Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.1.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Dawn Kohler Author and Master Level Executive Coach ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://dawnkohler.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Let Go of the Struggle](https://dawnkohler.com/let-go-struggle/) - We often spend too much time wrestling with our thoughts. We feel we should be doing more, or doing less. Our passions have opposing fears that keep us stuck in place. And every decision has consequences that can keep us in a headlock that tightens the more we mull it over. Whenever I find myself - [A Thought for the Holiday Season](https://dawnkohler.com/a-thought-for-the-holiday/) - A friend is a loved one who awakens your life in order to free the wild possibilities within you. -John O’Donohue. . . It is easy to take one another for granted. Our friends, family and co-workers become familiar faces and can all too easily drop into - [I Don't See Dead People](https://dawnkohler.com/i-dont-see-dead-people/) - I am not a huge fan of Halloween although admittedly I enjoy the candy. If I wish to be horrified I watch the news and would prefer that to a full-grown vampire, or blood dripping corpse at my door. Yet, what redeems the night every year for me is one kid. She shows up in - [New Year](https://dawnkohler.com/new-year/) - Hope your new year is off to a good start! I was planning on doing a webinar this month on how to make the most out of 2023, but instead, I decided to do something a little different. Below a 3-minute video on 4 key points to keep in mind this year. Check it out - [Real or Imagined](https://dawnkohler.com/real-imagined/) - I saw my first whale spout of the season this morning. A beautiful reminder of the rhythms of life. It also made me flash back on one of my most popular blog posts. Hope you enjoy! ********************** This morning, I took a beach walk. The high tide from the night before had ebbed to a - [Overcoming Overwhelm](https://dawnkohler.com/overcoming-overwhelm/) - It’s the holidays once again. For those of us that like to please others this time of year can be particularly stressful. The word “yes” just keeps popping out of our mouth. We agree to help with the office party and the school play; to take our parents gift shopping or do it for them; - [What Retired People Wish They Would Have Done While They Worked](https://dawnkohler.com/what-retired-people-wish-they-would-have-done-while-they-worked/) - Not long ago, I meet with a group of retired women. Some were thriving with their new freedom, others were struggling with identity loss, and a few were dealing with medical issues. Many of the women shared that they were so consumed by their work that they neglected to maintain and create friendships. Those were - [Cocooning](https://dawnkohler.com/cocooning/) - For those of you wondering where my blogs have been, I must confess, I have been cocooning. According to Frederic M. Hudson, author of The Adult Years, there are many times in life when we are called inward to transform old thoughts and beliefs into new capabilities. The process, which may take weeks or months, helps - [If You Have Ever Felt a Little Broken](https://dawnkohler.com/ever-felt-little-broken/) - I recently heard about a Japanese art form called Kintsugi. Also known as the “golden repair.” Kintsugi is the art of restoring broken pottery with a bond made of powdered gold, silver, or platinum. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to discard - [How to Ask for Feedback](https://dawnkohler.com/how-to-ask-for-feedback/) - We all need feedback. By understanding how people experience our style and performance, we can better align our efforts with what is truly needed. But how we solicit feedback can create its own perception that goes beyond our performance. In most cases, it is best to be direct, courageous and specific. Go in strong after a project or important meeting and ask your boss - [Creating Quality Failures](https://dawnkohler.com/creating-quality-failures/) - A while ago, I attended a continuing education workshop. The leader, a brilliant man in his 60’s, used the group to simulate real life scenarios to teach us new coaching techniques. He then encouraged us all to fail. “Fail and fail again” he said. No pressure, right? For two days, our failures became our lessons. - [The 3 Questions You Should Ask Yourself This Spring](https://dawnkohler.com/3-questions-ask-spring/) - Last week we past the Spring equinox. The Northern Hemisphere has begun its tilt toward the Sun, and the days ahead will become longer and lighter. The increased sunlight triggers birds to sing, flowers to blossom, and farmers to sow seeds for later harvests. With the force of nature with us, Spring is an opportunity to - [How I Set My Pace Today](https://dawnkohler.com/how-i-set-my-pace-today/) - I was walking up the beach early this morning. The water was calm and the air nearly still. Two women with English accents stopped me and pointed out to the ocean. The one women said “I am either seeing a whale–or the Loch Ness monster.” To which I quickly assure her it was definitely the - [Stop Looking for Your Purpose](https://dawnkohler.com/purpose/) - I have a colleague who recently told me she was trying to find her purpose. She also shared that last year she was asked to chair a board for a hospice that has grown exponentially under her leadership. I asked why she didn’t see that as a purpose. She quickly dismissed her efforts and said, - [A Lesson from Shakespeare](https://dawnkohler.com/to-thine-own-self-be-true/) - I’m not sure what prompted me, but the other night I looked up the quote “To thine own self be true.” My search reminded me that the famous phase was spoken by Polonius in the play, Hamlet. However, what I found most interesting was what it truly meant when placed in the context of the full sentiment. - [Helping Each Other Succeed](https://dawnkohler.com/helping-each-other-succeed/) - Two friends from China decided they were stronger together than they were as individuals. Their story is unique in that Wenqi was a double amputee and Haiza was completely blind. Yet, despite their handicaps they wanted to be productive and contribute to generations to come. Finding it difficult to find work, they went to the - [Pruning Our Olive Trees](https://dawnkohler.com/pruning-our-olive-trees/) - I am on a small island in Croatia today. I have come to visit a friend who moved from Southern California to tend to an olive orchid that has been in her family for centuries. It is quiet here. On the island, time and priorities slow as activities are directed primarily by nature. As we - [Mood over Matter](https://dawnkohler.com/mood-over-matter/) - Is the quality of your day based on the effect of somebody else’s mood? Do you wake up with your breath caught above your belly to brace yourself for what you might encounter that day? Other people’s moods and emotions can become our toxins. Especially if the emotionally volatile person is our boss. Outbursts from authority figures - [Wait…You did what?!](https://dawnkohler.com/wait-you-did-what/) - “I can’t believe she isn’t who I thought she was!” How many times have we thought something similar? And how long did it take us to figure out that how we see people, versus who they are, can be different? What we see is usually what we want to see. Our perceptions can be distorted - [The Best Way to Reduce Anxiety](https://dawnkohler.com/best-way-reduce-anxiety/) - I already have a headache and it’s only December 8th. The season, and the anxiety that seems to go with it, reminds me of an important formula I will need to keep in mind. There is the normal stress of an experience, or time of year, and then there is what we glob on to - [Under the Tuscan Sun](https://dawnkohler.com/under-the-tuscan-sun/) - I am one of those people that enjoys catching a cold from time-to-time. It gives me an excuse to do nothing all day but sit on my couch and watch movies. Such was the case last Sunday when I held my own Diane Lane film festival and watched Under the Tuscan Sun not once, but twice. My - [When Your Back’s Against the Wall](https://dawnkohler.com/when-your-backs-against-the-wall/) - I am often sent notes from my blog readers that inspire me to keep writing. A few of you from time-to-time even send pictures. Such was the case last week, when a reader ran across a graffiti wall in New York. If you can’t see the picture, here’s what it says: When your back is - [Move Away from the Shadow](https://dawnkohler.com/move-away-shadow/) - I have enjoyed watching two previous clients receive big promotions this quarter. The announcements came within a few weeks of each other, and what I found most interesting was how similar their stories were. Although they were in different companies, they were both highly creative women, who worked in the shadows of their male boss’s. When - [You Are the Bigger Name](https://dawnkohler.com/you-are-the-bigger-name/) - We have all been there. Somebody walks in the room and asks us to do something, and then attributes the request to the boss, chairman, or business owner to make it seem important. We are left wondering why the “bigger name” had to be dropped. Is this a directive, threat, or just an insecure person - [The Meaning of Love](https://dawnkohler.com/meaning-of-love/) - A boy liked a girl in grade school. He teased her, she ignored