The Top 10 Most Popular TalentGrow Blog Posts in 2017 (and a change for 2018)

The Top 10 Most Popular TalentGrow Blog Posts in 2017 (and a change for 2018)

As we stare down the last days of 2017, let’s stroll down memory lane and look back at some of the popular content I’ve already created on the TalentGrow blog. According to my website traffic statistics, what were the top 10 most visited  blog posts in 2017?

Drumroll please….

Plus, an announcement about what will change in 2018. Check it out!

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Gratitude is good for you (and not just for Thanksgiving)

Gratitude is good for you (and not just for Thanksgiving)

...gratitude is a feeling that is a key to happiness, and it is most definitely not something to save for one day (or week) per year. We really must raise our experience of gratitude all year round.

Today, I’ll give you a couple of reasons why gratitude is good for you (even better than my Jewish grandmother’s chicken soup), backed by science. We’ll look at how you can get goodness out of gratitude in different ways. Finally, I’ll help you discover (or remember) that gratitude can be experienced and expressed in every context of your life.

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Let’s get gritty! (Book Review: Getting Grit by Caroline Adams Miller)

Let’s get gritty! (Book Review: Getting Grit by Caroline Adams Miller)

Grit is so important to goal accomplishment and success that I decided to share some golden nuggets of wisdom from both the book and the podcast right here in this post, to get you started. In this blog post, I’ll share some of Caroline’s thoughts and ideas on what is grit, specifically her concept of authentic grit, why we need to cultivate more grit in our culture, the good and bad types of grit, and how to grow your grit by adding the ingredients required for grit according to Caroline’s ‘grit recipe’.

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The TalentGrow Show podcast is now part of C-Suite Radio

The TalentGrow Show podcast is now part of C-Suite Radio

PRESS RELEASE: THE TALENTGROW SHOW PODCAST HAS BEEN SELECTED AS A SHOWCASE SHOW ON C-SUITE RADIO

Los Angeles, CA, February 1, 2017: The TalentGrow Show podcast has been selected on C-Suite Radio, the premier source for the world’s leading business podcasts for c-suite leaders, business executives, and entrepreneurs.

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Diamonds in your back yard: How to get really rich (Hint: it’s a metaphor)

Diamonds in your back yard: How to get really rich (Hint: it’s a metaphor)

Are there diamonds in your back yard that you're not paying any attention to? This short story of a thoughtful gift I received and the meaningful fable behind it will help you focus on the gifts you already have and should be leveraging to become truly rich.

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2016 in review: the numbers and some lessons behind them

2016 in review: the numbers and some lessons behind them

As I considered the best way to summarize the year of 2016, I thought I’d review the year I’ve had in a list of numbers. Then, I’ll expand a bit on three of those items to draw some lessons from them as I look ahead to 2017. Please chime in below in the comments to give me feedback or input. I would love that very much! 

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3 reasons why sometimes you must toss out your plans

3 reasons why sometimes you must toss out your plans

Do you ever completely throw out your plans and do something that you spontaneously create in the moment because it seems like a better idea?

If so – do you feel good or guilty about that? If not – are you held back because you’ve already set your mind on a plan and you stick to it?

What’s the right thing to do?

Sometimes, you just gotta toss out your plans.

Here are three reasons why your planning is more important than your plans:

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The surprising connection between Pokémon GO and luck

The surprising connection between Pokémon GO and luck

Too often, we look at various situations and ascribe their source to this magical type of luck when there was a greater degree of choice and intentionality than we give credit to.

In my view, most of the things we brand as ‘luck’ are actually the result of the person being open to opportunities and intentional with their goals and aspirations.

So what does Pokémon GO have to do with luck?

While I was speaking to my audience about the value of networking for creating publishing opportunities and connections, it hit me: it's just like Pokémon GO!

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Hope on the tarmac: How I practiced optimism and why and how you can, too

Hope on the tarmac: How I practiced optimism and why and how you can, too

Ever get stuck in a seemingly hopeless situation?

Ever get stuck in a thinking funk?

Today, I’ll share my story of how I experienced both, and what I did to get unstuck and see the bright side. Plus, I’ll show you why and how to get yourself in a more optimistic mindset to produce better results.

