Is It About Giving As my little saga of the burst water pipe dries out, I’m happy to report much less drama. The insurance company has sent an adjuster, my contractor has promised to make ti…
What Is It About Giv…
What Is It About Giving As my little saga of the burst water pipe dries out, I’m happy to report much less drama. The insurance company has sent an adjuster, my contractor has promised to make time to stop by, and with temperatures in a normal range for February in Maine, all appear manageable. Amid my burst-pipe kerfuffle (I’ve wanted to use that word for months), I have thought over and over again how fortunate I am that this (cue the insurance company, general contractor, tradespeople…etc.) is the extent of drama in my life. Scan the headlines. The world isn’t a pretty sigh…
James Swan
February 22, 2023
