3 Ways Imagination Helps with Your Courage
"Imagination is its own form of courage." -Frank Underwood, House of Cards Your "courage muscle" as I like to call it, develops and strengthens each time you are put in a challenging situation. if you're in the business of leadership, [...]
7 Things I Learned about “Doing It Scared” in 2015
When it comes to changing any parts of your life, many top notch leaders and entrepreneurs are suggesting that with a leap of faith comes with that unwarranted: "Just Do It Scared." Nike of course, started this phenomenon with [...]
The Courage to Get Over My Fear of Dogs
In 2000, I was living with my boyfriend, the son of Uzi Keren, who was the advisor to the Israeli Prime Minister on rural affairs. I claimed my home on picturesque Kibbutz Ein-Gev situated on the banks of the Sea [...]
The Courage to Become an Author
Yesterday, I attended a wonderful writing conference at Chatham University here in Pittsburgh called Connections and Conversations. When I attended the conference last year, I was a writer trying to figure out the gist of my memoir Accidental Soldier. Now [...]
The ONE Lesson of Courage I Learned Serving in the Israel Defense Forces
Each day as I build my business, I'm constantly making decisions that take me out of my comfort zone. You learn things as you go in less-than-perfect conditions. You feel inadequate, afraid, insecure. There's no guarantee you'll succeed and that [...]
Lessons Learned from Serving with the “Enemy” in the Israel Defense Forces
By the time I was inducted in the Israel Defense Forces on February 12, 1991, I was already making space for "something new," -- learning to coexist with an Israel culture as an American, and yet, I was running on [...]
Having the Courage to Pursue Your Dreams: Interview with Entrepreneur Terina J. Hicks
Learning other entrepreneur's secret to their success can be very inspiring. This past week, I interview Terina J. Hicks, president and chief baking officer of CobblersWorld.com to learn more about how she had the courage to pursue her dreams despite [...]
How Vacations are Like Artist Dates Helping Writers Develop their Creativity and Courage
I just came back from a two week vacation in glorious San Diego, Pacific Beach where old tide brings mammoth high seven feet waves and attracts newbie boogy boarders like myself. I was seriously burnt-out from teaching, writing and crowdfunding [...]
Do You Have the Courage to Make Life Changes?
Note: This post is long overdue. For the last year or so, I've been going through some major life changes. Part of me wants to pursue other passions than just teaching. I've been teaching since age 23. I know I'll [...]
The First 3 Courage Scenes that Didn’t Make It Into Accidental Soldier
This coming of age story of transformation and personal growth is uniquely told from a female immigrant serving in the Israel Defense Forces. This post focuses on all the juicy bits - the scenes of courage that aren't in the [...]
3 Unhealthy Behaviors and Emotions that Result from a Lack of Courage
Many of my memoir writing students start the writing process with a very high level of enthusiasm. It's wonderful to see. Somewhere along the line however, this energy wanes and comes to a halt. They prepare scaffolding activities and all [...]
7 Ways to Have More Courage in Your Life
A new direction with my site has been brewing for the past few weeks. A new me. Part of me wanted to align the content from my memoir and yet, I'm also wearing all these other hats: radio show host, [...]
My Memoir on Serving in the Israel Defense Forces: Trying to Fit in with the Sabra Culture
I've often wondered why these sections got the cut, (my memoir had to be pared down to below 100,000 words) and what prompted me to include them in the first place in my memoir Accidental Soldier: A Memoir of Service [...]
Lessons from My Memoir on Serving in the Israel Defense Forces: How Cool Are You?
Just the other day I went to a networking event on a rooftop lounge known as Sky Bar in Pittsburgh. I felt antsy though prepared. It seemed as if everyone knew each other. Each person had a colored coded name [...]
Finding Love in Gaza – Snapshot from My Memoir on My Service in the Israel Defense Forces
I'm an innocent nineteen year old American who decided to leave my hometown of New York City to serve in the Israel Defense Forces mainly to get away from Mom's irrational fear and worries. Everything I've in fact, learned about [...]