Blog

Passion can be thought of as an overpowering emotion or feeling.

What is your passion? To identify your passion, ask yourself questions that will lead to your growth. If you need help, try to find it.

I have helped many people discover their purpose and passions. Maybe I’m able to do that because I feel passionate about the work that I do and that I have immediate family examples of purpose and passion – my son, John Robert, and my mom, Camille Tosi.

I want to share the stories of these two people whom I love dearly and who are important to me.

John Robert has a passion for theater. He has a natural talent for acting, singing, and dancing and he has worked hard to develop it. Since he was 4 years old, he was been taking classes in acting, singing, and dancing. He has the “whole package”. Over the years, he has played Donkey, originally played by Eddie Murphy, in Shrek Jr.; he played Harry in Mama Mia Jr.; and he played the Cat in the Hat in Seussical Jr. and Michael in Peter Pan Jr..

At the end of August, he played his biggest role ever. He was Burt in Mary Poppins. Burt was the leading man who sang about eight songs, danced, and acted. My husband and I listened to John Robert practicing every night. We could not get the catchy show tunes out of our heads. In the original Mary Poppins movie, Dick Van Dyke played Burt. However, I must confess John Robert did an amazing job with the role. 

The New England School of Performing Arts was committed to producing the play, despite Covid-19. The fathers of the drama students worked together over the summer to construct the stage and erect a tent in a student’s backyard. The school, serious about bringing people together safely to watch the performance, required each person to bring his or her own chair and to wear a mask. All the kids did an incredible job! John Robert is such a wonderful example of passion with purpose and skill, even though he is still learning, working in a state of passion and flow.

My mom, Camille Tosi, had a passion for people — helping them and being there for them. She really cared about people and was always there to listen to an issue or a problem. She loved to write cards and always included personal messages and special photos. These were some of her activities of passion.

Mom had a smile that lit up a room. She was one of the kindest, sweetest, and loving people I have ever known. Mom loved flowers, Elvis, and Patti Page. On August 24 of this year, my mom died peacefully in her sleep. She lost a battle with Alzheimer’s but gave us another angel in heaven. Mom lived 83 amazing years and was married for 54 blissful years. She had three kids, four grandkids, and six Godchildren. My mom really loved people and people really loved her. She is greatly missed, but she is in a much better place.

I have had the good fortune to be surrounded by passionate people. I consider myself a passionate person. I know that my mother’s legacy will live on in me, and I know that my passionate son has many more years of performances.

Again, what are you passionate about? Don’t forget to find and follow your passion.

And if you want some help identifying your passions and working to achieve them, contact me and we can talk (https://bookme.name/lisasasso).

Upcoming Events

On Wed., Oct. 14, 2020, the MedDev Group (MDG) (www.MDGBoston.org) is presenting a program of short personal medical stories. The overall topic is Expand your Network in MedTech: Professional Development Virtual Networking Event. I will present a summary of my Follow Your Heart address. The event is FREE and lasts from 5:30 – 6:30 PM (Networking before and after event)

On Fri, Nov. 13, 2020, 10:30am to 12pm, Lisa will be presenting her Goal Setting for Success Seminar to the KLM Networking Group.  More information to follow.
With gratitude and best wishes!
Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker
www.MedDevCoach.com    (781) 872-1045

As your trusted advisor, Lisa empowers you to use passion to live your best life and achieve your goals with confidence, accountability, gratitude and balance.

The right for women to vote in the U.S. culminated in the month of August 100 years ago. The fight for voting rights was finally ratified on August 18, 1920, in Tennessee, U.S.A. Women now can vote, but the struggle for women’s pay equity and equal rights continues. Even in the midst of this topsy-turvy world, we can continue the effort to achieve those rights. We must increase our efforts to achieve jobs and lives that satisfy our well-being. One of the ways to do this is to seek help in finding and achieving the jobs/work of our dreams.

Interview with Jennifer Feltri-George!

Recently, Jennifer Feltri-George interviewed Lisa about how to pursue those goals. What follows is the interview, which occurred on July 20, 2020.

