“Will You Be Mine?”
If you are a part of any culture that celebrates St. Valentine’s Day in one form or another , this is a question as old as time. It’s one that most of us, in some secret part of our heart, dreams of being asked for real at least once in our life. And it’s one that’s going to be echoed over and over again during the next few days – on the air, in social media, and on the street. Along with advice about what to give your loved one, what to wear for that special night, where to dine [ Read More ]
“I’m More Than Mad as Hell.”
“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.” God bless, Howard Beale. And Paddy Chayefsky. And this morning, Maureen Dowd in the Sunday NY Times. I couldn’t say it any better. The thing is, I’m so far beyond mad. I’m exhausted. Exhausted from buoying up everyone else, along with myself, with words of encouragement, optimism, hope, determination, and surety. It takes every ounce of conscious will and energy to keep that fatigue from dissolving into defeat and depression. Which, of course, is what makes me a cock-eyed optimist than a dark soul certain the world will [ Read More ]
“Suddenly, The Air Changed”
Last Saturday, I arose in the dark, dressed quickly, gathered up a small suitcase and carry-on, placed my sleepy puppy in the car for the short ride to my daughter’s where she once again snuggled under the covers and returned to her endless, happy dream, and with the help of my darling daughter, headed to Portland’s airport and an early Alaska Airlines flight to Los Angles. The trip was delightful and easy filled by an unexpected conversation with my seatmate who turned out to be a smart, kind mom of three as well as a fifth-grade teacher. By the time [ Read More ]
“I Divorced Facebook”
Yesterday, I honored my own Inner Bottom Line. I got a divorce. I ended an abusive, one-sided long-term relationship. No, it wasn’t easy, and yet, in a way, it was simple. But to do it quickly with clarity, and without hesitation, I knew I had to face the facts and rely on the tools and premises I created so many years ago for my clients of The Inner Bottom Line. First, I asked myself those four, hard, tried-and-true questions – what’s at stake, who’s in control, how long has this been going on, and what price am I going to [ Read More ]
The Cover of the Book
During this season of gift-giving, we tend to get so caught up in the packaging we sometimes overlook the importance of real value. I found this touching dilemma a sad but accurate reflection of how easy it is for us to get caught up in the fantasy and overlook the truth until it’s unavoidable, often painful. Dear Olive, I’ve just returned from a disappointing, frustrating trip to meet someone I only knew through letters and the phone. We didn’t meet online but were introduced by mutual friends over the phone. Since that first chat, when things seemed to just click, [ Read More ]
“Never Soon Enough”
As Christmas approaches and choices become stressful, realizing what we have and how our example can impact those we love grows more apparent. Nothing makes that more evident than this heartbreaking message. Dear Olive, I’m writing in the hope someone else will learn from my mistakes. I’ve been a cheat, a louse, and an all around nasty guy for a long time. I was unfaithful to my wife, I gambled and lied about it, I never missed the chance to make a buck, even at the expense of someone else, and while I’ve never broken the law, I’ve walked a [ Read More ]
“Early Holiday Stresses”
Due to popular demand, I am happy to share once again this letter and answer as we approach Thanksgiving. Dear Olive, It’s fall and the holidays are coming and that makes me nervous. Every year I go through this stress. No matter who I read or talk to, it doesn’t help. This year, I’m even more upset because my folks have planned a family reunion on Thanksgiving. Relatives I don’t remember meeting are coming. My mom loves to organize everything. Yesterday I got a letter listing my room assignment and suggestions about what to wear. I cried for an hour [ Read More ]
“Feast Your Eyes”
“Feast Your Eyes” As the holidays approach, the universal stresses and worries crop up. Here’s one reader’s dilemma that I’m sure a lot of folks can relate to as the big Thanksgiving feast zooms towards us and family gatherings loom. While there are always tons of articles that appear in publications on reducing the stress of entertaining, cooking, serving the big meal, etc. few address the endemic family histories and dynamics that underpin the entire affair. So here’s food for thought. Dear Olive, Thanksgiving’s coming and I’m feeling distressed. After having my second baby last March, I decided it was [ Read More ]
“How to Hold a Pigeon in Your Hand”
It may seem way off target to write a column always focused on ethical dilemmas and personal choices to pen a restaurant review, but really, go with me on this, because it’s completely on the mark. Last night, I had the distinct pleasure of taking my beautiful older daughter and her darling husband to dinner to celebrate their wedding anniversary at Le Pigeon, http://lepigeon.com/, a small restaurant in Portland, OR listed as one of the city’s best. And yes, it certainly is. But it’s also a whole lot more. The restaurant business is considered to be one of the toughest, most unforgiving [ Read More ]
PERSONAL BEST® ANNOUNCES REOPENING OF CREATIVE INFUSION DIVISION™ IN PORTLAND, OR
September 1, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Julia Botts (503) 908-7842 [email protected] PERSONAL BEST® ANNOUNCES REOPENING OF CREATIVE INFUSION™ DIVISION IN PORTLAND, OR Lake Oswego, OR – Olive Gallagher, founder and CEO of Personal Best, a creative marketing and ethics consultancy specializing in consistent, accountable brand messages and delivery, announced today that its brand advertising and marketing division, Creative Infusion (haveacreativeinfusion.com), has reopened to Portland, Oregon. “CI emerged by accident in 1996 after I had just been seriously immobilized with a spinal injury and couldn’t travel, walk or deliver my seminars and speeches to our Personal Best clients,” Gallagher explains. [ Read More ]
NOOMII INTERVIEW WITH OLIVE
COACH FOUNDATION LISTING
