Author: Seniye Groff

Instructions for a Heatwave

Posted on by Seniye Groff

Maggie O’Farrell presents the reader with an interesting dilemma as she tells the story of a crisis in the Riordan family.  London is experiencing a vicious heatwave and one morning, Gretta Riordan’s husband of forty years, Robert, disappears while on his morning task of buying the newspaper.  Oh, and he empties out the bank account at the same time.  All the children are alerted and descend upon the family home.  Michael Francis has a failing marriage; Monica is on her second marriage with two stepdaughters that barely tolerate her and mysterious, wild child Aoife flies in from New York City.

While all three children are focused on finding their father, Greta slowly reveals potential clues which revolve around a hidden past.  Simultaneously, each child hides a secret that O’Farrell seductively divulges.  In the end, each family member realizes no one is as they seem.  O’Farrell writes with depth and exposes tantalizing details while moving from one character to the next rather quickly.  Each deep, dark secret is one that a reader can relate to and very much empathize with the character.  There are no “grand” surprises here, but instead, revelations that make each character whole, human and believable.

The Girl You Left Behind

Posted on by Seniye Groff

Jojo Moyes has written an astoundingly great book.  If you read “Me Before You” and were enraptured, get ready to be even more enamored with her latest book, “The Girl You Left Behind/”.  Sophie and Helene are barely surviving in a small French town during the German occupation of World War I. The sisters run the local restaurant, Le Coq Rouge, and are forced to feed the German soldiers every night.    The Kommandant is mesmerized by a painting in the dining room by Sophie’s husband, Edouard Lefevre, called “The Girl You Left Behind”.  It is a painting of Sophie when she was full of love and life after she first met Edouard.  Sophie dreams of Edouard daily; hoping he is alive on the front.  Sophie decides to make the ultimate sacrifice by offering her painting to the Kommandant in return for seeing her husband.

Alternating chapters reveal Liv, a woman living in 2006 London.  She is still struggling four years after the sudden death of her 38 year-old architect husband.  David gave Liv “The Girl You Left Behind“ for their honeymoon and it is proudly displayed in Liv’s home.  Liv’s life has essentially stopped.  She is unwilling to make anything different in David’s house since his death.  During a chance meeting, Liv meets Paul and finally gets a shot at the possibility of a  “normal” life.  But the mysterious painting plays an integral role in both Sophie and Liv’s life as events unfold in this engrossing novel.  

Moyes writes of love, sacrifice and loss with glaring detail.  Her characters leap from the pages with the vivid writing of the author.  “The Girl You Left Behind” is fraught with deeper meaning and readers will be thinking of the characters long after they finish the book.  

Moyes will be reading her book at Powells at Cedar Hills this Monday, September 16th at 7 p.m.

Whistling Past the Graveyard

Posted on by Seniye Groff

I laughed out loud to the many antics of nine year old narrator, Starla, in Susan Crandall’s latest novel,  “Whistling Past the Graveyard”.  Starla lives with her Mamie (grandmother) in a small southern town while her father works on an oil rig and her mother is busy getting “famous” in Nashville.  Starla is sassy and acts before she thinks and lands herself on restriction on her most favorite holiday:  July Fourth.  So Starla decides she is going to run away, find her mother in Nashville and her father will join them and, of course, a perfect family will form.

Starla is quickly picked up by Eula, an African American woman in an old rickety truck accompanied by a white newborn.  Eula Takes Starla and the newborn to her home and husband, Wallace.  Wallace is a bit of a drunkard and nuts and insists that Eula cannot form an “instant” family with two white children.  Starla tries to escape and disaster ensues.  Eula, Starla and the baby decide to head to Nashville to find Starla’s mother.  During their adventures to Nashville, Starla begins to understand what is “allowed” for Coloreds in 1960’s America.  Watching (or reading) Starla discover the discrimination is mesmerizing.  As the reader, I almost felt I had been transported back to the 1960’s.

This story has so many layers to it: the south, being nine, being white vs. African-American, being childless, being battered and being a part of small town America–just to name a few.  Starla is smart, clever and naive all at the same time.  Crandall writes with skill and emotion and this novel will make you laugh, cry, smile and gain an understanding of how difficult it is to make change happen (and how brave those change agents really are!).

