Author Archives

Chery Gegelman

President, Giana Consulting

Chery Gegelman is an adventurer that loves to learn. ...Deep conversations, books, travel, and daily living are all food for growth.

As a speaker, facilitator and workshop leader she creates energizing environments that reflect God's grace, tear down walls, help people to consider new perspectives, and inspire change.

Chery is the Founder of Giana Consulting and Conversation Safari's, listed as a Great Leadership Speaker by Inc., writes a recognized leadership blog and has co-authored two leadership books.

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What special needs families taught me about comfort zones

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A few years ago my sister adopted a 3-year old little boy that was born addicted to meth.  He had been in and out of foster homes, diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome, had abandonment issues and could not speak.

That sister lives in another state and I don’t get to see her often.  When we spoke about her new son’s challenges,  the challenges the family faced, and the special moments they were beginning to experience… I found myself wanting to I understand more.

Shortly after the adoption, I moved to a new city and met a family with an adult daughter with cognitive challenges.

It was at that time that I realized that although I was always mentally supportive of families and children with special needs and nice to them, I was also uncomfortable simply because I did not know how to fully engage with them.  Was it okay to ask questions?  Or would that be offensive?  What behavior did you need to accept and love and what behavior should you coach and correct?

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Learning’s & Joy: In the Midst of Change

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“Leaving home in a sense involves a kind of second birth in which we give birth to ourselves.“ Robert Neely Bellah

  • 4 months ago my husband accepted a position across the world and we began preparing to be first-time expats
  • 2 months later my husband relocated while our dog and I stayed behind to wait on my visa, the pet relocation details and the movers
  • 1 month later our dog got sick and had tumors removed and we waited for his test results and for him to heal
  • Last week the movers came and packed and loaded all of our things and we said goodbye to Tulsa
  • Today, my dog and I are technically “homeless” but thankful for the opportunity to visit friends and family!
  • Next week, our dog will have his first flight and my husband will be there to welcome him to his new home
  • Within a week of his departure I will sell our car and board a plane too

Soon our little family will together again!!!

In this time of planning and waiting I’ve been reminded of several things:

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The Secret Sauce: Social Media and Networking

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How often do you play video games?  What is the first thing you do when you are playing a new game?

When I sit down to play a new game that is filled with scenery and objectives, every part of my being wants to explore and experiment.  I’m curious how far I can wander before the screen freezes; I want to see where the path leads; I’m in awe of the creativity of the designers, and I want to know what happens when I push certain buttons!  (I drive my husband crazy, because he wants to achieve as much as possible as quickly as possible!)

In the debate about Social Media and business, some say it is the future and it must be explored!  Others say it is a source of information and connections and a critical marketing tool.   While another group says it is a waste of time, a risk and that it must be tightly controlled!

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Expats: On Life & Leadership… Lessons From Around The World

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As many of you know I am in the midst of preparing for the adventure of a lifetime!  (A move overseas to the ONLY place in the world my husband and I said we never wanted to live.)  A few months have passed since we were asked to do this, and we are actually getting excited about our adventure!

Students

As we’ve been preparing for this transition, I’ve reached out to several people that have experience living outside of their home country.  Those conversations have been inspiring, thought provoking and filled with insights that apply to life, not just international moves.

As you read through their quotes, think about your life right now.  What stands out?  You are invited to share your stories and your learnings at the bottom of this post!

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Navigating Limbo, In the Midst of Change

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Have you ever played Capture the Flag?  It was one of my favorite summer camp games because it was filled with adventure and intrigue as we plotted how we would get to the other side of a field, to capture the other team’s flag and bring it back to our side of the world!

The downside of the game was that if you were captured in enemy territory, you were frozen in place, unable to move forward to help your team or to retreat back to safety!  Being frozen was really a state of limbo.  It was watching the game unfold, not as a spectator, and not as a full participant.

As we prepare for our expat journey I’ve been reminded that I’m not good at limbo.  I would rather:

  • Be creating the change.
  • Play a supportive role:  If I know why we are doing something, when it’s happening, what I need to do and when I need to do it.  
  • Be a real spectator:  If I’m watching something amazing unfold, getting to share that experience with others and if I have some idea when the event ends!

I prefer to be participating, adding value, moving towards a goal, and quite simply just being in motion!