I just returned from a magical 11-day trip to California and Hawaii. I have always enjoyed combining my personal travel with business travel, as it affords me the opportunity to see more of “my people.” It also makes efficient use of my travel time. And let’s face it – travel is not exactly a glamorous experience. I experienced first-hand some of the new rules of travel during a pandemic. You might be planning your summer vacations and cannot wait to get out of the house (and have been fully vaccinated, also). Hope these are helpful.

Arriving at the gigantic, empty mall parking lot felt unsettling and unfamiliar.

Yet I knew the day ahead would get me grounded in the Loudoun County COVID POD (Point of Distribution) process, and the power of community service during a crisis.

This is how my adventures as a novice Volunteer Medical Corps (VMC) member began. One week ago, I reported for my first day of work at the POD.

The experience wasn’t just inspiring….

Since March, I have received a steady stream of client requests on how they can identify and address extreme stress levels within their teams—not to mention their own lives. Their teams act distracted and downtrodden, sometimes missing commitments and important email messages.

My coaching often focuses on helping clients create greater calm and focus in their daily schedules. Their mental health concerns and team behaviors are clearly affecting their bottom line. For example, one mid-market CMO recently told me that team engagement and productivity has reached all-time lows….

I will be hosting a private CEO/CMO virtual breakfast on October 23rd. Our session will explore “The CEO-CMO Alliance: Healthy Growth in a Time of COVID.”

If you’re currently in a VP or CMO-level role, please join us for this private discussion. It will help you:

Position yourself as a stronger influencer in the C-SuiteGenerate ideas for growth during COVIDIdentify strategies or behaviors that hamper your CEO relationshipDiscuss what KPIs matter for 2021

You will walk away with pragmatic strategies to help you become a growth champion and strategic collaborator across your organization….

Two weeks ago, US presidential candidate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris announced their candidacy on a platform of kindness and empathy. As the week of virtual convention activities unfolded, it was clear that these themes will remain part of the Democratic party’s hue and cry until (and hopefully beyond) the November 3 election.

Hard as Democrats may try, empathy is STILL in short supply in our country today, and it is taking its toll on our citizens. Today, NPR’s Rhitu Chatterjee reported that most citizens are simply unsure when the next pandemic or political shoe will drop….

Editor’s note: Our August guest contributor is Nancie McDonnell Ruder, CEO of Noetic Consultants. Be sure to read the full post and take the special Brand Health Diagnostic.

As with personal health, brand health is something we need to continuously evaluate, exercise, and protect. Right now, our everyday personal protective equipment (PPE) is the mask or face shield we wear. But when it comes to your brand, are you clear about your “Brand Protective Equipment”…

How does mindfulness play a role during COVID?

And given that the pandemic has forced us to really take a pause, what can we do to adapt and learn from mindfulness habits in order to simply be calmer and more focused?

In 1988, I was preparing for my first 280-mile solo flight.  I started in Stratford, Connecticut, and I was supposed to fly to a town called Concord, New Hampshire. As I crossed the state border from Massachusetts into New Hampshire, something strange happened….

Lisa  recently joined Robert Middleton’s “Going Radically Virtual Series” to explore the value of applying mindful marketing in these challenging times. This session is packed with actionable advice and insights.

Click here to watch (you can skip the intros and go to 25:16).

Lisa Nirell joins seasoned entrepreneur and author, Rhett Power,  for Power Lunch Live. They discuss how mindfulness helps leaders and marketers thrive during these tough times.

During this pandemic, my best clients are now completing their first round of scenario planning.

This is an essential process to help them determine financial alternatives and future resource requirements.

It also provides insight into what initiatives and offerings to keep, expand, or jettison.

Some of your more unfavorable scenarios suggest longer, more painful delays and streamlined operations. Scenario plans also might suggest that certain established offerings are no longer relevant to your customers.