1.     Jennifer Feltri-George (JFG): If you were talking to a group of job seekers in today’s economic climate, what would be your top three or four pieces of advice on how to become more marketable to future employers?

Lisa Sasso (LS): Have an outstanding LinkedIn (LI) profile. A stunning “current” photo, a compelling headline, and a well-crafted summary. I would advise, if appropriate, have the job seeker include some examples of their craft. Example: A motivational speaker with a clip on her LI profile or some video testimonials. Companies like to see a track record of accomplishment and investment in personal improvement, professional development, or other educational experiences.

Job seekers need to remain organized. My advice is to follow a to-do list that is prioritized. Job seekers should constantly be networking. Even with the corona virus, they can still network on-line. They can go to multiple meetings that they might not have been able to previously attend in person. In particular, they should look for organized networking opportunities in their field. Make sure that they have well-crafted elevator pitches and, most importantly, remember to smile.

People see faces with video conferencing. Job seekers should always make sure that they dress appropriately; that their hair and makeup are neat and professional. As the sages say, there is only one chance to make a first impression.

2.    JFG: Do you have any tips or processes you would recommend job seekers use to prioritize and balance their varied responsibilities, for example, career, family, mental health, budget/income loss, and physical health?

LS: Before one can prioritize and balance varied responsibilities, it is important to assess where they are in each of those areas. There is a coaching tool called the “Wheel of Life” that can assist individuals to do just that. I call it a Personal Assessment in my practice. This tool can be used by a job seeker to measure status in eight different areas of their lives. At that point, coaching can then help visualize where they would like to be. That then leads to prioritizing those areas that might be lacking, leading to a plan for improvement. https://meddevpartners.com/personal-assessment/

3.     JFG: How can job seekers overcome obstacles and set “reachable” goals in career planning and personal lives in an economic downturn?

LS: I would recommend performing the steps I mentioned above and complete a personal assessment. Defining a plan for improvement often involves setting goals that then support specific objectives. These goals should align with their values and priorities. The goal setting process itself requires discipline and a structured approach, which in my experience, then leads to “reachable” goals.

I use a method of goals setting called SMART goals on Steroids. It is SMART with the additional ART Goals. These must be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time Bound, while also being Accountable, Resonant, and Thrilling. Using this methodology requires one to flush out obstacles early in the process and allows for more targeted action plans to accomplish the goals.

4.    JFG: In your opinion, how can job seekers remain resilient?

LS: Job Seekers can remain resilient by exercising their body and their mind. By exercising daily and taking a daily walk one can really increase endorphins. In additional to physical exercise, exercise your mind by meditating and journal writing. These activities can provide your mind with the quiet time it needs to improve focus.

5.     JFG: How can coaching help to aid job seekers and anyone else planning their career?

LS: The methodology I described above to assess one’s life, prioritize areas of improvement, and set and achieve goals is a coaching process that can be helpful to both job seekers and those looking to plan out (advance) their career. In addition to the up-front work of assessment and planning, coaches hold their clients accountable throughout this process and help to ensure they achieve their goals (by following through on their action plans). In addition, coaches can help job seekers are various stages in the job search process, including defining the right job, identifying skill sets, preparing for interviews, and even on-boarding.

6.     JFG: Is it possible to coach anyone in any career trajectory?

LS: Yes, it is possible to coach virtually anyone in any career trajectory, but the person has to want to be coached and the family needs to be supportive of the coaching. A certified coach is trained to give assessments, ask probing questions, and to track accountability. I happen to specialize in the Medical Device Field because I have 25 years of experience in the field, https://meddevpartners.com

These are my suggestions about how to continue the effort to achieve equitable rights. We can increase our efforts to achieve jobs and lives that satisfy our well-being. One of the ways to do this is to seek help in finding and achieving the jobs/work of our dreams.

Clients looking to land or stay in the Medical Device Field find my experiences are relevant to their situations, and it gives me the insight to ask the right questions. As an Executive/Career Coach, I can help you achieve those goals.

Contact me and we can talk (https://bookme.name/lisasasso).
With gratitude and best wishes!
Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker
www.MedDevCoach.com    (781) 872-1045

As your trusted advisor, Lisa empowers you to use passion to live your best life and achieve your goals with confidence, accountability, gratitude and balance.

