Tag: progress

Just think, two years ago my friends and family were throwing a benefit for my brain cancer and now today, I am playing in a concert instead!

Wow! Just wow! A whole crap ton of good has happened in just two years. I am sitting here on my couch, with a head full of hair, looking outside at all the Michigan winter goodness. I am not nauseated. I am not bald. I am not waiting to hear if I am going to live or die. My dogs are passed out next to me. I am blogging comfortably to all of you!

This is really freaking awesome. I am feeling so grateful and so at peace. I am grateful to just be alive and on this planet. I am grateful to feel well enough to pause to almost complain(lol) about daily trivial things. I am proud and amazed that both of my businesses still exist. I am grateful for my awesome family. I am grateful for my amazing staff. Yep, lots of gratitude here for sure. I can’t stop talking about it.

Just think about this for a minute, only two years ago I wasn’t completely sure that I was going to make it out of that second cancer. Yep, SECOND CANCER! As if one wasn’t enough somehow. Ok, I say that facetiously. Any cancer is more than enough. Sometimes, if you don’t take a minute to joke, you run the risk of being too emotional all the time.

Have all my significant hardships and health issues taken a toll? Well, of course they have! Who wouldn’t have a healthy side of ptsd at times after all I have been through. That is a normal response. I still have times where a random or twinge or perceived symptom somewhere shoots me over the edge in a second, until I have time to take a breath and regroup and remember that the present is very different than the past. I am not perfect at this but I am working on it. I work on this not over-reacting thing like every single day.

Still, having said all that, my overall attitude is one of gratitude. For all those of you out there who cannot fathom how I could feel blessed in anyway, think again! It is a matter of perspective my friends! The bottom line is that I still have the pleasure of existence on this planet! I am still able to care for my family! I am still able to take care of women everywhere! What’s not a blessing about that?! Yep, I’m gonna go with the I am blessed attitude. Have a fantastic day everyone! Embrace what you got. You never know when it could be taken away. Enjoy what’s good right now dangit!

Dr. Katz

Taking Ownership

How many times have we all waited for someone to take care of something for us? How many times have we been stalled in a work project, waiting for someone to finish their part? The frustration and loss of time in doing this makes no sense. I say forget it! Let’s try a different strategy. It’s time to take ownership.

So, what does that mean? According to the Harvard Business Review, one of the most egregious momentum killers is waiting for someone else to act, take initiative, or take charge. Most of the time, no one is coming. So, why do we do it? If help isn’t coming, let’s liberate ourselves and take responsibility and move forward. Start believing in yourself as an individual and take stock of the fact that it is, in fact, your responsibility for the quality and timeliness of an outcome. This applies even when you are working with others. It doesn’t mean that you are always in charge of everything. It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t collaborate with anyone. It just means that you take ownership of your part and the results.

The same article in the Harvard Business Review went on to discuss that there are a couple of basic things to understand about taking ownership. First, I think we need to be able to tell the difference between fault and responsibility. When we finger point at others or at ourselves when something is not getting done, the perception of fault gets in the way of taking ownership of a difficult problem. Then, the problem still doesn’t get solved. Get rid of the blame game and we will all be more successful. Second, taking ownership frees us up to move toward getting results or finishing a project. Last, we can actually help others not just ourselves by taking ownership. Sounds like a win win to me.

The bottom line is, taking ownership/accountability/responsibility for your part can only help yourself, others, and the project move forward. Blame and finger pointing does nothing but waste time and energy. Don’t waste the energy. Put your big girl panties on, take responsibility and forge ahead!