him, and thus he teased her more. Love, she thought, was annoying. In high school, the boy grew taller. Secretly, the girl found him attractive and amusing. Somehow knowing this, the boy began to write her notes. On Valentine’s day, he sent - [A True Apology](https://dawnkohler.com/a-true-apology/) - We all mess up. We forget to do something we said we would do, or don’t include someone who should have been included. We may say something insensitive that hurts another or react with an emotional outburst we later regret. We are humans and we make mistakes. But that is only the first offense. The - [The performance review question you are never asked](https://dawnkohler.com/performance-review-question-never-asked/) - Many of my clients are in the middle of performance reviews. You know the drill. Your boss calls you into the office and you awkwardly discuss your performance based on some kind of subjective rating system. In the review, you will likely be judged on the speed, quality and accuracy of your deliverables. You may even run - [Should You Start Your Own Business?](https://dawnkohler.com/should-you-start-your-own-business/) - First, let me share my bias. I’m an entrepreneur at heart. I like starting businesses and helping others start theirs. I love to see people create their own life-style and work hard to manifest their dreams. So, whenever I am asked “Should I start my own business?” My answer is, yes. Starting your own business may, - [The New Year’s Resolution I Already Broke](https://dawnkohler.com/new-years-resolutions-i-already-broken/) - I had a few New Year’s resolutions. The one about not eating sugar only lasted until Wednesday when I succumbed to the taste of a warm chocolate chip cookie. The other declaration to lose a few pounds went out the door with it. By January 4th it occurred to me that I didn’t have very compelling goals, - [One Thing to Remember](https://dawnkohler.com/one-thing-remember/) - I have enjoyed this year. It was particularly active with clients and travel. Moving from one house to the next, and spending time with family and friends. There have been opportunities that have strengthen my career, and a personal loss that has softened my heart. And in both, I was reminded of a valuable lesson. - [Should You Stay or Should You Go?](https://dawnkohler.com/should-you-stay-or-should-you-go/) - Life has a way of challenging our character. It presents us with opportunities to strengthen aspects of ourselves that will lead to greater fulfillment. Yet, the best path for our advancement can at times be a mystery. Do we stay or do we go when dealing with an unappreciative boss, a dysfunctional team, or a - [A Special Note](https://dawnkohler.com/a-special-note/) - I heard from a man on hospice this week. It was not just any man, but a close relative whose enthusiasm and curiosity for life has always inspired mine. He called not to say goodbye, but to tell me he was feeling better and that he wanted to share an experience with me. He struggled, - [Are You Sharing Too Much?](https://dawnkohler.com/are-you-sharing-too-much/) - Sometimes we share thoughts with another person that we later wish we didn’t share. Our body warned us before we opened our mouth. We felt that little jab in our belly urging us to stop. Yet, we said it anyway. We made a negative comment about one of our employees-- to another one of our - [In the Last Stretch](https://dawnkohler.com/in-the-last-stretch/) - Today is November 1st which means there are 61 days left in the year. It also means we are racing toward the holiday season and before we know it, we will be ringing in a new year. All the more reason to pause today and consider a few things. Do you have goals you want to - [People Really Do Change](https://dawnkohler.com/people-really-do-change/) - My profession is built on the concept that people can change. With self-awareness, and the discipline to modify thinking and behavior, people are capable of remarkable shifts in health, happiness and effectiveness. Nearly all of my clients make improvement, and some make extraordinary progress. The exceptional clients share a few things in common. First, they stay - [Steady at the Helm](https://dawnkohler.com/steady-at-the-helm/) - I went sailing over the weekend. Somewhere in the midst of the rocky seas the captain of the small boat asked me to take the helm (probably to keep me from getting sea sick). The growing swells were pitching and rolling, the winds gusting, and to keep our course it felt like I had to - [Do You Ever Feel People Are Not Listening to You?](https://dawnkohler.com/ever-feel-people-not-listening/) - Do you ever feel like people are not listening to you? That no matter how many times you repeat yourself, or bring up a good idea, your co-workers, family or friends, don’t seem to hear it until it comes out of somebody else’s mouth? Trying to penetrate the listening filters of others can feel impossible - [As Americans...](https://dawnkohler.com/as-americans/) - As Americans, we have passionately fought against injustices. When the incidences of deaths due to drunk driving in this country were increasing we sought legislation. We created stronger laws, harsher penalties, safer cars, and brought awareness to our communities. The lives lost due to drunk drivers caused change to happen. As Americans, every major plane - [Marry Me](https://dawnkohler.com/marry-me/) - My favorite part of a wedding is the vows. The words, in their simplicity are deeply profound. Each time I hear them, and tear-up at the commitment between the loved ones, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if more people made the promise to themselves. To first bond with their nature - [Our Biggest Fear in Business](https://dawnkohler.com/our-biggest-fear-in-business/) - My client’s issues often come in waves. This past month it seems to be the fear of public speaking. I find this to be interesting because it makes me wonder what we really fear. And why is this dread so severe that it continues to out rank death as our greatest terror. Exposure, vulnerability, blowing it so badly in front of others - [What Should My Goal Be?](https://dawnkohler.com/what-should-my-goal-be/) - A few weeks ago, I asked readers to send questions they would like me to answer in my blog. I received many responses including one from Anne who wanted to know how to define her goals. She shared that she wasn’t sure where to start or how to narrow down what goals would be the - [Coached in the Caribbean](https://dawnkohler.com/coached-in-the-caribbean/) - I had the opportunity to go sailing last week in the British Virgin Islands. I went and left behind work, deadlines, and the everyday stresses of modern living. In the Islands, life took on a different hue. The air was warm and the ocean a clear turquoise blue. Each day we anchored the sailboat off - [The Changing Mother](https://dawnkohler.com/changing-mother/) - My mother didn’t go to work when I was young. Instead she woke up early, made us a brown bag lunch, drove the carpool to school, and went home to clean the house, grocery shopped, and ironed my father’s button down shirts. By the time we got home, she would be sitting on the couch, - [Finding Peace](https://dawnkohler.com/finding-peace/) - This week, I wanted to write something uplifting. After all it’s spring, most of us our celebrating some form of Easter or Passover, and in Southern California we have had a break in the rain. Yet, although I try to focus on the positive, I find myself vibrating with a new kind of fear. As - [Increase Your Mental Focus](https://dawnkohler.com/increase-mental-focus/) - Spring is here and with it comes the urge for a little cleaning. Pruning back our overgrown files and piles is a great way to clear space for new growth and opportunity. It’s also proven to increase physical energy and mental focus--and who doesn’t need more of that! If you ask the experts, the rule - [The Power of Teamwork and Seal Pups](https://dawnkohler.com/power-teamwork-seal-pups/) - Last Sunday, I went to a cove in Laguna Beach to watch the release of the seal pups. The pups where rescued in November and December by a team of volunteers at the Marine Mammal Center. Most of the seals weighed less than 25 pounds when they were found. They were under-nourished, alone, and had beached themselves - [How to Increase Your Luck](https://dawnkohler.com/increase-your-luck/) - The “Luck of the Irish” is commonly thought to mean extreme good fortune. However, the term did not originate in Ireland but in America. During the gold rush, several of the most prosperous miners were Irish. Over time, their success led to the expression. Irish or not, the definition of luck has been defined through - [Do You Know What Today Is?](https://dawnkohler.com/do-you-know-what-today-is/) - Today is International Women’s day. Throughout the world it is a celebration of respect and appreciation for the economic, political and social contributions of women. In celebration, here are just a few of the growing statistics. There are now over 18 women leaders in the world (the number has more than doubled since 2005). In - [Doing It All…or Not](https://dawnkohler.com/doing-it-all-or-not/) - I am fortunate to work with many highly competent people. Most are well-educated and have been navigating their careers for sometime. Yet, because they do so many things well, they often diminish their greater contribution by taking on too