Summertime and the Livin’ used to be easy. Now, it’s I scream, You scream, We all scream for ice cream. NOW! We are so tired of being locked down. But there are some places we can go safely – to the Ice Cream Shop and to accomplish some of our goals.

On Sunday, July 19, it was 96 degrees, and me and my besties (Laura and Elizabeth) and John Robert and his best friend David all enjoyed a relaxing day at Crane’s Beach. Every couple of hours, we were motivated to beat the heat and jump in the cold but very refreshing water.

We were also motivated to walk along the beautiful beach and our two 13-year-old teenagers had us enjoying a fun game of Marco Polo. We ended a perfect day with some homemade ice cream before heading home. It was a special day!

Tuesday, July 21, was my husband John and my 36-year dating anniversary. Yes, this is the infamous story of the 18-year-old boy who wore a black leather jacket and drove a car and the 15-year-old girl who just finished her freshman year of high school.

We went to the movies, saw Karate Kid (part 1), and then went out for ice cream sundaes at Brigham’s… Long story short, my parents knew that I was going out with friends from work. John was a friend from work, but they were expecting girls and not a boy that was going off to college.

Thank goodness, John came into the house with me to meet my parents. We rang the doorbell and waited for them to let us in. They had the interrogation chair ready in the middle of the living room. My younger brother had seen me sneak out and had reported the news hours before. They were happy to hear that he was Italian, Catholic, and an Eagle Scout. He also graduated third in his class from AHS and he was going to Tufts on a full scholarship.

I was still grounded for two weeks. However, my parents really liked him and allowed me to date him. The moral of the story is that I took a chance, and it was worth it because 36 years later we are still happily together. We make sure that we always have an ice cream sundae on July 21 to celebrate our special day.

So, in these times, what can you find to take a chance on? You know it’s important.  Are you ready to find a coach to help you focus on the activities and skills that require risk-taking and that can bring you happiness, a sense of well-being, and success?

Contact me and we can talk (https://bookme.name/lisasasso).
With gratitude and best wishes!
Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker
www.MedDevCoach.com    (781) 872-1045

As your trusted advisor, Lisa empowers you to use passion to live your best life and achieve your goals with confidence, accountability, gratitude and balance.

Our world has changed forever. Many unsettling developments have occurred in the last three months. Everyone has been impacted in some way, whether it is an issue of kids and home schooling, adults coping with job loss and finances, seniors confronting isolation in hospitals and nursing homes, or graduates deprived of the traditional celebrations.

I feel especially sad for all the 2020 graduates. They missed their senior prom, senior week, and graduation ceremonies. My niece, Jessica, is a senior, and we all missed seeing her being awarded her high school diploma. She worked hard for four years and graduated with honors. Next year she plans to attend the University of Rhode Island. Another niece, Alexa, also graduated with honors and will be attending McGill University.

Not only do I pray for the students graduating from high school, but also for all my friends who have children graduating from college. With record-breaking unemployment, this will be a difficult time for the class of 2020 to find jobs. My best wishes for success go out to all of them.

The world is definitely changing, and it was good to be back to church at my local parish (St. Joseph’s).  It isn’t the same watching mass on TV or computer.  Being back renews the sense of community.  My son and his friend David went to a local demonstration and held signs that Black Lives Matter.  He is learning about our rights to protest at the young age of 13.  I am proud of him.

Given the current crisis and requirement for social distancing, this is a good time to reflect on your goals and adapt existing goals and expectations for the second half of 2020. We are all in this together. I want to share my skills in goal setting with all of you. I invite everyone in my community to join me for a complimentary webinar, Lead Yourself Through Crisis:  Reset 2020 Goals.  I am offering this complimentary workshop at two different times, Wednesday, June 24, at 7:00 PM and Thursday, June 25, at 1:00 PM. For more details, and to register for the workshop, please use the links below:

For June 24, register using this link.
June 24,7pm Registration Link: https://bit.ly/2020GoalReset7pm
For June 25, register using this link
June 25, 1pm Registration Link: https://bit.ly/2020GoalReset1pm

Thank you in advance for considering this workshop. As in the past (for my annual Goal Setting Workshops) there is no cost to attend, but I always ask for any donations (not required) be made to Children’s Hospital. http://fundraise.childrenshospital.org/goto/leadyourselfthroughcrisis.  If you have any questions about this workshop, contact me by email or phone, and please preregister.