First, my story...

Hopeless in Houston: How I got my thinking unstuck and got my plane to take off (well, sort of…)

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Haters gonna hate: why courageous leadership is not a popularity contest

Haters gonna hate: why courageous leadership is not a popularity contest

Have you ever received feedback from hundreds of people on your performance? You work very hard to design the product or presentation, you prepare, and you rehearse or practice.

You try your best to deliver on the pre-established expectations and meet the established standards. And you succeed – if measured objectively – because the vast majority of people feel satisfied with your delivery on promises and appreciate your contribution toward addressing their needs. But… There are always those few that are not feelin’ it. So, what should we do in the face of unfair, or personal, or harsh criticism? This blog post tells my story about a recent situation where 'haters' criticized me and lessons for what you can do if this happens to you, from other experienced leaders in my network as well as from my experience. Give it a read and chime in!

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3 tricks for breaking through procrastination

3 tricks for breaking through procrastination

Ever struggle with procrastination on important, but not urgent, projects or tasks? Many of my clients do, and I do as well. In this short vlog, I share three actionable tricks that can help you break through your procrastination to achieve those important results that can add value to your business or personal life.

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Asking your boss for feedback? Here are some Dos and Don'ts to keep in mind

Asking your boss for feedback? Here are some Dos and Don'ts to keep in mind

It might seem scary to ask your boss how you’re doing at your job—especially if you’re the kind of person who responds emotionally to criticism or breaks out in hives at the thought of it. But the experts agree: regularly asking for feedback is the easiest way for you to improve at your job, and get a clear understanding of what value you’re providing. You just need to know a few tricks of the trade to make sure you’re maximizing the ask—and timing it well. Here, we break down the dos and don’ts. By author: Corie Hengst, levo.com

[I was interviewed for this article, which originally appeared on levo.com and is re-posted here with permission. ~Halelly]

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Leaders: Don’t let your meetings suck!

Leaders: Don’t let your meetings suck!

Too many leaders let their meetings suck.

They have meetings that aren’t necessary, and don’t have agendas or specified roles. Their meetings are too long, and they don’t invite the right people. They don’t ensure that meetings achieve their objectives as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Please. Please don’t be one of those leaders who let their meetings suck!

Here are some suggestions for what you can do instead, to have less crappy meetings where things actually get done.

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Top 10 Takeaways for High Performance from the Tim Ferriss Show Live in L.A.

Top 10 Takeaways for High Performance from the Tim Ferriss Show Live in L.A.

Last week I attended an incredible event here in Los Angeles: mega-popular best-selling author, blogger, and podcaster Tim Ferriss hosted a live podcast recording event at the famous Troubadour night club in Hollywood – his first live show ever. I was really lucky to grab one of the 25 VIP tickets and be among the hundreds of fans who attended this sold-out 4-hour podcast show (4-hour podcast, get it? get it?).

I got a lot out of the event, including a photo with Tim (I’m such a fangirl) and lots of Q&A time.  The guests on the show were Grammy-nominated DJ Kaskade, Olympian snowboarder/ skateboarder Shaun White, Poetry Slam Champion Sekou Andrews, and DJ Nu-mark of Jurassic 5. Yes, there was even dancing!

Here is a review of my top ten key insights, reminders, and takeaways for me that can also help you along your journey. I’ve divided them into three categories: General insights, Guest insights, and Q&A insights.

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The best question to boost your courage in the face of fear

The best question to boost your courage in the face of fear

In her book Lean In and the movement that it launched, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg challenges women to answer this question: “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”. I think this is a positive message that helps bring self-awareness to limiting beliefs and barriers to courage. And she does implore women to “then go do it.” And I want to build on it and extend it.

For one, I do not wish to only address women. I want to address men also. Because fear holds a lot of people back.

In my work as a leadership development strategist, speaker, and facilitator, I meet a lot of people. And unfortunately, way too many of them are playing too small, too safe. I see a lack of courage – not Courage with a capital C like the kind that makes you run into a burning building and saving babies and puppies. No. Small-c courage that lets you see your fears, face them square on, and take action toward your big, scary goals IN SPITE of that fear.

So I want to build on that question and make it more actionable. I want to "yes, and" it.

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