many tasks to create smaller ones. Just because you are good at everything from grocery shopping - [How Humans Used to Connect](https://dawnkohler.com/humans-used-connect/) - I went to a party this weekend held in an airplane museum in the desert. The theme was “retro” which meant come in a costume that represented any decade in the 1900’s. I wore my 1980’s black jumpsuit with padded shoulders and a popped collar. I looked, as I did back then, much like the - [Which Mind Are You Using?](https://dawnkohler.com/which-mind-are-you-using/) - The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. -Albert Einstein Many years ago, I remember my daughter coming home from kindergarten. In her backpack, there was a yellow sheet that gave the instructions for - [Tone Is Everything](https://dawnkohler.com/tone-is-everything/) - What we say means very little in the wake of how we say it. “You’re fired” to “I love you” can have many different meanings depending on the shear inflection of our voice. Tone communicates the real message. And, yesterday was a needed reminder. My mother called while I was at work. We are not - [Tweet Women with Respect](https://dawnkohler.com/tweet-women-respect/) - Last Saturday marked the largest protest in US history. Women, men and children from all around the world peacefully gathered to send one very big message. We want a world where all lives matter. Where power is used to create positive, respectful change that advances our human potential and protects the environment that makes it - [How to Be Seen, Heard, and Promoted](https://dawnkohler.com/seen-heard-promoted/) - I often speak with people who would like to be promoted. They are hardworking employees who feel that much of what they are doing is going unnoticed. And, they’re right. The truth of the matter is your boss will likely see 20 to 30 percent of the work you accomplish each day, and that’s if - [Feeling Passionless?](https://dawnkohler.com/feeling-passionless/) - I have heard more grumblings as of late from people feeling passionless. Their needs are met, they make good money, they are even in satisfying relationships. Yet there is a blankness in their stare that reflects the baffling void once filled with a flame. Purpose and passion go hand-in-hand. It’s the activity that lives at - [Welcome to the New Year](https://dawnkohler.com/welcome-new-year/) - I tend to go into a new year with both excitement and trepidation. It’s a reminder that the unknown lies ahead and “the unknown” is one of our greatest fears. It’s also a reminder that there will be things we can influence and things that will be completely out of our control. I like to focus - [When a Message Hits You Right in the Eye](https://dawnkohler.com/message-hits-right-eye/) - Have you ever noticed that the advice we often give others is the advice we need to take? Such was the case last week when I was taking an early morning jog through a remote park in West Los Angeles. On my run, I crossed though a basketball court where a celebrity rapper was working - [5 Tips to Stop Email Madness](https://dawnkohler.com/5-tips-to-stop-email-madness/) - I have received more emails this week than I can keep up with. My inbox is bulging from not only the normal flow of work related correspondence but an onslaught of advertisements trying to get me to buy something on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, or Giving Tuesday. Enough already! The only thing I need at - [Disruptive or Innovative: How Will You Embrace This Change?](https://dawnkohler.com/disruptive-innovative-will-embrace-change/) - There has been much conversation in recent years about disruptive innovation. The term loosely describes any situation in which an industry or business is shaken up and the previously successful incumbent stumbles. Given the past week’s events, disruptive keeps coming to mind. Disruptive innovation is often driven by outsiders or entrepreneurs who tap into unmet - [The Day to Elect a Leader: Are You on the Ballot?](https://dawnkohler.com/day-elect-leader-ballot/) - Today we will elect our next President. Which makes it a great day to reflect on the need for leadership and what makes a leader effective. Is it politics or presence? Principles or vision? The ability to lead a group of people toward a common goal, or the skill to negotiate a desired outcome based - [I Don't See Dead People Part 2](https://dawnkohler.com/i-dont-see-dead-people-part-2/) - One of my favorite posts from last year and worth repeating. I am not a huge fan of Halloween although admittedly I enjoy the candy. If I wish to be horrified I watch the news and would prefer that to a full-grown vampire, or blood dripping corpse at my door. Yet, what redeems this night - [How to Solve a Problem](https://dawnkohler.com/how-to-solve-a-problem/) - I often find when I’m struggling with a problem, I circle around a set of potential solutions that seems to magnify the problem itself. Now that’s a problem. This week, after a restless night, I thought there must be a better way to deal with life’s inevitable conflicts. The following morning, I came across an - [Do You Have the Power to Walk Away?](https://dawnkohler.com/power-walk-away/) - We do our best work when we know we can quit. We can walk away…take this job and…well if you have heard the song, you know the rest. It gives us a certain type of freedom that we are not confined nor enslaved. If we don’t like the way we are being treated, or the job we are - [What People Really Appreciate](https://dawnkohler.com/people-really-appreciate/) - Our job is not to make other people's lives fit our agenda. Although most of us can agree to that statement it’s rather insidious how it plays out in reality. We often think we know what is best for those we love and/or influence. We can nudge, persuade, and sometimes push others in a direction - [Trust Is Not a 4 Letter Word](https://dawnkohler.com/trust-not-4-letter-word/) - “I’m not really controlling. I just like everything done my way.” Letting go of control is a daily effort. It requires us to relinquish our small agenda. It asks us each day to seek quiet, go inside, and steady the belief that if we let go of what we think is best, something better has - [Did You Agree to That?](https://dawnkohler.com/making-agreements/) - Agreements are based on our behavior, not our words. Scary thought isn’t it? We can tell somebody we will no longer stay late at the office, pick up after their dirty dishes, or bail them out of debt one more time. Yet, if our behavior does not change, our words will mean nothing. Our credibility - [How to Be Heard When They're Not Listening](https://dawnkohler.com/heard-theyre-not-listening/) - Sometimes it’s difficult to be heard. You are in the meeting, you offer a good solution, and somehow the conversation keeps going as if you weren’t there. You look down at your clothes, confirm to yourself that you left your invisible cape at home, and sit somewhat puzzled looking for another entry point into the - [When Bad Things Turn Good](https://dawnkohler.com/bad-things-turn-good/) - Last spring, I received a call from a woman who had just been laid off from her job. Despite the fact that she had a long commute and found it profoundly difficult to leave her young children each day, she loved her work and was the primary financial contributor to her family. She had 6 - [How I Found a Real Connection](https://dawnkohler.com/found-real-connection/) - I lost my cell phone this week. I was panicked at first. Surely people were texting me. There were important emails I couldn’t check, and what if somebody after texting and emailing actually tried to call. I was, for a moment in time, unreachable. Then something happened inside of me. The yearning I felt for - [What I Most Often Hear My Clients Say: When is the right time to speak up?](https://dawnkohler.com/when-to-speak-up/) - What I often hear in coaching sessions with clients is “I didn’t say anything.” They had the answer, they knew it was right, or they knew the decision being made was wrong, but they didn’t speak up. They decided to keep important and sometimes vital information to themselves to support the group norm, to be - [What Ernest Hemingway Taught Me](https://dawnkohler.com/what-ernest-hemingway-taught-me/) - “Write drunk and edit sober,” was Ernest Hemingway’s advice to aspiring writers. In its literal interpretation, it doesn’t work all that well for me. However, the sentiment behind it I find to be highly effective. At the heart of the message is a reminder to loosen up. To allow ourselves to be creative without restrictions. - [Are You a Well-Intended De-Motivator?](https://dawnkohler.com/well-intended-de-motivator/) - I have heard it all too many times. Hardworking, eager to please people, who have been demoralized by the negative feedback of a well-intended perfectionist. It’s not that the perfectionist meant it. Really. They just tend to have highly developed detail-oriented filters. They see what’s wrong, what’s missing, or what is not done the way they - [The One Thing I Try to Remember](https://dawnkohler.com/one-thing-try-remember/) - Yesterday, I was reminded of something I try to remember. Sweltering in the heat of the day, and after many hours of working, I became irritated about something quite petty and was short with somebody that was simply trying to assist my request. When we put in too many hours in an attempt to “get - [A Helpful Way to