On Friday, June 5^th I was interviewed by Susan Yakima on Facebook live. We talked about the upcoming workshop. You can view this recording using this link https://www.facebook.com/susan.shatzer/videos/10219765503186843/

And let’s send best wishes for success to the high school and college graduates of 2020.

I hope to see you at one of the workshops. I can help you put some personal and professional goals in place for the second half of 2020 and to make 2020 Your Best Year Ever!

With gratitude and best wishes!
Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker
www.MedDevCoach.com    (781) 872-1045

As your trusted advisor, Lisa empowers you to use passion to live your best life and achieve your goals with confidence, accountability, gratitude and balance.

Not everyone has a son or a daughter, but everyone has or has had a mom. This newsletter is dedicated to all of your moms, to those of you who are moms, to all moms everywhere, and, in particular, to my two moms: my birth mom, Camille, and my mother-in-law mom, Virginia.

My mom, sweet little Camille as we frequently refer to her, prioritized her activities as faith first, family second, friends third, and food an impressive fourth.

Paying tribute to the first, I truly think a mother is a gift from God.

 
An aspect of my mom’s value of caring for family and for friendship is represented by my recent card review project. This project involved going through cards, invitations, thank you notes, and so forth collected over the past 28 years. Although I like to collect things, I forced myself to get rid of any cards that didn’t include a personal note. I kept all the Christmas cards with photos of our friends’ kids and relatives. So many happy memories!

My mom never missed a birthday, an anniversary, a Valentine’s Day, Easter, or Thanksgiving. All her cards had personal notes and often had prayer cards, stickers, added sayings just to make the card more personal and, often, photos from a prior party or gathering. She always said that it takes just a minute to write a personal note; I always do just that.

Her value for friendships and example of maintaining them is a value I share. I think that is why I have so many long-term friendships, some over 35 years.  

As for food, my mom is a great cook. She makes a mean lasagna, and she always made one for me on each birthday. She has a bit of a sweet tooth and loves to make desserts. Just the other day, I came across her recipe for orange pineapple salad. Made of cool whip, cottage cheese, pineapple, mandarin oranges and Jell-O, it is so easy to put together. John Robert, my son, and I made it just the other day in honor of my mom. It was delicious.  How I wish I could bring her some. She is currently hospitalized and has been since December 14 of last year. It is so difficult not being able to visit her. 

My mother-in-law mom, Virginia, is the most caring, giving, and selfless woman. She will do anything for her husband and sister, her three kids, four grandchildren, and two daughter-in-laws. She is always willing to listen to problems or stories without judging and often hits the mark with her advice. She is also obsessed with keeping her home sparklingly clean. I can only aspire to such an immaculate and well-kept home. In addition, we know we can always count on her to help out.

A great mom is one who loves you unconditionally, always tries to find the good in any situation, and succeeds most of the time. I am so grateful for my mom and for my mother-in-law mom and feel so lucky to have both of them in my life. These women are incredible moms. They are two of the warmest and most loveable women in the world. Each mom has been my “biggest cheerleader” for all my activities and work endeavors forever.

Neither of them ever missed or misses a dance recital or acting performance by my son. They have front row seats for every production. So, they should each be awarded best grandmother status. I aspire to qualify for just half of their mothering talents, proficiency, and gifts. They taught me patience, kindness, gratitude, and generosity. Most importantly, they gave me their LOVE and, by example, taught me how to love.

If this note makes you stop and think about your mom, then I achieved my goal. If you are blessed to be able to see your mom, do so, and give her a hug, give a card or cook a meal. If you can’t see her, then call to tell her how special she is to you, engage in some virtual activities, such as going on virtual museum tour, viewing a favorite movie together, or simply having a video call. There is never a better time than the present, and I’m sure you will never regret your efforts.

