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Dear Reader,

It started with not wanting to waste money. My son used an online tutoring service in high school to help with the final push before graduation 2 years ago. Now our family had 40 hours to use up in 90 days before they expired. When I discovered that Spanish was a subject they tutored in, I switched the student from him to me. I hadn’t officially studied Spanish for 15 years, and I was ready to jump back in. I have dreams of living in a Spanish-speaking country for parts of the year in retirement, so I probably have 10 years to prep—no time like the present.

One year after I used the tutoring hours, my friend Erin announced that she would host a yoga retreat in Spain. Naturally, I had to sign up to support her (the perfect excuse).

After signing up, I found a program for immersive Spanish: a live-in-your-teacher's-home program near Barcelona. I decided to attend the Spanish Express pre-retreat to pre-extend my trip across the ocean. I became an adult study abroad student. I walked into the apartment on day one and spoke no more English.

What surprised me most was how much the experience mirrored leadership growth. As a coach and trainer, I often help people build 7 big-picture leadership skills—and in Spain, I practiced all of them in real time. Read more about that connection through my blog. What leadership skills are you working on right now?

📚 Resources

BURST COACHING. Now OPEN for November, try a 30-minute Burst Coaching session with Julie, Judy, or Jeff, focused on one challenge you’re facing right now.

• Burst Coaching Session with Julie: REGISTRATION LINK​
• Burst Coaching Session with Judy: REGISTRATION LINK​
• Burst Coaching Session with Jeff: REGISTRATION LINK​

MOTH STORYSLAM. Watch Julie Lancaster’s hilarious and heartfelt tale of taking 50 Latin dance classes—brought to life with her R.E.S.T. storytelling method from Beyond Words—won her the Moth StorySLAM in Phoenix.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT. Retreats & Team Training. Boost connection, strategy, and leadership with a customized team event—planned, facilitated, and debriefed for lasting impact. With 50+ topics to choose from, we’ll design the right fit to take your team from surviving to thriving. Ready to grow together? Let’s plan your retreat!

THE FUTURE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING ARTICLE. In a time of rapid change, traditional strategic planning falls short. Explore five people-centered approaches to build flexibility, belonging, and resilience in your organization. Read the full article here.​

QUESTION. What's your question? Could you use some support with a current issue? Submit your question HERE, and the Lancaster Leadership team will pick one to answer each month in the next newsletter.

📚 Upcoming Event

​BEYOND WORDS: HOW OUR STORIES AND STRATEGIES INSPIRE LEADERSHIP ACTION​

I’ll be at Bright Side Bookshop on November 18 from 6–7 PM to share a reading from Beyond Words, followed by a Q&A and book signing. We’re excited that the book will be released very soon, and this evening is a chance to celebrate together. If you’re nearby and feel like joining for some reflection and connection, I’d love to see you there. Doors open at 5:45.

Purchase your ticket through this LINK.