Raise Your Profile](https://dawnkohler.com/helpful-way-raise-profile/) - At times a reader shares something inspired by my blog that takes the sentiment to a whole new level. Such was the case a few weeks ago when I wrote about the resilient spirits shining through the amputee musician I met in Cambodia. The reader brought the story home when she shared that her work - [One of My Favorite Work-Life Strategies](https://dawnkohler.com/favorite-work-life-strategies/) - One of my favorite work-life strategies is, “If I do nothing, it will hopefully go away.” It’s effective when the stakes are low like obnoxious music coming from a neighbor’s house or an email chain to support somebody’s agenda that I shouldn’t have been on in the first place. When the stakes are low, avoidance - [What an Employee Once Taught Me](https://dawnkohler.com/what-an-employee-once-taught-me/) - The best leadership training I ever received was from an employee. It was back in the day when I owned a small computer service company and everybody on our team, including me, was under the age of 30. It was a fast, fun, and very impulsive culture that clearly reflected its leadership (and not always - [One Simple Truth](https://dawnkohler.com/one-simple-truth/) - The events in last week’s news reminded me of a simple truth. Our inner landscape will always be reflected in our outer world. As a person, a group, or a nation, our minds create our actions. And in that truth, we may become a victim of somebody else’s mind, or somebody may become a victim - [A Thought I Can’t Forget From Asia](https://dawnkohler.com/thought-i-cant-forget-from-asia/) - I am several weeks back from my trip to southeast Asia. Yet, there is a scene that is permanently inked in my mind. I feel stronger every time I think of it, so I thought it was worth sharing. One morning in Cambodia, I was walking on a long sandstone path up to an expansive - [You Mean My Assumptions Aren’t Facts](https://dawnkohler.com/assumptions-arent-facts/) - I am absolutely positive I know what I’m talking about. After all, I have been around the block a few times, have collected a few facts, listened to a few opinions and I am now certain that I have the RIGHT answer that will completely justified the reaction I’m about to launch. The above can happen - [What happened to the pause?](https://dawnkohler.com/what-happened-to-the-pause/) - Have you ever noticed that the people sitting at the top of the corporate ladder tend to end their sentences with a period? They pause. Take a breath and let the point land on the speaker. These leaders understand that the less they say the more people will hear. They make their point, keep eye - [We Get What We Tolerate](https://dawnkohler.com/we-get-what-we-tolerate/) - We get what we tolerate. Isn’t that a scary thought? There are people in our lives who will test us to see how much we will do for them, how much complaining we will listen to, or disrespectful behavior we will tolerate. Co-workers, family members, and friends will test us too. All in an attempt - [I’m Not Writing This Blog Today](https://dawnkohler.com/im-not-writing-this-blog-today/) - That’s right, I not writing this blog today. If you are reading this, I’m somewhere in Southeast Asia walking with elephants, or meditating in an ancient temple that smells of musk and envelopes me in silence. I have left behind the pings from my computer, the full schedule of meetings, and the ever pressing need - [Reactions Create Memories](https://dawnkohler.com/reactions-create-memories/) - There are days when the waves pound on the shore with such force it pushes the sand up the beach to make a berm that is often several feet high. On those days, my walks are a bit more challenging. It was my first day out in a new pair of tennis shoes. The tide - [What Dying People Don't Say](https://dawnkohler.com/dying-people-dont-say/) - Nobody says as they’re dying, “I’m so happy I lived a self-protected life.” Instead they say things like, I wish I would have let myself be happier, expressed my feelings more, and lived true to myself instead of what others expected. Early programing teaches us what not to accept about ourselves. Strengths, desires, feelings and - [Is Work Damaging Our Children?](https://dawnkohler.com/is-work-damaging-our-children/) - Not long ago, I was sitting in a meeting with the CEO of a fortune 500 company. She is by all measure the epitome of a successful business woman whose time is limited and in high demand. Halfway through our conversation, her cell phone rang. Her voice softened as she picked up the call. She - [The One Thing That Will Get You Ahead](https://dawnkohler.com/the-one-thing-that-will-get-you-ahead/) - People that are decisive get ahead. It’s really that simple. They don’t wait to know enough, or be enough, or get enough people to agree with them before they act. Instead they have the ability to look at any situation and quickly assess the relevant information and the levers to pull that do the heavy - [Where do you go from here? - Self-Development Workshop](https://dawnkohler.com/self-development-workshop/) - The story of your life is still being written. How do you want to influence what comes next? Come spend the day in Malibu where we will look at your crossroads, challenges and opportunities through a different lens. By using the structure of story we will begin to see ourselves as protagonist in our own - [There's No B in Busy](https://dawnkohler.com/theres-no-b-in-busy/) - Last week’s blog prompted a question from a reader. She asked to clarify the difference between being busy versus engaged. Being busy can be due to circumstances or it can be self-inflicted. Self-inflicted busy means we are doing the normal stuff to care for our families, work responsibilities and personal care along one or more of - [My Motivation to Change](https://dawnkohler.com/my-motivation-to-change/) - I took my own advice last week and attended a professional coaching conference to disrupt my routine and stimulate my mind. Through great speakers and inspiring conversations, I was saturated with thought-provoking information. One of which was a Gallop poll statistic stating that 87% of the workforce is disengaged. Keep in mind that disengaged does - [2 Things I Learned This Week](https://dawnkohler.com/2-things-i-learned-this-week/) - I learned two things this week. The first was that doing anything new stimulates endorphins for the brain. The second was if I don’t stimulate my brain, I’m going to diminish my ability to produce endorphins. The double whammy became quite the motivator. Doing something new changes the biochemistry in our brain. It can even - [Got Time?](https://dawnkohler.com/got-time/) - I often hear people say, “I worked hard all week but didn’t get anything done”. When I ask a few more questions the answer inevitably exposes that what captured their time were requests to help with other people’s priorities, not their own. In other words, they spent 100 percent of their time reacting to the - [The Spring Challenge](https://dawnkohler.com/the-spring-challenge/) - Every stage of life has a pacifier in it. Something we nurse, or hold on to for comfort. At its best this calms our nerves and eases our mind. At its worse it keeps us stuck in a stage of life that we are destined to outgrow. The tipping point is when the behavior, person, - [How to Avoid a Fight](https://dawnkohler.com/how-to-avoid-a-fight/) - The words “I disagree with you,” are a great way to pick a fight. It’s basically a statement that voids the other person’s opinion and can leave the receiver feeling a little defensive-- if not downright angry. When the declarative is spoken most people will either shut down and not share their point-of-view, or engage - [Taking the Driver's Seat](https://dawnkohler.com/taking-the-drivers-seat/) - By the time I was 17-years-old, I had been in 15 car accidents. Most of which were my fault. Although the majority were fender benders resulting from the fogged brain of a teenager, the accidents were, as most things are, indicative of a larger issue. Then one day, my high school counselor summoned me to - [The Best Professional Advice I Have Received](https://dawnkohler.com/the-best-professional-advice-i-have-received/) - Don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do. I see way too many people spending time in limbo handicapped by lack of direction. They don’t know the goal, the expectations, the edict from upper management so they wait in a frustrated malaise until someday, somebody, takes the time to notice they are waiting. - [When Acceptance Is Better Than Hope](https://dawnkohler.com/when-acceptance-is-better-than-hope/) - I had the honor of listening to a friend the other day as we walked along the beach. She was sharing that her mother was ill and the latest news was rather grim. I did the typical thing and tried to comfort her by offering thoughts of hope. She asked me to stop. She was - [When to Say What's on Your Mind](https://dawnkohler.com/when-to-say-whats-on-your-mind/) - You know what they say about a point-of-view. Everybody has one. It's easy to blurt out a fleeting thought, or a not-so-fleeting bias with little consideration for how it might land on our listener. Even with good intentions a strong point-of-view can turn off co-workers, family and friends if we have not taken the steps to gain - [What Does Love Have to Do with It?](https://dawnkohler.com/what-does-love-have-to-do-with-it/) - As