Give thanks and show you cherish the woman who gave you life! And pay tribute and honor all moms everywhere in any way you can.
With gratitude and best wishes!
Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker
www.MedDevCoach.com    (781) 872-1045

As your trusted advisor, Lisa empowers you to use passion to live your best life and achieve your goals with confidence, accountability, gratitude and balance.

n the midst of uncertain times, we must celebrate and carry on. We are anxious about our isolation, necessity to remain inside, shortages of supplies, money, health insurance, and a myriad other issues. We worry about those who’ve contracted Covid-19 and grieve for those who’ve succumbed to the disease. Many of us are impatient with the extra time required to wash our hands for 20 seconds a zillion times a day, to do numerous loads of laundry, and to keep our homes clean and sanitary.

Yet, we can be grateful for our existing life. We can celebrate our holidays, birthdays, and accomplishments and those of others. And we can use this crazy time to improve our skills and work/life balance for now and the future. We must be resourceful and hang in there.

Gratitude

Not everything is bad. In fact, there is much to be grateful for. The first thing that comes to mind this spring/Easter season is gratitude for my nuclear and extended family. And, for the fact that currently, we are all well and healthy.

Other things to be grateful for include being able to make weekly trips for groceries (Thank you grocery workers), pick up needed medications (Thank you pharmacists, assistants, sales people, and others), and physically able to take walks on sunny days. It was not until my supplies of soaps, other cleaning products, and toilet paper were low or depleted that I appreciated their value.

In addition, I have found people more pleasant these days. Before jumping into business topics, people exchange pleasant salutations and heartfelt greetings.

Celebrations

Last week was Holy Week for those of us who are Christians. But it just wasn’t the same. Each year for the past 12 years, I’ve hosted an Easter/birthday dinner for about 40 people at our home. Including birthdays as part of the celebration is due to the many birthdays in April. Aunt Kathy’ birthday was on Easter this year; Papa Sasso and Aunt Judy’s birthdays are on April 15^th, and my son, John Robert, and Nana Sasso’s birthdays are on the 23^rd. My father-n-law (Papa Sasso) will turn 80 on April 15.

Despite the requirement for physical distancing, we still had a dinner on Easter this year and we conversed with our extended family and friends via two Zoom video-conference calls. Each of us could see and talk with all the others. We wished each other Easter blessings, and we gave birthday wishes to each of the birthday folks. I prepared lasagna, meatballs, and salad, and served numerous delicious desserts.

How did you celebrate your spring holidays – Easter, Passover or other holidays? I hope that you were able to enjoy a good meal with your immediate family and, possibly through Zoom, Skype, or another conference call application, share the holiday with your extended family and friends.

Self-Investment

Regardless of whether April is your birthday month or not, I want to share a present with you. Anyone who starts one of my coaching programs in April will receive a complimentary Professional Assessment Test, valued at $50. Now is a good time to invest in yourself and work on your values and work/life balance. This is especially true for those who are not accustomed to working at home.

I also have a new offer – Laser-Coaching. Laser Coaching provides you with four short 15-minute sessions per month that are designed to focus on a single, current issue. My offer can help people start coaching without the upfront costs in this Covid-19 world. If you are interested in this program, please schedule a (free) mini-consult (click here) so we can discuss if this is right for you. I have been participating in laser coaching with my own coach for some time now and have found it to be extremely valuable.  In this introductory period, I plan to limit the number of Laser Coaching clients and offer this at a discount as compared to my normal coaching rates.

John Robert and a Special Request

I can’t believe that our son will be a teenager in two weeks. His birthday is on April 23. If you can, please call him on his birthday at our home number, 781-944-6274, or reply to this email. I want him to realize he is valued and loved by many.

John Robert participates online in his seventh-grade school subjects and in his drama and dancing activities. It is amazing how much can be done remotely. I am so impressed with how mature he has become. He is a little bored being in the house all the time. But when the weather is nice, he and his best friends, David and Ryan, play outdoors or ride their bikes.

Until We Meet Again

At times like this, we need to be resourceful. And we all must continue to do our parts to stay safe and to keep healthy.