Crandall has written nine novels prior to this latest release, and I cannot wait to read all of her other books!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Posted on by Seniye Groff

I have been working with several people lately that want to make a change in their careers but don’t really know where to begin.  I have a few recommendations:

  1. Know your strengths.  Definitely take stock in what you are good at.  Not what you “think” you are good at, but skills that you have received positive feedback on.
  2. Know your weaknesses.  I know, so much more difficult.  And don’t give yourself the “pat” assessment that you don’t like conflict or something similar.  You need to be really specific with yourself.
  3. Know your value system.  In other words, what can you absolutely tolerate and not tolerate in a career, workplace, co-workers etc.  For example, if you know that being in an environment where you are not at a computer all day is paramount then don’t even think about taking a job where computer tasks are part of the major responsibilities.
  4. Once you know who you are (and  I mean really be honest with yourself) you can begin to identify transferable skills that are used from one job to another.
  5. Richard Bolles has written a workbook that can help you get started.  The book is loaded with practical exercises to help get you started on your journey to finding yourself, your skills and ultimately, happiness.

Maui

Posted on by Seniye Groff

I had the good fortune to spend two weeks on Maui on vacation.  It was a much-needed respite from a very busy year.  It amazes me how the sun and sand can recharge me and the kids loved the balmy weather.  Our biggest decision each day was which beach to venture to for that day; knowing that the afternoons were reserved for the pool.  Marine life was abundant; fish making themselves known as soon as we walked into the water.  We sailed out to Molokini one day and snorkeled to our heart’s content.  Fish of all colors and shapes swam with us, quite unafraid.  Fortunately, the eels stayed at the bottom of the reef since they were cool to see but I really did not want a close-up.  And so, I sit at my desk now and dream of the heat warming my back, the relaxed evenings and the next time I will be able to snorkel the fabulous reefs of Maui!

 

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Collaboration Boosts Learning

Posted on by Seniye Groff

In this month’s issue of “Talent Management” an article about collaboration struck a chord.  Although there will always be a need for formal learning, given how fast-paced and ever-changing the world is, collaborative learning is gaining increasing popularity.  Employees are able to leverage each other when sharing much-needed knowledge.    The article states that three building blocks are needed to have “an effective collaborative learning environment:  people, processes and tools.”

People must have a way to share knowledge, as well as, create new knowledge and solutions.  Given that people, not a specified process, drives collaboration,  it is important to consider how to structure your collaborative environment.  “Collaborative learning technologies don’t have to be complicated.  They can be content management systems, social networks, instant messaging or cloud computing technology that is easily accessible to everyone.”

“Six traps that destroy collaboration:

  1. Lack of compromise
  2. Rigid organizational structures
  3. Convoluted communication lines
  4. Office setup
  5. Negativity
  6. Ownership and control issues.”

Measuring collaboration:

  1. “Quality
  2. Learning effectiveness
  3. Job impact
  4. Business results
  5. Return on investment.

Check out the entire article for full explanations.  Add a comment if have seen any of the above ideas in action!

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A Catalyst for Change

Posted on by Seniye Groff

“This book has two particular uses. The first is to address specific topics or concerns, and the second is to assist in the development of broad-based efforts to create exceptional organizations.”

William F. Brandt, Jr. proposes a new paradigm for organizations in his recent book “Compass”. This paradigm includes organizations that are viable, sustainable and valued. Brandt’s goals for the reader are to expand horizons of what is possible, increase the likelihood of creating organizations they desire, reduce time to accomplish the task and reduce cost and consequences of missteps. The book begins with the foundations of key elements of exceptional organizations. I loved how the book began with a case study so that the reader has a frame of reference for the remaining lessons and essays in the book. The essays are followed by reflection questions and related chapter information. Most essays are only a few pages long and lend themselves to be used as tools if a leader wants to share the material with their teams. This is a comprehensive book with a companion website loaded with PowerPoint slides for each lesson and lesson materials so that the various topics can be disseminated to an audience. This book is a viable tool for any leader, either new or tenured. It is loaded with ideas, concepts, tools and valuable information and would be a catalyst for organizational change and improvement.

Hillsboro Hops

Posted on by Seniye Groff

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Last night baseball returned to Portland (or Hillsboro to be exact)!  We took the girls to the inaugural opening game and the evening was magical.  Magical because besides all the energy and excitement in the air, the night was beautiful and we even saw a double rainbow.  In true baseball fashion, the music was loud and there were fun events and prize giveaways between each inning.  Carli even ran across the field with a bunch of other kids as they chased the Hops mascot.

The Hillsboro Hops are the single A team for Arizona.  I prefer the true athlete that is still excited about the game, rather than just the paycheck so single A players are fine for me.  We only stayed through the fourth inning but got home at 10 p.m. (three hours past Pearl’s bedtime).  Even though the hour was late, the kids did not seem to mind; a good time was had by all!  Check them out if you can!