Soft Skills with Shannon

It may initially seem counterintuitive, but constraints can actually be a huge asset when it comes to being creative. After all, how in the world can you think outside of the box if the box isn't even well defined to begin with? To prove it, let me tell you about the time my husband, Jason, and I capitalized on constraints in order to creatively navigate our youngest son out of a tricky situation. (Psst! It involved a treehouse and our older son literally shoving him out!) I'll also share how you can leverage constraints to your creative advantage, too.

Sure, how to think well may initially seem obvious: Give yourself plenty of time, do the research, and think through the potential consequences. But there's much more to it then that. Often, we're put on the spot and have our feelings and emotions to contend with, too. Let me tell you about the time I was able to think well quickly by rolling the dice on something I already knew. It worked! And the various steps and strategies I share can help you think well in any situation also.

You've bit it. You've screwed up. Now what? We all do it. So why do we spend so little time and effort on learning how to recovery after the fact? Bouncing back well is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and improved by anyone at any age. Let me tell you about the time I wrote an entire math lesson in permanent marker, then compounded the issue by swearing in front of my fourth grade class when I discovered what I'd done. Ouch! I'll also share how I managed the situation—and the screw up—in a positive way and specific ways you can do the same.

Years ago when I was teaching a classroom of 4th graders, they all began to suddenly fall ill. But it wasn't due to a flu or sickness. Instead, they all had literally made themselves sick by stewing in their own fear and worry. We all do this from time to time. Discover specific ways to stop it effectively.

As a teenager, a man was trying to break in though my bedroom window in the middle of the night. I heard it. I saw it. I knew what was happening. Yet I still failed to make a decision or move. I failed to realize in that moment that making no decision at all was the absolute worst thing I could do. And that's true for a lot of situations. Find out why and how we get stuck, and why screwing up can actually be better in a lot of ways.