Introducing The Brilliant Leader Model eBook!

September 8th, 2011

I’ve had a book in my head and heart for years. The challenge has been how to get this book out of my head and into the hands of those who can benefit. Due to favorable events and circumstances, I’ve been able to do just that! I’m happy to announce the book in my head can now be a book in your hands with the release of The Brilliant Leader Model.

Why “The Brilliant Leader Model” eBook?

I have heard a common theme as I’ve listened to clients for the past 10 years. They look good from the outside but often feel empty within. They struggle with how to address that ‘hole in their soul’, as one client described it.

We see structures, institutions, and organizations that have been in place for decades begin to disintegrate or change form. The world-wide economy is imploding, entire governments are crumbling, and leaders are being ousted. Read more »

Tags: Brilliant Leadership, executive brilliance, interpersonal skills, jennifer whitaker, leadership development, leadership skills, motivation, transformational leadership, transitional leadership
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Grace at the Top – Five Attributes of Brilliantly Successful People

September 2nd, 2011

I continue to be amazed by the graciousness of well known leaders. I am writing a book called Transforming Success into Serenity and am interviewing influential leaders. Many of them are high profile people who are often ‘in the news’. As the interviews have progressed I have noticed some common themes and pleasant surprises:

Generosity

Every person I have asked to interview has said yes. They have generously agreed to meet with me and share what their view from the top is like as well as what has shaped and defined their success. There have been almost no barriers to access to an interview and they shared openly and candidly with little or no reservation. Read more »

Tags: executive brilliance, gratitude, interpersonal skills, jennifer whitaker
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Life is Out Ahead

August 30th, 2011

As we packed the cars and loaded up most of my son Justin’s personal belongings to head back to college, I reflected on how I really appreciate that there are seasons to life. For Justin and College Life it was about tuition, books, detergent and reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.

It wasn’t quite as sad this time (the second) as it was his first year. But, it was sad in another way. I realized Justin continues to move into adulthood and his own life creation that he will autograph with his unique signature. I wouldn’t have it any other way! We have spent his whole life giving him roots to grow and wings to fly. He has taken flight and is soaring with grace and ease. During this journey, I have loved every pencil, pen, package of notebook paper, and even those expensive Texas instrument ‘things’ I have bought him.

Sadly, there are fewer and fewer times where I will buy him ‘stuff’ for his school year. But with that sadness came a thought Read more »

Tags: assertiveness, executive brilliance, interpersonal skills, jennifer whitaker, succession planning
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Communication is Not Connection

August 18th, 2011

Today more than ever, there are numerous ways that we can communicate with one another. For example, E-mail, Voicemail, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to name just a few. These electronic means of communication are sure to evolve into yet un-thought of methods. But, despite all the ways we have to communicate with one another, we are not feeling very connected to other people or to ourselves. To avoid this problem of communication without connection, we need to look at the ways we are communicating to see if we can find more life-enhancing, enriching, and inspirational ways to relate.

What is the objective of effective communication? Ideally, we would like our communication to lead to mutually satisfying relationships. This requires a give and take from each other. You feel like you are making a difference or connecting, and likewise the person on the other side feels the same way. For there to be true communication and connection it has to be mutual.

The following 4-step process will help you more effectively communicate and truly connect with other people: Read more »

Tags: assertiveness, Brilliant Leadership, executive brilliance, jennifer whitaker, motivation, succession planning
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Persistence not Perfection

August 12th, 2011

I think we all need to get over ourselves and the desire, need, and pursuit of perfection. It’s really just a cop-out and a reason to not move or an excuse for not ‘getting it right’. If we leave no room for spontaneity, creativity, and fluidity in our lives, we can lead pretty boring lives. The pursuit of perfection often leaves us feeling depleted and deflated. It’s just a never ending cycle of ‘raising the bar’.

Many people never start their own business, go for that promotion, write that book, or accomplish whatever their dream is because of their fear of failure or ridicule. So what if you don’t get it right the first time? Most successful CEOs and famous business people failed numerous times before they tasted success. I once heard Ted Turner had 17 failed Read more »

Tags: assertiveness, Brilliant Leadership, executive brilliance, interpersonal skills, jennifer whitaker, leadership development, leadership development training, leadership skills, transformational leadership
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There is Life in Death…

August 5th, 2011

Our precious Samson decided it was time to be our angel-on-high instead of an angel in our home. It was incredibly sad to let him go, but it was crystal clear there was no other choice if we cared for his well-being.

