Pearls of Wisdom | Brilliant Visions, LLC

Wallow in the Mystery

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

I’m noticing the whir of creativity in the air these days. Another year is winding down, and thoughts of a new year are wafting in. A fresh new year feels like a reboot, an opportunity for new ways, new thinking, new possibilities. As 2015 peeks over the horizon, I encourage you to call upon the mystery of creativity. Business owners often…

5 Reasons You Should Blame “Them”

Posted on November 8, 2018 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

They made this mess. It’s their fault. If it weren’t for them… Oh, there are so many ways to invoke blame! Here’s the raw truth about blame: In the heat of the moment, it seems easy and natural to lay blame on others. But operating from a stance of blame is more harmful to yourself than it is to the entity or person…

Why Failure is FANTASTIC!

Posted on October 21, 2018 by Martha Carnahan | 3 Comments

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” ~Thomas A. Edison I know you’ve heard this many times, but it bears repeating: Failure = Opportunity to Learn. A device I use to remember this comes from a story I heard many years ago during a coach training class. We had just been taught a new skill…

Gut Check: Are You a Compassionate CEO?

Posted on August 22, 2018 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

There have been quite a few studies in recent years conveying that a number of business leaders, entrepreneurs and politicians (ummm, no surprise!) have a propensity toward sociopathic traits. The hallmark qualities of a sociopath include: lack of empathy, an insincere charm, and great skill in manipulating others. We’ve all seen that boss, I’m sure. And I would bet that…

How to Have More Powerful Conversations with Yourself

Posted on August 8, 2018 by Martha Carnahan | 19 Comments

When you are running a business you need a good team. You may be the captain, but your partners, employees, assistants, advisors, and vendors all play critical roles on your ship’s crew. There is another team on board too – your inner team. I’m sure you’ve noticed that sometimes you feel like you are at the helm and sometimes… well,…

“You’re Grounded.” (Thank You!)

Posted on January 12, 2018 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

“You’re grounded!” These words have been uttered by many a parent as punishment for mischief-making teenagers. “Grounding,” in this sense, means you are taking the kid out of the action and putting her on the sidelines for a bit. One mom I know said that grounding doesn’t work as a deterrent for her son because he likes it. No iPhone,…

Why You are a Terrible Judge of Your own Leadership

Posted on November 24, 2017 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

Many managers I talk with feel they are pretty good leaders. That is, until they receive the results of a staff and peer review. Some are shocked that their scores are so low. Others just can’t take in the data – they actually reject the feedback. If you do not possess the skill of empathy – of being able to…

How to Get Your Values Honored at Work

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Martha Carnahan | 3 Comments

Do certain things about your workplace rub you the wrong way? Do you go home at night and tell your family and friends that, if you were in charge, you would do things differently? It could be a case of mis-aligned values. If your personal values and your company’s values are at odds, it may be difficult to feel at…

Fetching? Guarding? Herding? What’s Your Natural Talent?

Posted on September 2, 2017 by Martha Carnahan | 2 Comments

I truly get off on witnessing a talent shared and embraced. It’s a beautiful thing. Let’s start with dog competitions. I swear, I cry at dog shows and agility trials. There is something about seeing the natural instincts of a particular breed come to life that makes me weep. I once watched a television show where puppies were exposed to…

We Are All Self-Employed

Posted on August 6, 2017 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

Often, new clients come to coaching because they feel trapped in their jobs. Trapped by money, loyalty guilt and quite often, fear of the unknowns of a new job. They hate Monday mornings, resent management decisions and often feel quite stressed out. There is actually a cure for this misery! And you don’t even have to quit your job to…