I hope that this message finds you all doing well. My thoughts and prayers are with anyone on this thread and their families, friends, and neighbors who have been impacted by COVID-19. 

Wishing you and your families health, happiness, and safety. Together, we will get through this.
With gratitude and best wishes
Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker
www.MedDevCoach.com    (781) 872-1045

As your trusted advisor, Lisa empowers you to use passion to live your best life and achieve your goals with confidence, accountability, gratitude and balance.

“St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time – a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic.” — Adrienne Cook

St. Patrick’s Day is only a few days before the first day of spring. It is a fun holiday, and we all get to be Irish for a day and wear something green. It is a day for those who are Irish and those who love the Irish. How do you celebrate this day?

 
Many people associate St. Patrick’s Day with a leprechaun and his pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It is not necessarily a real Pot of Gold but can be a symbolic one. It can represent your goal.
What is your primary goal? Is it:

• Achieving life/work balance?
• Obtaining the job you long for?
• Buying the car of your dreams?
• Traveling on an exotic vacation?
• Or something else?

Only when you identify your primary and other goals can you hope to achieve them. 

Working with an Executive Coach facilitates identifying both short- and long-term goals and, most importantly, helps you achieve them. Such a partner helps you brainstorm to identify goals, holds you accountable, and supports you along the way.

In addition, to achieve your goals, you need to be strongly motivated and to have the right mindset. In fact, to achieve most things in life you need the right mindset. It is 80% mindset and 20% action. But mindset puts you into action on a regular basis.

Another important factor in achieving your goals is gratitude.

One of the best ways to get into the right mindset is to express gratitude. It is like sharing a pot of gold. And anyone and everyone is capable of expressing gratitude. Each piece of advice given, greeting offered, or problem you help someone else solve is like sharing your pot of gold. The benefits are numerous and too many to mention here. I will talk more about gratitude next month.

Share your pot of gold with friends and family readily, and you will see your own pot overflow. People will fill your bucket with kind words and appreciation, and you will feel good about the transaction. The transaction doesn’t need to be a monetary; it just needs to come from the heart.

If you have any friends or colleagues who might benefit from my services as an Executive Coach (and who are looking for their pot of gold in the Medical Device Industry), I would appreciate a referral. Please introduce us to each other. If you are looking for support to achieve your goals, click here to schedule a FREE 15-20 minute call with me.
With gratitude and best wishes and a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker
www.MedDevCoach.com    (781) 872-1045

As your trusted advisor, Lisa empowers you to use passion to live your best life and achieve your goals with confidence, accountability, gratitude and balance.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a GIFT. That’s why it’s called the present.” – Bil Keane in his comic strip, The Family Circus

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I want to gift all my current subscribers with a sweet report, “Tips to Climb the Corporate Ladder: Advice from Leaders in the Medical Device Industry,” published on February 1, 2020 on my new, improved look and feel website.

To download the report, click here. Because you are a loyal subscriber to my Monthly Motivational Messages, it is yours free. While you’re downloading the report from my enhanced website, www.MedDevCoach.com, check out the easier, more user-friendly navigation.

I just finished hosting my fifth annual Goal Setting for Success 2020 Workshop with accountable, balance and gratitude. I am happy to share that, it was a success we raised $1,819 for Boston Children’s Hospital. This was the best year ever. Thank you for your very generous donations.

I would like to invite you for your FREE 15 – 20 minute Mini Consult.

During the call, you’ll

1) Gain clarity about what it will take to climb the corporate ladder
2) Understand how to live your values in the corporate world
3) Learn the next steps to move forward in your life and career

Reserve your time now by visiting https://bookme.name/lisasasso .

I look forward to talking with you to evaluate whether coaching makes sense for you.

I do hope that you like your gift, the Tips report, which is the new giveaway for those who want to receive my Monthly Motivational Messages.

I am looking forward to connecting with you during your Free Mini-Consult.

With gratitude and best wishes and a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker
www.MedDevCoach.com    (781) 872-1045

As your trusted advisor, Lisa empowers you to use passion to live your best life and achieve your goals with confidence, accountability, gratitude and balance.