Valentine's Day approaches, I am reminded that we socialize many misconceptions about life. And the greatest of these is love. Our romantic notions of tantalizing energies between two people is seen as something to strive for, recapture, celebrate and grieve over. Yet this fleeting feeling of romance is only the surface of love. Love - [3 Tips to Manage the Holiday Season](https://dawnkohler.com/3-tips-to-manage-the-holiday-season/) - 'Tis the season to be joyful. Yet, even as I write that it makes me dreadfully anxious. What will likely bring me joy in the next month will be a few quiet times with my family and friends. However, I will spend most of my days planning, decorating, driving, purchasing, wrapping, rushing, and stressing over - [A Thought For the New Year](https://dawnkohler.com/a-thought-for-the-new-year/) - The other night, I was standing with a group who were sharing their goals for the New Year. Aspirations like going back for a master's degree, writing a book, adopting a baby, and losing thirty pounds were all shared. The group then turned to the most unassuming member who confidently shared that her goal for - [How to Level the Playing Field](https://dawnkohler.com/how-to-level-the-playing-field/) - A very competent client once told me how she falls apart when dealing with upper management. She suddenly blurts out the wrong words, fails to make a cohesive point, and leaves in what she feels is a pool of offensive sweat. Some version of this happens to many of us. Perfectly confident people regress to a - [The Path of Less Resentment](https://dawnkohler.com/the-path-of-less-resentment/) - Resentment is a feeling that builds when we are doing something we really don't want to do-- even if we agree to do it. It's one of those tricky, volcanic emotions that starts with a low ember. The people around us don't know our frustration is building. We said yes. We smile as we say - [Unputdownable](https://dawnkohler.com/unputdownable/) - Dictonary.com sends me a word each day. Today's word was unputdownable. Really, I thought, that's actually a word? The definition explained that a person could say that a book was "unputdownable". To which I thought, most readers have a better vocabulary. An alternate definition is a person who does not feel insults or can't be - [What Marilyn Monroe Confirmed for Me](https://dawnkohler.com/what-marilyn-monroe-confirmed-for-me/) - One of my most popular posts this year was about women helping women in the workplace. Even though I still hear women telling me that our sisters don't help us move ahead in our careers, I am going to be steadfast that this is a myth that should be dispelled. Here is another great example. In the 1950's, - [The Best Way to Make a Decision](https://dawnkohler.com/the-best-way-to-make-a-decision/) - A reader recently asked me what to do when you hit a fork in the road. "Pick it up" I told her, "and keep going." Every decision has a consequence but only one choice will keep you on course. It really is that simple, the hard part is figuring out the way. It's times like - [How To Stay Disciplined and Avoid Regret](https://dawnkohler.com/how-to-stay-disciplined-and-avoid-regret/) - "Everyone must choose one of two pains: The pain of discipline or the pain of regret." ~Mark Twain Why is discipline, the essential element of success, so difficult? Because it requires that we put down the fun stuff for the time being and focus on the actions that will achieve our goals or align us with our values. I face this - [When It's Time to Say What You Think](https://dawnkohler.com/when-its-time-to-say-what-you-think/) - In this country, you are innocent until proven guilty. The process takes time, investigation, deliberation. Yet in our day-to-day lives, we are rarely this diligent. We often hear a comment or see a facial expression and swear ill intent, or worse revenge, before even asking a question. I fell prey to this a few years ago - [What I Love About Women](https://dawnkohler.com/what-i-love-about-women/) - It has been said that women do not help other women get ahead in the workplace. Yet, in my experience, this could not be further from the truth. My executive coaching practice began because Sharon, a CEO I met at a luncheon, asked me to work with 2 of her leaders. I wasn't sure what she - [What you find when you're not digging](https://dawnkohler.com/what-you-find-when-youre-not-digging/) - My favorite book is Gifts from the Sea by Ann Morrow Lindberg. In this elegant read the author uses the analogy of collecting shells at the beach to share timeless words of wisdom such as these. The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for treasures - [Are you being productive...or crazy?](https://dawnkohler.com/are-you-being-productive-or-crazy/) - I am one of those people that lives to be productive. At times, I think it is just part of my German heritage, and at other times, I think it is my socially acceptable neurosis. (Taken to the extreme it's probably the latter). Yet what I have noticed in recent years is that my definition of productivity has changed. I no longer believe it is related to - [Is It Really Over?](https://dawnkohler.com/is-it-really-over/) - September traditionally marks the end of summer. The vacations are over. Kids are back in school and engagement in the duties of life seems to increase. Fall then becomes a time of settling down. A time to center in our routines and perhaps a return to a rhythm that kindles the deeper parts of our - [3 Questions to Brand Yourself](https://dawnkohler.com/3-questions-to-brand-yourself/) - The concept of branding has taken an interesting twist in recent years. It has gone beyond the distinctions of products like Kleenex and Clorox and has entered the world of personal integrity. Staying "On Brand" is now a way to promote our best-self and stay consistent with our values. The process is fairly simple and - [Are you talking too much?](https://dawnkohler.com/are-you-talking-too-much/) - Talking is one of those behaviors that can work for or against us. It most often works against us when we are not aware of how we are being perceived. Sharing too much information to prove a point can seem pushy while over-communicating to avoid an uncomfortable pause will likely read as insecure or anxious. - [Is the Right You in Charge of Your Mind?](https://dawnkohler.com/is-the-right-you-in-charge-of-your-mind/) - Lately my mind has been that of an anarchy. A bunch of different voices yelling over one another resisting the urge for any kind of governance. This happens most often when I let it happen. When there are too many choices and decisions to make and my hyperactive thinking breakdowns any kind of reasonable process to manage it - [Do What You Love](https://dawnkohler.com/do-what-you-love/) - If you read my weekly post, sometimes you find a best practice tip, sometimes a thought-provoking slice of life and sometimes, like today, a little something about a person achieving their personal best. It's all meant to inspire and this week I was inspire by Gustavo Dudamel. I saw Gustavo conducting a classical music concert - [How to De-Stress Your Day](https://dawnkohler.com/did-you-agree-to-that/) - In the midst of a stressful day, when I was making life more complicated than it needed to be, I took time out and went down to the beach. As I sat on the sand watching the waves roll in, a little girl in a bright blue swim suit ran up to show me her - [Tips for the Longest Week of the Year](https://dawnkohler.com/tips-for-the-longest-week-of-the-year/) - Welcome to the longest week of the year! This past Sunday marked the summer solstice. The Earth’s North Pole is at its maximum tilt toward the sun shedding long days of light onto the northern hemisphere. Throughout history this has been a time where we have celebrated the sun. The crops thrive in the warmer - [The Arrows We Launch](https://dawnkohler.com/the-arrows-we-launch/) - My daughter got married this weekend. It was a beautiful wedding that has left me feeling both complete and exhausted. This morning, in the aftermath of such a joyful event, I am reminded of a passage that I read not long after she was born. It is from the book, The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran Your children come through - [Your Presence is Requested](https://dawnkohler.com/your-presence-is-requested/) - Your presence is requested… It’s a pretty simple invitation, yet so hard to accept. In our multitasking world we are often communicating with more than one person at a time via text, phone, and email. Unfortunately, while this might seem efficient, the message multitasking can communicate to the person in front of us is that - [The Secret Behind Confident People](https://dawnkohler.com/the-secret-behind-confident-people/) - How attractive is the person that exudes inner confidence. They tend to move with grace, comfortable in their own skin, glowing with an aura of humble self-acceptance. We sense their calming presence and we want to be more like them. We envy their well-being and wonder if it came to them by way of prescription - [How My Morning Tea Changes My Day](https://dawnkohler.com/how-my-morning-tea-changes-my-day/) - I am very fortunate to live in a small beach town that is nestled along the alcoves of a foothill. The landscape is dotted with cottage homes, sandy white shores, and bold red flowering vines along winding paths that lead to