I’ve always heard dogs (and often people) will let you know when they are ready to go. When Sam was sick a month ago his eyes and spirit were clear and his little three pound body was full of life. I knew he wasn’t ready to leave our physical presence. But, weeks later it was equally clear his time of physical breaths were nearing their end. I held him all day long on his last day with us. My husband was home with me and we both walked and cried the entire time. We knew Sam was fading and to keep him here was an act of selfishness. We knew the right and best path for Sam and followed our heads while our hearts broke in two.

Some profound, albeit painful, insights came out of this heartbreaking experience: Read more »

Tags: executive brilliance, intuition, jennifer whitaker, support, support system
Posted in Blog, Brilliant Living | 2 Comments »

Three Lessons Learned from the Summer Job Search Blues

July 27th, 2011

Our son, Justin, is home for the summer from College. It was a Mom “directive/requirement/command” that he would work this summer and earn his spending money. What a learning experience for all of us!

First, he started looking way too late. We learned he should have started looking for positions in January, not April. Second, the world of on-line application is interesting to say the least. It is easy to get lost in the crowd as you are one of hundreds and sometimes thousands of applicants! Third, many don’t want Summer help…and the list goes on and on.

I found myself learning a lot about the process from observing and helping Justin try to land a job. I am very out of touch with having to find a job myself since I have owned my own business for 10 years. I must find and be hired by my clients – but that is a very different process than being hired by a retail store or company.

Below are some of the insights I have gleaned from helping Justin find a summer job that apply universally: Read more »

Tags: assertiveness, executive brilliance, interpersonal skills, jennifer whitaker, leadership skills, succession planning
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Lost in Success

July 20th, 2011

Each day, more and more of us report an insatiable and inconsolable restlessness. Finding ourselves wrapped in the trappings of success and radiating an air of inexhaustible competence, we are unable to escape the hollow feeling that our lives have no real meaning or a purpose that feeds us from the inside.

You would think with all our knowledge, resources, access to world class expertise and affluence we would be the happiest and healthiest people in the world. But the reality is that in the United States, 87% of our rapidly expanding health issues are stress related! With all of Read more »

Tags: assertiveness, executive brilliance, interpersonal skills, jennifer whitaker, motivation
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Three Lessons a Dog Can Teach You About Life

July 15th, 2011

In my most recent post about The Rhythm of Life I shared our recent scare with the possibility of losing Samson, our precious 4 lb. Yorkie. While the experience was terrifying, it did allow me to reflect on the following three lessons about life:

Life can Turn on a Dime: We all need to realize this sobering fact and enjoy every moment. Jobs can be lost, health can be taken away, kids can ‘go astray’, and dogs can die. When I was a hospital Chaplain I will never forget a 32 year woman who was watching her husband play basketball in a gymnasium. Someone dropped a purse and the gun that was in the purse fired. The stray bullet hit her in the chest and killed her instantly! As I was meekly trying to comfort her husband in his stunned state of total shock and disbelief, I felt so helpless to begin to understand or soothe his pain. Read more »

Tags: assertiveness, executive brilliance, jennifer whitaker, motivation
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The Rhythm of Life

July 13th, 2011

Lately life has dealt me some big challenges and offered some wonderful gifts. How is it that a day can be full of the highest joys and the deepest lows all in a 24 hour period? That happened to me last week.

I was having a perfectly normal, even nice, day. My dog, Samson, who is my angel with fur, was really sick the night before so I took him to the doctor that morning. They checked him out and took blood. People “oohed” and “ahhed” as they always do with my precious 4-lb. bundle of joy. I continued with a productive day of work, and was talking with my husband at 5:45 p.m. when our world changed.

The voice on the other end of the phone (the Vet) said Samson was very sick and needed immediate attention. She said we could wait until the next morning and bring him to receive an IV all day at their office! But her strong recommendation was that we Read more »