EILEEN MCDARGH'S
Resiliency Report
Published monthly and when the mood strikes.
Hard to Move into the Month of Thanksgiving
November 2025
Update from Eileen
Sometimes it’s hard to move into the month of Thanksgiving—particularly when there’s so much that’s bleak around us: Rising costs of food, rising costs of health care insurance, far too many people fired from the U.S. government to the 14,000 terminated at Amazon, our government threatening to test nuclear weapons, invade Venezuela, move troops into our cities …. AARGH!
I get totally unthankful just writing this… But…
Resiliency grows not from ignoring reality but from determining where one has control and countering the negative with the positive.
Take the No Kings protest. Some seven million of us across the U.S. joined neighbors and strangers to laugh, sing, dance, and find collective power in community action. Other protests sprang up across Europe and Canada. All peaceful. All positive. And just what we needed.
I know some of my colleagues believe we should ignore what is happening and conduct business as usual. But ignorance is not bliss. Mom flew for the military in WWII, and Dad served in the Army Corps of Engineers. My twin brother was a Coast Guard officer. At least once a week, either Mom or Dad would ask this question at dinner: “What did you do this week for your country?”
Exciting News — I’ve Been Nominated Again!
I just received some exciting news from the British research firm Global Gurus: I’m once again being considered for their Top 30 Communication Gurus ranking for 2026. I’ve been honored to remain in the Top 5 for several years, and I’d truly appreciate your vote to help keep that winning streak alive! Voting will close on December 20, 2025, and the new rankings will be shared on January 15, 2026.
Building Habits of Civility by Lenora Billings Harris
We cannot change the whole world overnight, but we can influence our immediate environment. Civility begins with daily habits. Here are ten practices you can try over the next 30 days:
Begin conversations with a simple “Good morning” or “Good afternoon.”
Ask “Why do you think that?” before dismissing another’s opinion.
Watch the news in the evening rather than starting your day with negativity. Better still, don’t watch the news.
Look for reasons to be grateful and show kindness for no reason at all.
Learn best practices for your email and communication tools.
Schedule dedicated times for email rather than checking constantly.
Plan joy—buy theater tickets, meet friends, or block off fun activities.
Replace “No problem” with “My pleasure” when thanked.
Respond to heated statements with curiosity or silence: “Thank you for sharing. Here’s how I see it…”
Create a quiet space where you can reset your energy.
Sayings on T-shirts
I’m a multitasker: I can listen, ignore, and forget all at the same time.
If you think I’m short, you should see my patience.
Mothers of little boys work from Son up to Son down.
Sometimes I read too much. Then I laugh and turn the page.
I’ve lost my mind. I’m pretty sure the kids took it.
A book is the first handheld device.
Must Read Book!
You're Not Dead Yet!: How to Live Well, Laugh Often, and Graduate Life with Honor
By Kathy Dempsey and Kimberly Harms
If you’re still waking up every morning in your 50s, 60s, 70s, or beyond, you’ve lived through change, challenge, and reinvention. But no one gave you a roadmap for this part: how to navigate transitions more easily and prepare for the end while still showing up with laughter, love, and legacy in mind. That’s what this book delivers.
If you are in your 50s, 60s, 70s, or beyond, you’ve already lived through change, challenge, and reinvention. But no one handed you a roadmap for this next chapter — how to navigate transitions with greater ease and how to prepare for the later years while still showing up with laughter, love, and a sense of legacy. That’s what this book delivers.
Whether you're downsizing, caregiving, grieving, or simply waking up wondering, Is this all there is? -- This book is for you. And it is also for me. I’m not ready to plan my funeral, but the first chapters of this book have sparked questions I need to answer and new roads I want to take.
Because I am Not Dead Yet!
A Different Definition of AI
Even a quick search for AI tools brings up everything from ChatGPT to Claude, and from Perplexity to Gemini. Today, papers can be written, conversations dictated, and even images generated that look just like real people.
Let’s try a new AI: Authentic Interaction. Yes. Real people talking to real people. Let’s have a conversation that isn't mitigated by a machine or an algorithm, but instead allows for constructive, empathetic discussion. What do you think about that? It’s the not-so-new path I am on.
If you need help creating authentic interaction, read my book " Talk Ain't Cheap... It's Priceless!: Connecting In A Disconnected World”
About Eileen
If you are looking for a unique keynote speaker in resiliency, a facilitator for executive retreats, a speech coach or an emcee/moderator, then you want to work with Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE. Eileen has spoken for audiences as large as 15,000 and facilitated groups as small as 18! She is the author of seven books and other products that you can find in her online store. The British Research firm of Global Gurus ranked her #4 among the top 30 communication gurus worldwide. Why not hire Eileen for your next event?
Dear Friends,
It’s that time of year again to vote for Global Gurus in various categories. I’ve been in the top 5 of Communication Gurus for many years. Global Gurus is a British research firm that goes out to some 20,000 people to determine standing.
Click below to nominate me as inspirational. It might ask you to log in using either Linked in or Google. You are asked to log in to assure people can only vote once. You’ll then see my face pop up along with other nominees. Select and then near the bottom, you can rank me as “inspirational ”or not.
Please let me know if this works. You are all the best.
Many thanks. I am most grateful for YOU!!!!!
Ranked 3rd in Communications
This is the 7th year in a row that I have been ranked in the top 5 in communication. Global Gurus surveys some 26,000 business professionals to determine rankings plus professionals also vote.