intimate beaches. It’s lovely. Since I moved here last year these sights have become - [The Magic of Self-Correction](https://dawnkohler.com/the-magic-of-self-correction/) - We are self-healing organisms. When we get a cut, the body unconsciously activates a series of responses that mend the damaged tissues. When we work with our natural system we heal. Our spirit is no different. We can take a wrong direction in life, or stay in a job, or relationship that keeps us harnessed - [Turning Up The Heat!](https://dawnkohler.com/turning-up-the-heat/) - I have a few favorite passages in my book and the other day a reader made mention of one. In the scene, the protagonist Kate, who recently lost her job and is struggling in a relationship with her fiancé, shares how unsettled she feels. Emma, the wise maternal figure she visits for the weekend responds - [Keep Calm and Say No](https://dawnkohler.com/keep-calm-and-say-no/) - I met a woman yesterday who reminded me of something I often tell my clients who feel overwhelmed by the many roles they play in life. “No.” she said, “Is a complete sentence.” Those of us who find joy in alleviating the burdens of others, may not always recognize the burdens we are creating for ourselves. Before we know it we are too tired, - [3 Ways to Be Wiser](https://dawnkohler.com/3-ways-to-be-wiser/) - Did you know that being the smartest person in the room usually means you can process data faster than the group. Yet wisdom embraces not just intelligence but the virtue of reflection. Wisdom is the ability to make sound judgments based on knowledge and experience. And, it can be cultivated at any age by practicing - [You should have seen the look on their feces](https://dawnkohler.com/you-should-have-seen-the-look-on-their-feces/) - Yes, you read that correctly. “You should have seen the look on their feces.” That was a line I recently read in a book. Clearly it was a mistake the publisher didn’t catch and no doubt that poor author felt some level of embarrassment to see the word feces instead of faces in print. The moral of the story, we all - [Truth vs. Honesty](https://dawnkohler.com/truth-vs-honesty/) - Have you ever thought about the difference between truth and honesty? Truth sounds something like this: “Mom, there is nobody in my bedroom.” Honesty, however, adds more context to the situation. It sounds like this: “Mom, there is nobody in my bedroom, but the person you think I’m hiding is in my brother’s closet.” Many - [Increase Your Happiness by 40%](https://dawnkohler.com/increase-your-happiness-by-40/) - I have long wondered what makes those really happy people I meet in life so damn happy. Then I stumbled upon some research the other day that confirmed my suspicions. They were just born that way! Apparently 50% of a person’s happiness is based on their genetic predisposition. A happiness set point. Those really happy people - [3 Things to Consider About Change](https://dawnkohler.com/3-things-to-consider-about-change/) - “Change happens to everybody. Wisdom occurs when you use the change wisely.” The quote appeared in my novel, but it was first spoken to me by my favorite aunt, O’Dell. O’Dell was a hillbilly, the oldest of 16 children. She lived through poverty, the death of most of her siblings, and the loss of two - [What makes success?](https://dawnkohler.com/what-makes-success/) - What makes success? The other day in my busy neighborhood, I passed a young girl sitting at a folding table in her parents’ driveway. A few feet from the curb was a big sign that read “Girl Scout cookies for sale.” I continued on my way to the end of the block where another large - [Welcome to The Emma Daines Society Tip of the Week!](https://dawnkohler.com/welcome-to-the-emma-daines-society-tip-of-the-week/) - Can you believe it’s March already! The year began with many changes as I move into the writer’s life and rebrand my coaching business from The Inside Coach to Kohler and Company. In the course of these changes many friends, colleagues and readers have asked me to bring back the “Tip of the Week.” I - [The Art of Doing Nothing](https://dawnkohler.com/the-art-of-doing-nothing/) - My daughter explained to me yesterday that she has the “cant’s.” At 26-years-old, she is suddenly stuck in a universe where every thought quickly turns into an internal rebuttal as to why she can’t change her job, start a new business, or go back to school. My easy mom advice was to encourage her to - [We Are Already Making a Difference](https://dawnkohler.com/already-making-difference/) - I spent the evening with a friend this week. We had the usual girl talk about work, the kids, significant others and current events. After a long conversation, and a few glasses of wine, she shared that she wanted to make more of a difference. That she didn’t feel as if she was contributing in - [Flow Versus Expectations](https://dawnkohler.com/flow-versus-expectations/) - Flow is that wonderful state when we are highly engaged, passionate, and productive. It’s a time of peak performance. Like riding on a strong current, our efforts feel effortless as we attract and take advantage of opportunities that elevate us beyond what we had imagined. Expectations on the other hand are based on what we - [How to Promote Yourself…and How Not Too](https://dawnkohler.com/promote-yourself/) - It does not take an advertising budget for people to sing your praise. It takes a good experience. And when we don’t have a good experience, well that’s promotion too. Last week, I flew to New York on United Airways. During the 6-hour flight there was little service and even less food. The stewardesses were - [3 Ways to Have a Better Conversation](https://dawnkohler.com/3-ways-to-have-a-better-conversation/) - Great things come from good conversations. Yet, most conversations are not partially all that good. We rush through our interactions much like we rush through our day, preoccupied with competing thoughts, multitasking to get things done, and talking to prove a point rather than listening to expand our point of view. If you want to - [Are You Talking Too Much?](https://dawnkohler.com/talking-too-much/) - Talking can work for or against us. It most often works against us when we are not being mindful of our motives or how we are being perceived. Sharing too much information to prove a point can seem pushy. While over-communicating to fill the air in the room, or to avoid an uncomfortable pause, will - [Is It Really Our Gender?](https://dawnkohler.com/gender/) - Ladies, this might be the most unpopular thing I have ever written. But, I can honestly say that I have never felt that being a woman has prevented me from getting ahead. In fact, I think many times my gender has been an asset. I know that I am in the vast minority of women - [Is It Really Our Gender? A response to your emails.](https://dawnkohler.com/gender-response/) - Last week’s blog caused quite the stir. After outing myself as a woman who has not felt held back by my gender, I received the most emails I had ever received. Many of the responses came from women who felt like me--and had been reluctant to admit it. These women were excelling in their careers - [Advice from My Son](https://dawnkohler.com/advice-from-my-son/) - I went to Alaska last week. The 8-foot tall Grizzly Bear in the picture below was taken by me at an animal sanctuary I visited. Similar bears were known to travel the hiking trails we were walking and the rivers were I attempted to catch salmon. While this was a relaxing get-away for me, my - [Stop Staring at the Void](https://dawnkohler.com/void/) - We don’t fear change; we fear the unknown. The shelf life on a job, a relationship or a bad habit could have expired years ago yet we hang on. We would rather slowly deteriorate than face a void where we fear nothing will exist. We remain, stuck, staring at the black hole just outside the - [Always Be Writing Your Resume](https://dawnkohler.com/always-be-writing-your-resume/) - Always be writing your resume. Not that you will necessarily need it to sell yourself to the next employer, but because it’s the best way to direct your actions toward accomplishments that matter. Creating your resume challenges you to tell a story about who you are, what you’re good at, and what kind of impact ## Pages - [Home](https://dawnkohler.com/) - DawnKohler Award-winning Author and Executive Coach Supporting leaders at NBCUniversal · Disney · Sony Pictures · Audible · Lionsgate · Condè Nast For everyone who feels something stirring and quietly suspects you were made for something more Available NowDawnKohler Award-winning Authorand Executive Coach Supporting leaders at NBCUniversal · Disney · Sony Pictures · Audible · - [The Inner Journey Newsletters](https://dawnkohler.com/inner-journey/) - Feeling stuck?Inner Journey Aug2026 – Issue 9 Intuition versus AIInner Journey Jul2026 – Issue 8 What Today is Trying to Show YouInner Journey Jun2026 – Issue 7 Truth or Honesty?Inner Journey May2026 – Issue 6 Who do you want to be in this moment? Pause long enough to chooseInner Journey Apr2026 – Issue 5 Who’s - [Podcasts](https://dawnkohler.com/podcasts/) - Podcasts & InterviewsDawn is an active podcast guest who offers insights and impactful antidotes on personal and professional growth. Through her extraordinary life experiences, books she has authored, and years of coaching successful leaders in entertainment and technology, she offers inspiration on a variety of