Pausemeister Bio
Skip the narrative & take me to the details
The Journey:
My work has always focused on encouragement, education and development. Skills in communicating - writing and speaking - are at the core of that service.
In the first half of my professional life, I worked in rural youth programming with the University of Saskatchewan. That work expanded to include staff and volunteer development.
When I launched my own consulting business in 1986, I carried that development focus with me into the programming I delivered to community groups and corporations, where I focused on time, organization and stress skills.
After years of helping people enhance productivity, I realized that many highly productive individuals continue to feel overwhelmed by their loads and disappointed with their accomplishments. This led me to investigate - through research and Masters level study - the concept of time starvation.
The work and the study led me to focus on balance - helping individuals and organizations restore a rhythm of renewal - balancing the press for performance with an equally critical pause for renewal.
So now, I not only deal with issues of productivity and performance, I help overextended mid-lifers find ways to take a break and get a grip. Clients bring balance to their lives and organizations by challenging their high-pressure mindsets. They establish the essential habits of renewal that lead to sustainable wellness, prosperity, and a more appreciative approach to life and work.
The Details:
Educator:
- Clients of Optimus Consulting report increasing the effectiveness of their coping skills by an average of 54% after being introduced to stress relieving, time optimizing, work life balance strategies
- In more than two decades of programming, has delivered conference presentations, seminars, and follow up support to over 50,000 individuals
- University Extension Specialist - Youth, Staff, and Volunteer Development - 14 years
Communicator:
Best Selling Author
- Four books on time, stress, organization & life balance
- Over 20,000 copies sold
Syndicated Columnist
- 7 years providing weekly newspaper columns to Canadian dailies
- 6 years authoring a weekly e-zine, Pause - currently over 4500 subscribers
Media Resource:
- Featured in print publications ranging from the Neighborhood Express to the Calgary Herald to the national Globe & Mail
- Interviewed as a contributing expert for articles in: Investment Executive, Homemakers' Magazine, CMHA Balance Magazine, Home Business Report, Costco Connection, Woman's World, Family Practice, Today's Parent, Western Living
- Featured as a guest expert on Report on Business TV and CTV's Balance Website
- Served as spokesperson for a Proctor & Gamble product release
- Guest expert on 24 episodes of CBC's nationally syndicated television program, What On Earth
- Featured time specialist on TV program, The Simple Way
Lifelong Learner:
- Masters In Continuing Education from University of Calgary -1999 - Learning In The Workplace specialty. Masters final project focused on Time Starvation
- Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from University of Saskatchewan - 1973 - Communications & Group Development specialty
- An inveterate reader, web surfer, conference and seminar junkie, Patricia constantly challenges herself to learn, and it shows in the depth of her work
Innovator:
- Pioneer in satellite broadcasting for educational purposes
- Facilitated 16 management development modules for Credit Union Central
- Co-wrote & produced ' The Instructor Road Test - Featuring The Bumbling Educator - a distance learning event for adult educators
- Designed and hosted interactive broadcast on Distance Learning, for Canadian Association of University Continuing Educators Conference
Committed Professional:
- First woman President of the National Board of CAPS (the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers), and served on the National Board and its committees for many years
- CHRP (Certified Human Resource Professional)
- Past President of the Saskatchewan Training & Development Association and Past Program Chair for Saskatchewan Association of Human Resource Professionals (Saskatoon)
Honored Contributor:
- 2007 RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur Awards Nominee
- 2002 YWCA Women of Distinction Award Nominee in Entrepreneurship category
- 2001 Canadian Association of Professional Speakers Service Award
- 1999 Nominee for Saskatchewan Home Based Business Association - Business of the Year Award
- 1995 Nominee for Rotary Clubs of Saskatoon Golden Wheel Award For Excellence in Commerce & Industry
- 1993 Nominee for National HRD Canada Award of Excellence, Human Resource Practitioner Of The Year
Woman With A Life Beyond Work:
- Wife of over 30 years
- Mother of two grown daughters, and a recent grandmom
- Enthusiastic traveler, committed gardener, aspiring artist.
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| Patricia at work in the garden – the early years. |
I'd love to help you and your organization solve your stress, pressure and performance problems. Contact me to see how we might work together.
"Great peace is found in little busy-ness."
-Geoffrey Chaucer
