Today’s tip: TROUBLEMAKERS ARE US Dear colleagues and friends, How was your night? I hope it was good and restful. Mine was great and short, gratifying and inspiring. I am sleepy but smiley! We have great people in the organization and it is always rewarding to know them a little better. One of my favorite…
I AM VULNERABLE, THAT’S MY STRENGTH!
Today’s tip: I AM VULNERABLE, THAT’S MY STRENGTH! These are Peter’s words of wisdom for the participants at a recent leadership training organized with Harvard University. For our non-UNICEF colleagues, Peter, without any need for fanfare, title, or even last name is UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria and most likely he will be very unhappy with me for…
QUIT THE DRAMA, YOUR DRAMA!
Today’s tip: QUIT THE DRAMA, YOUR DRAMA! Oops, did I say your drama? I am sorry (not really…) you certainly are not the drama queen/king! Of course, that title belongs to your boss, your colleague, your supervisee, your client, or your partner, not you. However, in the odd case that you could eventually consider that…
EARN A GOLDEN HEART MEDAL!!
Today’s tip: EARN A GOLDEN HEART MEDAL!! Dear colleagues and friends, How was your night? The week is almost gone, can you believe it! I was born in a very particular and small country where the winning leader of the civil war, a tiny giant called Jose Figueres, abolished the army in 1949, not long after seizing…
IT IS FINE; YOU CAN BE BRAVE AND AFRAID!!
Today’s tip: IT IS FINE; YOU CAN BE BRAVE AND AFRAID!! A couple of days ago, I had the privilege of breaking bread with several colleagues who had recently defeated the virus. Some of them proudly wore a t-shirt identifying themselves as “COVID-19 Heroes”. All of them shared stories of fear, anxiety, hope, solidarity, courage, determination, and love.…
PROTECT YOUR BRAIN, MOVE YOUR BUTT!
Today’s tip: PROTECT YOUR BRAIN, MOVE YOUR BUTT! It is early Sunday morning. Most likely, you are reading this sitting or lying down. If lucky, on a good chair, with a proper position. If not that lucky, on your couch or bed, twisted like a pretzel or extended like a banana! It’s OK. I am not…
WELCOME, CLASS OF 2020 [2021]
Today’s tip: WELCOME, CLASS OF 2020 [I know it is already 2021, but it applies all the same!] Today, I looked at UNICEF’s Executive Director’s message to the Class of 2020 and realized that, in several parts of the world, this is a week of graduation and celebration. After years of study and sacrifice, a new…
LAUNCH YOUR ROCKET, GET TO THE MOON!
Today’s tip: LAUNCH YOUR ROCKET, GET TO THE MOON! Yesterday I celebrated Father’s Day and -although I missed my children a lot- I was blessed to share it with good friends. However, I ate more than I should; more than I said I would, and way more than I needed, especially if I am to…
BUILD YOURSELF -AND OTHERS- UP!
Today’s tip: BUILD YOURSELF -AND OTHERS- UP! It was September 2002 -a year after 9/11- when I moved to NYC. I was living in the Big Apple, and my brain struggled distinguishing reality from fiction. Have I been here before, at this very corner, or is this familiar only because it is in my memory…
FORGET ABOUT WINNING, FIGHT TO BE SUCCESSFUL!!!
Today’s tip: FORGET ABOUT WINNING, FIGHT TO BE SUCCESSFUL!!! This past weekend -Saturday and Sunday- was Indian weekend: tandoori chicken, murg makhana (butter chicken), garlic naan, rogan josh (red lamb), palak paneer, etc. Along with good food, there’s always good conversation, particularly when you have a cultural mosaic of Bangladeshis, Ugandans, Egyptians, Indians, Brits, Sri…