Leadership Lessons from the Dentist Chair by Valerie Nishi

I used to hate going to the dentist. I recall childhood dentists who grinned as they fired up drills like they were chainsaws.

That is until I met Dr. Tony Knight.

Seems every time I go to my dentists I learn something valuable about leadership. His is a special story.

To begin with, he’s no ordinary dentist, because he’s no ordinary man.

Starbucks Lovers by Lisa Eckmyn

I sat drinking tea in a downtown Seattle Starbucks the other day. I was writing, waiting for a friend and listening as k.d. lang sang “Hallelujah” in the background.

My attention kept wandering back to a couple at the next table. She had long dark hair and he was tall and casually dressed. Her back was to me, but I could see his face. In fact I had trouble keeping my eyes away from him. He stared at her with such rapt attention. He smiled and laughed softly. He was so clearly engaged with her and he sent off this warm energy that expanded beyond the two of them.

Now, I have rarely been accused of being romantic, so it was not the type of thing that would usually catch my attention. But his emotional presence was so strong I was drawn into it.

Like My Father Before Me… by Mark Frein

I am an educator, like my father before me.*

How do you push yourself? by Krysty Wideen

One day, in one of my university classes, a presenter came in at the start of class to tell us all about this amazing opportunity to volunteer and travel abroad for a month with other students like ourselves. I was instantly intrigued, attended the information session, and signed up before I even realized what was happening. Suddenly, I was leaving for the Dominican Republic with no Spanish, no one I knew, and no idea what to expect. It was a scary, uncomfortable, tough, enlightening, and wonderful experience. Among many other things, I learned a valuable lesson about myself. Sometimes, to push myself to learn and experience something new, I just have to sign up.