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Turning Potential Into Results

Growing Grass(roots) at the Kitchen Table

By Camille Smith / March 24, 2014

“I started at 5 years old at the kitchen table with my family supporting me.   I know where I’m from and I know exactly where I’m going.”  Celine Dion     Growing up in Bath, Ohio, our kitchen table in our 100+ year-old house had hinges so it could be lifted and tucked into the…

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What Are You Prepping for?

By Camille Smith / January 9, 2014

Got a bug out bag?  A Doomsday checklist?  How long will your food supply last if there’s no electricity? Are you set to protect your electronics from an EMP?  Do you have any apocalyptic livestock so you can weather an economic collapse? Do you have what it takes to butcher the bunny when Safeway closes?…

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What’s your word for 2014?

By Camille Smith / December 31, 2013

I have a collection of dictionaries and I’ve been known to read them. (No, not all the way through! Not all at once, anyway.)  Nuances, subtleties, double ententres, etymology, layers of meaning – they all get my juices flowing.  (Balderdash, anyone?)  I write poetry, dabble in Haikus and blog. I snap pictures of bumper stickers…

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Friction: Love the Rub

By Camille Smith / November 15, 2013

Do these sound familiar?  Don’t rock the boat! Don’t upset the apple cart! Don’t rub people the wrong way! All good advice that maintains the status quo and avoids friction.  When we follow it blindly, we tip-toe around issues, sugar-coat facts, excuse inappropriate behavior.  (Oh, joy!) Friction is not the enemy All good advice except…

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What teaching taught me

By Camille Smith / August 27, 2013

From 1970-80, I taught high school English in Columbus, Ohio. School was designed to move kids through the system and teachers were there to make that happen. Both teachers and students did their best, given the system. I loved teaching and my students. I taught because I wanted to contribute to someone developing competencies that…

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Been nudged lately?

By Camille Smith / June 4, 2013

I got a D in English when I was a sophomore in high school.  I don’t remember who my teacher was or if I liked him or her. I don’t remember who I sat next to in class.  I don’t remember being yelled at by mom or dad; it’s likely they expressed their deep, deep…

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What's in your compass?

By Camille Smith / May 13, 2013

Hear any of these lately? We value integrity. People before profits. Teamwork. Responsibility. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Zero waste. Value diversity. Think Global, Act Local.  These are samples of guiding principles which, whether spoken out loud or not, influence behavior. Guiding principles exist at many levels – individual,…

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What’s in your compass?

By Camille Smith / May 13, 2013

Hear any of these lately? We value integrity. People before profits. Teamwork. Responsibility. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Zero waste. Value diversity. Think Global, Act Local.  These are samples of guiding principles which, whether spoken out loud or not, influence behavior. Guiding principles exist at many levels – individual,…

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The Question Determines the Answer

By Camille Smith / March 10, 2013

The popular phrase “What’s wrong with this picture?” doesn’t always help us to get things “right.” Things don’t always go as planned.  We run out of gas. Miss our daughter’s play. Miss a connecting flight. Get laid off. Have cold lunchmeat for Thanksgiving because the power went out before the bird cooked. When something happens…

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Got Power? Which kind?

By Camille Smith / February 21, 2013

Dictionary.com defines power as a person or thing that possesses or exercises authority or influence. To this, I’m adding to get something done.  Sounds like a basic definition of business. As such, I think it’s worth exploring what kind of power is being used to get what kind of work done. While a conversation about…

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