topics. If you would like to invite Dawn on your - [Events](https://dawnkohler.com/events/) - Upcoming EventsFilling Your Shoes: How to Answer the Call to a Greater Life A One-Hour Live Webinar with Dawn Kohler I often work with people who feel stuck, restless, or like something in their life no longer fits. Or perhaps a change, loss, opportunity, or unexpected experience has caused them to question where life is - [Blog](https://dawnkohler.com/blog/) - Let Go of the Struggle Let Go of the Struggle We often spend too much time wrestling with our thoughts. We feel we should be doing more, or doing less. Our passions have opposing fears that keep us stuck in place. And every decision has consequences that can keep us in a headlock that tightens - [Book Clubs](https://dawnkohler.com/book-clubs/) - 'Madre' Book Club Guide'The Messages' Book Club Guide'The Invitation' Book Club GuideA Special Invitation for Your Book Clubs There is something powerful that happens when people gather around a book. A story opens the door to deeper conversations, helps us see ourselves in new ways, and reminds us that we are not alone in our - [About](https://dawnkohler.com/about/) - “We must be willing to give up the life we’ve planned, so we can live the life that’s waiting for us.” –Joseph Campbell M y last day at ICON, the award-winning computer company I started shortly after college, was not about heroics, a pinnacle of success, or the kind of buyout most entrepreneurs dream about. - [Books](https://dawnkohler.com/books/) - Available on AmazonBook Club GuideMadre: A Modern Parable of Wisdom, Worth, and Women Rising “A beautiful book and a powerful reminder of why I chose to follow my soul’s path—and why that feels especially important right now.” -Amazon review What if the life you built . . . isn’t the life meant for you? She - [The Invitation](https://dawnkohler.com/the-invitation/) - AmazonBook Club GuideThe Invitation: A Weekend With Emma Grand Prize Winner San Francisco Beach Book Festival After losing her job as a reporter, Kate Edwards receives an unexpected invitation from the one woman she’s always longed to interview — Emma Daines, the reclusive former U.S. ambassador to Germany, who was instrumental in bringing down the - [The Messages](https://dawnkohler.com/the-messages/) - AmazonAudiobookBook Club GuideThe Messages: A Journey for Those Called to Heal, Awaken, and Lead with Love What if the life you built had to crumble — so the person you were born to be could finally emerge? While raising three young children and thriving in a successful career, Dawn Kohler was abruptly pulled into a - [Coaching](https://dawnkohler.com/coaching/) - While my advocation is writing, my vocation is coaching. It is where I have found the sweet spot in my life, and everything seems to flow from there. My coaching career started over 20 years ago when a CEO, who read one of my books, asked me to coach one of her leaders. My work ## Downloads - [This Dark Road to Mercy](https://dawnkohler.com/downloads/this-dark-road-to-mercy-2/) - Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit. - [Liar Of Dreams](https://dawnkohler.com/downloads/liar-of-dreams-2/) - Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit. - [Buy a Complete Series](https://dawnkohler.com/downloads/buy-a-complete-series/) - Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magn. - [Before The Devil Breaks You](https://dawnkohler.com/downloads/before-the-devil-breaksyou/) - Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit. - [Now You See Me](https://dawnkohler.com/downloads/now-you-see-me/) - Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit. ## Book Reviews - [The Rise of a Champion: A Story of Perseverance](https://dawnkohler.com/book-reviews/the-rise-of-a-champion-a-story-of-perseverance/) - Cras molestie sollicitudin quam quis aliquet. Duis ut auctor turpis, sit amet aliquam magna. Vestibulum sit amet urna nunc. Pellentesque dui lectus, maximus congue imperdiet a, imperdiet quis est. Sed lectus turpis, ultrices et gravida et, pharetra ut tellus. Quisque a lorem elit. Aenean hendrerit turpis sed erat pharetra ultrices. Phasellus iaculis convallis leo vel - [An Emotionally Gripping Tale of Self-Discovery](https://dawnkohler.com/book-reviews/an-emotionally-gripping-tale-of-self-discovery/) - Nulla facilisi. Proin venenatis in neque nec congue. Vestibulum ultricies ornare metus, et luctus purus auctor id. Phasellus nec pulvinar lectus, vitae tempor ligula. Nam cursus dui faucibus placerat suscipit. Morbi quis ullamcorper velit, quis consectetur felis. Nunc vel sapien nibh. Ut molestie eget est vitae eleifend. Maecenas vestibulum libero vitae ligula egestas blandit. Sed - [A Timeless Classic That Captivates Every Reader](https://dawnkohler.com/book-reviews/a-timeless-classic-that-captivates-every-reader/) - Fusce fermentum dolor sit amet ligula cursus, at semper nibh pharetra. Duis sed condimentum purus. Vestibulum tristique, magna accumsan aliquet hendrerit, nisl enim viverra sapien, sed accumsan leo augue eu diam. Aenean blandit vehicula luctus. Phasellus tristique eros a sapien faucibus malesuada. Phasellus sed nibh lectus. Duis mollis dolor vitae lacus luctus convallis malesuada vitae - [A Journey Through Tennis and Life: A Must-Read](https://dawnkohler.com/book-reviews/a-journey-through-tennis-and-life-a-must-read/) - Proin commodo sapien nec tellus sodales blandit. Suspendisse id turpis ac nulla scelerisque convallis eu non tellus. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus. Mauris ultrices, quam ut sollicitudin fermentum, ipsum orci vestibulum mi, id faucibus nunc sapien vel erat. Duis dictum molestie ligula, sit amet bibendum nibh pretium sed. Suspendisse nec ## Books - [Winter Garden](https://dawnkohler.com/book/winter-garden/) - Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family business; the other followed a dream and traveled the world to become a famous photojournalist. But when their beloved father falls ill, these two estranged sisters will find themselves together again, standing - [After You: A Novel](https://dawnkohler.com/book/after-you-a-novel/) - Look out for Jojo’s new book, Still Me, the next book featuring Louisa Clark from Me Before You and After You, coming soon!The sequel to Me Before You, which is now a major motion picture. “We all lose what we love at some point, but in her poignant, funny way, Moyes reminds us that even if - [The Couple Next Door: A Novel](https://dawnkohler.com/book/the-couple-next-door-a-novel/) - A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Another thrilling domestic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Not a Happy Family “The twists come as fast [as] you can turn the pages.” —People “I read this novel at one sitting, absolutely riveted by the storyline. The suspense was beautifully rendered and unrelenting!” —Sue GraftonIt all - [The Family Upstairs: A Novel](https://dawnkohler.com/book/the-family-upstairs-a-novel/) - “Rich, dark, and intricately twisted, this enthralling whodunit mixes family saga with domestic noir to brilliantly chilling effect.” —Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author “A haunting, atmospheric, stay-up-way-too-late read.” —Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author From the New York Times bestselling author of Then She Was Gone comes another page-turning look inside one - [Dune](https://dawnkohler.com/book/dune/) - "Unique...I know nothing comparable to it except Lord of the Rings." --Arthur C. Clarke Here is the novel that will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Maud'dib. He would avenge - [The Vanishing Half: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)](https://dawnkohler.com/book/the-vanishing-half-a-gma-book-club-pick-a-novel/) - #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEARNAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2020 BY THE NEW YORK TIMES • THE WASHINGTON POST • NPR • PEOPLE • TIME MAGAZINE • VANITY FAIR • GLAMOUR New York Times Readers Pick: 100 Best Books of the 21st Century 2021 WOMEN'S PRIZE FINALIST - [Demon Copperhead: A Novel](https://dawnkohler.com/book/demon-copperhead-a-novel/) - WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE • WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTIONNew York Times Readers’ Pick: Top 100 Books of the 21st Century • An Oprah’s Book Club Selection • An Instant New York Times Bestseller • An Instant Wall Street Journal Bestseller • A #1 Washington Post Bestseller • A New York Times "Ten Best Books of - [The Woman in the Window: A Novel](https://dawnkohler.com/book/the-woman-in-the-window-a-novel/) - “Astounding. Thrilling. Amazing.” —Gillian Flynn“Unputdownable.” —Stephen King“A dark, twisty confection.” —Ruth Ware“Absolutely gripping.” —Louise PennyFor readers of Gillian Flynn and Tana French comes one of the decade’s most anticipated debuts, to be published in thirty-six languages around the world and already in development as a major film from Fox: a twisty, powerful Hitchcockian thriller about - [To Kill A Mockingbird](https://dawnkohler.com/book/to-kill-a-mockingbird/) - Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork of honor and injustice in the deep South ― and the heroism of one man in the face of blind and violent hatred.One of the best-loved stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than thirty million copies worldwide, served - [A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel](https://dawnkohler.com/book/a-gentleman-in-moscow-a-novel/) - A New York Times “Readers’ Choice: Best Books of the 21st Century” PickThe mega-bestseller with more than 2 million readers—Now a Paramount+ with Showtime series starring Ewan McGregor as Count Alexander RostovFrom the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Lincoln Highway and Table for Two, a beautifully transporting novel about a man who is ordered to - [The Four Winds](https://dawnkohler.com/book/the-four-winds/) - "The Bestselling Hardcover Novel of the Year."