As part of our Unstoppable course, we are trying to establish our set point, based on The Way of the SEAL by Mark Divine. This is part of his self-discovery exercise.

Your Stand

What would I do if I knew I only had one year to live?

Live off of my retirement, spend more time with family and friends.

What would I do if a natural disaster or terrorist event struck my town?

Survive and thrive! Once it was done happening, I’d be more interested in picking up the pieces and moving on.

What would I do if a friend asked me to help him or her move but I really wanted to go see a movie that night?

Friends first; movies aren’t important to me.

What would I do if I found out my favorite brand had been exploiting workers and participating in environmentally destructive practices?

Human issues and environmental causes are both near and dear to me. So if my favorite brand hit the double whammy, there’s no more Big Bucks from me. They’d have pressed their luck.


What would I do if I won the lottery?

Invest - in retirement, real estate, small businesses, college funds for the kids, rainy day funds for fun!

What would I do if someone decided to fight me for no good reason?

I’d try to talk them out of it, as it’s a skill I use in many higher stress/chaos situations.

What would I do if an opportunity for an inside deal came my way with no chance of anyone finding out?

I’d pass on it.

What would I do if my team were bashing a teammate behind his or her back in my presence?

I’d try to steer them to focus more on the positive and how we work together for one person, one goal, etc.

Your Passion

What books, movies, art, or music get you pumped?

All genres of music inspire me in various ways. Musicals, especially Rent and Fame, really get to me. Books on education, sociology, culture, and especially Susan Cain’s Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking get me going.

Who inspires you and why?

Those who overcome adversity and succeed - I’m a Cleveland Browns fan, so I have a weak spot for underdogs. 😉

What characteristics of yours make you feel great about yourself?

My ability to bring humor when needed

Being a storyteller

Being able to translate tech into plain English and making it approachable

Being able to command respect and garner trust early on

Embracing myself for who I am unapologetically

What activities would you do if you had more time and no barriers?

More tech community involvement

More involvement in my kids’ learning

More family time

What benefits to others would these activities or characteristics provide?

Encouraging others to share more - building a greater community

Bigger impact on how my kids view the world and understand things like compassion and putting their talents to work for the good (and appreciate what they’ve been given)

Could you change the world, making it even a tiny bit better, by focusing more on these?

Absolutely!

What would it take to get you to step into the arena of even just one of these activities?

Cloning or longer days. (Seriously, this is a lifelong struggle of finding this balance. The tech community has taken a backseat to family, as I went from in the community with just my husband to less involved in the community with a husband and 2 awesome sons. More time, no barriers… it’s all ideals.)