Avocationist

Photos: (c) Allan Bacon (left) and by fazen (right) For most of my career, I was busy with work and the little remaining time was dedicated to my family. While this arrangement made me feel like I was taking care of everything, over time it left me feeling hollow. Somehow I knew that the empty […]

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Photo by Roby Ferrari Have you completed employee reviews in the last month? Did it feel like a good use of your time? Did you feel like you were really building value in your company or did you feel like you were checking off a box on someone else’s cover-my-butt list? Be honest. When your […]

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Do you ever get a feeling that your job has lost its luster? A job that used to motivate you now requires you to get yourself pumped up before you do it? Check out what I learned at a No Doubt concert this weekend - how to know when you have outgrown your work. Watch […]

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Photo courtesy Joshua Rappeneker Want to do something different, but can't figure out what it is? Or how to do more meaningful work without jeopardizing your lifestyle? Join me for a special tele-class this Wednesday night, June 10th at 5pm ET: Don't wait to test-drive your dreams (How to start now without quitting your job). […]

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I knew a guy (call him 'Tom') who had a detailed "Top 10" list of requirements for any prospective girlfriend. She had to be blonde, athletic, intelligent, Ivy League-educated, successful, from a good family, and more. Tom met a woman once who came close, but when every date was compared to that top 10 ideal, […]

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Patricia Ryan Madson was Head of Stanford University’s Undergraduate Acting Program and has taught a generation of students in all disciplines how they can bring the lessons of Improv Theatre into their lives. She has written a fantastic book that summarizes this philosophy: Improv Wisdom: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up. In her 20s, when she […]

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Patricia Ryan Madson was Head of Stanford University’s Undergraduate Acting Program and has taught a generation of students in all disciplines how they can bring the lessons of Improv Theatre into their lives. She has written a fantastic book that summarizes this philosophy: Improv Wisdom: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up. In her 20s, when she […]

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While running a growing business as his day job, Ed Kushins began HomeExchange.com in the early ‘90s as a way to combine his love for travel and his enthusiasm for the home exchange concept. Now retired from his main business, Ed has made HomeExchange.com into the wildly successful business that has been featured the hit […]

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The Avocationist had a great summer, including 3 weeks in Paris courtesy of a home exchange with a French family. My family and I arranged this trip using HomeExchange.com, a company founded by Ed Kushins. Ed started his service while running a separate business full-time. He had a long-term view towards having a fun job […]

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A military officer. A minister. A politician. A track coach. While these may sound like four different people, Jim Watkins has worn all these hats in his 65 years. Each path has been vastly different, but the common thread through them all his Jim’s ability to lead and organize, notably as District Director for Congressman […]

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