--Publishers WeeklyFrom the number-one bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes a powerful American epic about love and heroism and hope, set during the Great Depression, a time when the country was in crisis and at war with itself, when millions were out of work and - [Little Fires Everywhere: A Novel](https://dawnkohler.com/book/little-fires-everywhere-a-novel/) - The #1 New York Times bestseller • Named a Best Book of the Year by People, The Washington Post, Bustle, Esquire, Southern Living, The Daily Beast, GQ, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Audible, Goodreads, Library Reads, Book of the Month, Paste, Kirkus Reviews, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and more“To say I love this book is an - [All the Light We Cannot See](https://dawnkohler.com/book/all-the-light-we-cannot-see/) - Description not found - [Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: Reese's Book Club: A Novel](https://dawnkohler.com/book/eleanor-oliphant-is-completely-fine-reeses-book-club-a-novel/) - #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick“Beautifully written and incredibly funny, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is about the importance of friendship and human connection. I fell in love with Eleanor, an eccentric and regimented loner whose life beautifully unfolds after a chance encounter with a stranger; I think you will fall in love, - [A Novel: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig In Paperback 01 May 2022](https://dawnkohler.com/book/a-novel-the-midnight-library-by-matt-haig-in-paperback-01-may-2022/) - Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . . Would you have done anything different, if you had the ## Categories - [Uncategorized](https://dawnkohler.com/category/uncategorized/) - [Inspirational](https://dawnkohler.com/category/inspirational/) - [Managing Transitions](https://dawnkohler.com/category/managing-transitions/) - [Purposeful Living](https://dawnkohler.com/category/purposeful-living/) - [Self-Development](https://dawnkohler.com/category/self-development/) - [Women Leaders](https://dawnkohler.com/category/women-leaders/) - [Professional Development](https://dawnkohler.com/category/professional-development/) - [Personal Development](https://dawnkohler.com/category/personal-development/) - [Workshops](https://dawnkohler.com/category/workshops/) - [Tips & Tricks](https://dawnkohler.com/category/tips-tricks/) ## Tags - [professional training](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/professional-training/) - [inspirational reading](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/inspirational-reading/) - [patience](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/patience/) - [cants](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/cants/) - [expectations](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/expectations/) - [change](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/change/) - [managing change](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/managing-change/) - [managing tranisition](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/managing-tranisition/) - [self-discovery](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/self-discovery/) - [self-development](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/self-development/) - [self awareness](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/self-awareness/) - [finding passions](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/finding-passions/) - [author](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/author/) - [blogging](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/blogging/) - [change management process](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/change-management-process/) - [life coach](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/life-coach/) - [self help books](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/self-help-books/) - [depression](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/depression/) - [self confidence tips](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/self-confidence-tips/) - [personal development coach](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/personal-development-coach/) - [improving self esteem](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/improving-self-esteem/) - [personal development plan](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/personal-development-plan/) - [healer](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/healer/) - [goal setting](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/goal-setting/) - [spiritual](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/spiritual/) - [personality development](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/personality-development/) - [meditation](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/meditation/) - [anxiety self help](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/anxiety-self-help/) - [depression self help](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/depression-self-help/) - [self improvement](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/self-improvement/) - [personal growth](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/personal-growth/) - [professional development goals](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/professional-development-goals/) - [leadership development](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/leadership-development/) - [purpose driven life](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/purpose-driven-life/) - [mindfulness](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/mindfulness/) - [women in leadership](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/women-in-leadership/) - [women empowerment](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/women-empowerment/) - [Women Leaders anxiety self help](https://dawnkohler.com/tag/women-leaders-anxiety-self-help/) ## Book Categories - [Category not found](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/category-not-found/) - [Literature & Fiction](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/literature-fiction/) - [Women's Fiction](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/womens-fiction/) - [Friendship](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/friendship/) - [Genre Fiction](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/genre-fiction/) - [Family Life](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/family-life/) - [Historical](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/historical/) - [United States](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/united-states/) - [Classics](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/classics/) - [Mystery, Thriller & Suspense](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/mystery-thriller-suspense/) - [Thrillers & Suspense](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/thrillers-suspense/) - [Psychological Thrillers](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/psychological-thrillers/) - [Science Fiction & Fantasy](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/science-fiction-fantasy/) - [Fantasy](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/fantasy/) - [Paranormal & Urban](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/paranormal-urban/) - [Paranormal](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/paranormal/) - [Science Fiction](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/science-fiction/) - [Space Opera](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/space-opera/) - [Contemporary](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/contemporary/) - [Crime](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/crime/) - [Kidnapping](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/kidnapping/) - [Family Saga](https://dawnkohler.com/book-category/family-saga/) ## Book Authors - [Matt Haig](https://dawnkohler.com/book-author/matt-haig/) - [Gail Honeyman](https://dawnkohler.com/book-author/gail-honeyman/) - [Doerr Anthony](https://dawnkohler.com/book-author/doerr-anthony/) - [Celeste Ng](https://dawnkohler.com/book-author/celeste-ng/) - [Kristin Hannah](https://dawnkohler.com/book-author/kristin-hannah/) - [Amor Towles](https://dawnkohler.com/book-author/amor-towles/) - [Harper Lee](https://dawnkohler.com/book-author/harper-lee/) - [A. J Finn](https://dawnkohler.com/book-author/a-j-finn/) - [Barbara Kingsolver](https://dawnkohler.com/book-author/barbara-kingsolver/) - [Brit Bennett](https://dawnkohler.com/book-author/brit-bennett/) - [Frank Herbert](https://dawnkohler.com/book-author/frank-herbert/) - [Lisa Jewell](https://dawnkohler.com/book-author/lisa-jewell/) - [Jojo Moyes](https://dawnkohler.com/book-author/jojo-moyes/) - [Shari Lapena](https://dawnkohler.com/book-author/shari-lapena/)