Force versus Power
How you choose between using force vs. using power impacts every interaction you have — even if you’re interacting only with yourself. Do you know what that difference is? Believe it or not, the answer is based in physics.
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Ahh Yes! On a dark street in Boston
Those of you who have experienced Spiral Impact know I am a long time student of the martial art, aikido. Spiral Impact, a collaboration/conflict resolution method, is grounded in aikido principles. Fequentlly I am asked, “Have you ever had to use your martial skills...
Power and Force – Distinction
Transcript: Have you ever considered the distinction between power and force and how your choice of which to use impacts your interactions with yourself or others? I have spent a couple-three decades exploring this...
Ahh…Yes! Stick the landing
I love the Olympics. What a great time to turn our attention to elite performance and the World coming together for good! Flawlessly adjusting to rapidly changing circumstances is the hallmark of champions. Athletic performance is an in-your-face visual representation...
How do you deal with resistance? 2 Minute Video blog
Karen shares the five typical ways to respond to resistance - and the likely outcome of each choice. Explore the site for more info!
Ahh…Yes! Are You Certain?
“Anyone who is so certain has got to be wrong,” my daughter’s father said upon her birth. You see, I was certain she was going to be a boy. In my mind I had collected enough evidence that to me at the time made it certain. “Certainty” by definition means without...
Ahh-Yes! The One Question to Ask Yourself for Leading Edge Performance
Click the image below to listen It can be tricky - innovation and leading edge performance require both conflict and alignment. In The Innovation Code, Jeff DeGraff states, “…it’s our impulse to resolve or eliminate conflict,...
Ahh…Yes! The messy middle place of change
Those of you who’ve read my writing over time know I am gardener. This fall, as I was cleaning out my flowerbeds, I decided to harvest the seeds from my beautiful marigolds. I did this as a kid. I loved the cycle of flowers dying to produce seeds for the next year....
Ahh – Yes! Perspective from Beetles?
I hosted a houseguest from Ukraine. Yuti was young and loved camping. As he passed through on his cross-country trips he’d stay here to regroup. Each time he arrived he’d tote in his pot filled with an ongoing version of his oxtail soup. He was generous with his...
Ahh – Yes! Five ways we unwittingly create resistance
I throw a punch at my opponent; suddenly I am on the ground, immediately I spiral up to my feet to go for it again. After 27 years of Aikido practice it still sometimes surprises me how a group of people, many over 40, can pummel each other, do literal rolls in the...
Ahh…Yes! How Agree-ers Harm Innovation
I was invited to serve on a Board of Advisors several years ago. After the second meeting, the president shared with me that my participation was causing him to rethink the name of the board. I had taken my role as advisor seriously and thought he really wanted...
Mary Barra – power with grace
Mary Barra exemplifies power with grace from my vantage point. She is on my list of people I'd love to have coffee and chat! Today was close, I had a 60 second exchange with her prior to her speaking at the Economic Club in Indy. She is my version of a hero. Our...
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Karen Valencic
Martial artist. Engineer. Author. Sought-after consultant.
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