Becky’s Blog
Joy in the End
Have you heard the phrase “Start with the end in mind”? If you Google it, you’ll see there are a lot of people who employ the saying or some version of it; there’s even a book with that title. It is used to help people think about life, business and yes, death. I’ve...
Lost with Leonard
On or about 12/13/2021, Comet Leonard whooshed by in the night sky. If you were lucky enough to be in a place to see it with your own eyes, it was magnificent. Do a Google search for a video of it and I think you’ll be equally impressed with the blues and purples...
The Change Train
My grandfather told me (with tears of laughter rolling down his cheeks) about the first time his brother saw a train and fled, thinking it was some sort of smoking, rolling beast coming for him. That was in the early 1900s. In 2021, it is hard to believe that we’d be...
A New Tradition
As we count down the final days paying for office space that we have not fully occupied for more than a year, this week we started a new tradition: a monthly, virtual team meeting we are calling “Tidal Pool”. Our mascot is the Starfish and as we brainstormed on a fun...
Never Be Done Baking
Our fiscal year starts each September 1. A few months before the start of the year, department leaders begin to work on their 12-month plan and then we complete our budget. We are an EOS Traction shop which means we follow a process that requires discipline and...
Three Dimensions, For a Moment
We had an in-person team meeting today; one of the largest ones we’ve had in a year and it was so nice to see people in three dimensions! For over a year, we’ve been zooming and teaming, experiencing each other via flat screens. On this day, being in the same room...
The Hard Stuff
My aunt is dying quickly. She has weeks at most, and we are glad that her mind is sharp so that we can talk and laugh and cry about what we all feel is coming too quickly. As I drove over to her house this morning, toting an orchid to add beauty to her surroundings, I...
Daily Huddle Muddle
The ISTS Executive Team has a daily huddle every morning. These meetings last anywhere from five to 30 minutes depending on the topics at hand. We started these huddles right after the pandemic hit to stay connected and in front of any potential issues - we’ve kept...
Imposter Syndrome
Recently, after a meeting, my phone rang and my stomach sank. I had made a couple valid, but potentially hard to take, comments during a board meeting and I was sure the board chair was calling to fuss at me. I thought about letting the call go to voicemail, but...
Clarity
The word clarity is derived from the Latin word claritas meaning clear, brightness or splendor, and is our Q2 theme for 2021. Clarity. Our Q1 theme was transparency and the move to clarity seemed, well-pretty clear. When I think of the word, a glacial lake comes to...
The Wonder of Bear Spray
Landing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, it is impossible to miss the Grand Tetons. They are indeed grand and beckon onlookers to come take a peek. Day hikers can spend a few minutes or hours in the soft pine-needled woods that line the many lakes at the base of the...
Very Zoomy Days
Since mid-March 2020, we’ve all been working remotely and adjusting to the seemingly daily changes in how we are supposed to shop, work and interact. It has become a very virtual world as most meetings are held using video conference tools like Zoom. If I read this in...