Other than working in women’s retail for a short period of time in high school, very few of the jobs I’ve held would be considered working in customer service; however, over the years, I’ve come to believe that most of us actually engage in more hospitality opportunities than we realize. Although the responsibilities described in …
Author: Julie Powell, Ed.D.
With over 30 years in higher education, I have a passion for seeing people, not only succeed at life, but to flourish in their God-given space personally, professionally, and spiritually.
Too Many Choices
The anticipation of this night has been building for a full calendar year with the opponents being decided only a few weeks before. It’s the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship between Clemson University and Louisiana State University, and there are about ten minutes remaining before kick-off. Picking up the slender television remote, I scroll …
Good, Better, Best
Once upon a time there was a retail and appliance store called Sears (sadly there are only a few locations remaining) where almost every single item we ever owned was purchased. Every appliance in our home had a Kenmore label purchased with a Sears employee discount. This retailer was so prominent during the 70s and …
Rent to Own
Growing up I remember television advertisements which claimed the tagline “Rent-to-Own” as a marketing ploy; and a quick search of the Internet leaves me to believe there remain a few stores which still offer this service, but it appears the interest has waned. With the current options for transferring payment through technology like Apple Pay, …
Flourishing Filter
How do you know when you’ve made a good choice? What criteria do you use to evaluate a bad choice? How did you choose the brand of toothpaste that squeezed a colored glob of goo on your toothbrush this morning? Assuming that you participated in that daily ritual this morning, the answer you provide may …
Water Stations
Listening to a message this morning on my walk presented by Dave Shields at Menlo Church, I was enlightened to consider missions and church attendance in a new light. As a person who relishes practical and applicable sermons, this morning’s epiphany was extremely relevant even though it was not the main theme of the presentation. …
Flourishing Thinking
On this journey to examine ways to equip and engage Gen Z, specifically in the college classroom, much of my interest has zeroed in on processes such as active or experiential learning activities such as gamification, virtual simulations, and student-created content. As I’ve pondered what strategies might be successful in my classes, research on tinkering …
Lose the Prescriptions
As a health educator who supports the use of pharmaceutical medicines to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease, I admit to wrestling sometimes with where to draw the line between behavioral habits and the use of chemicals. When I make a choice to consume high-fat fast foods over fresh fruits and vegetables, I understand the …
This Is Your Brain on a…Smartphone
If you are unable to recall the 1987 public service announcement related to the dangers of drug abuse, our wonderful world of instantly accessible information allows you to click here to view the commercial. The scene depicts a man cracking open an egg into a frying pan to demonstrate the effects of using drugs. The …
Is Gen Z the Canary?
Entering unchartered territory is challenging and not for the faint of heart. Thankful for all the pioneers whose courage led them to brave new areas, I relish those who are willing to risk the unknown. Trailblazers are eager to journey into new territories to open opportunities for the rest of us; and currently, I believe …
Flourishing @ Life 