BIGGEST BREAKFAST CLUB AUDIENCE FINDS THEIR PATCH OF BLUE

By Katie Kelly, DLE Social Media Intern, Communications and Culture major with a concentration in Media and a Sports Journalism minor at Fordham University, New York, NY

Life has its ups and downs. Often it is hard to navigate through cloudy days and find bright days. Fortunately, on Friday, March 12, Linda Dulye, founder of Dulye & Co. and The Dulye Leadership Experience, shared how she navigates cloudy days.

Linda opened up with Breakfast Club attendees about her life journey, touching on the struggles and hardships in her life, as well as the bright spots she sought out during difficult times. Her late mother had a saying that encouraged Linda through hard times; it was the title of this month’s DLE Breakfast Club. Throughout her life, Linda’s mom told her to “find your patch of blue.” Linda did just that.

During a Q&A session with DLE community member and entrepreneur Jonathan Katz, Linda spoke with emotion about defining moments and inspiring individuals that impacted her personal and professional development. To  illustrate the highs and lows of her life path, she shared a Journey Line, which started with her childhood, when she worked in the family business, and progressed to her current roles at the helms of Dulye & Co. organizational consultancy and the DLE. The 39 attendees received a kit with video instructions to develop their own Journey Lines—an excellent exercise for self-reflection and growth.

True to the interactive facet of DLE programs, attendees connected through breakout groups to exchange practices for staying positive during hard times.

In case you missed it, the latest DLE YouTube resource features Linda’s interview from the March 13 program. Tune in to hear her describe these seven meaningful and effective strategies for positivity:

• See the assets at hand. “Although our family business was destroyed by fire, the patch of blue was that there were no injuries among employees. We still had a home, dreams and an outpouring of support from the local community. Those were extraordinary assets for moving forward–which my parents did with even bigger plans for both of their businesses.”
• Don’t doubt yourself. Reassess yourself. “The loss of my first job—my dream job as a daily newspaper reporter—coupled with one trip to the unemployment office’s very long line made me reevaluate my personal skill set and see that it was applicable to other vocations beyond journalism.”
• Channel an “I can” mindset. “A strong mind can fuel a strong body. I saw it first-hand with my mother and brother, who defied the odds of surviving from catastrophic illness and injury. Their daily mantra was ‘I can.’”
• Nurture your curiosity. “Get out of your bubble through continuous exploration via conversations and readings. Listen to those with different perspectives and experiences. Learn how to ask meaningful questions that unlock the unknown.”
• Find sources of inspiration. “Enlist a friend, colleague, teacher or coach who will challenge you to get out of your comfort zone and help you be comfortable with uncertainty and unpredictability.”
• Exercise every day. “Stress release is essential. Get up. Get moving. Get active for at least 30 minutes every day. This is a non-negotiable fixture in your schedule.”
• Give back. “Whether it be your time, talent or treasure, find a way to share your personal assets with others to help them see and seize their best.”

The Breakfast Club is a great way to kick off your morning. It sets you in a positive, productive mindset for the rest of the day. Mark your calendar to start your day off right on Friday, April 9, at 7:00 am ET for the next DLE Breakfast Club.

Click here to watch last week’s program: Find Your Patch of Blue: Staying Positive in Hard Times—and be sure to subscribe to the DLE YouTube Channel for your chance to win an exclusive DLE Breakfast Club hat.