Lessons From My Father

As I write this newsletter, it is a hot Sunday. Being a Sunday and humid, it felt like a day my Dad would have hand washed and waxed the family car.

I do love my monthly unlimited plan at the local car wash. Let me make it clear, the machines do the washing not me. And I for sure have never hand waxed a car although I have hand waxed a horse’s butt. (another story for another time)

My Dad loved working on the car in the hot sun. One car I particularly remember is the black Torondo with the wrap-around window. A lot of elbow grease was involved.

At first glance I didn’t inherit that gene. Look again. I do go to the car wash about every 5 days. I am observant of the cleanliness of my car. Some might say I am obsessive. They didn’t have Herbie as their dad.

Are you observant or obsessive?

ASK LESLIE

Stay on Your Cutting Edge

As a country, we seem to have a complicated relationship with immigration. The Kogans came to Akron 12 years ago from Mexico City. Oldest son Josh is in his final year in rabbinical school, middle son Ariel is in med school, and youngest son Tzsi just graduated from Rhode Island School of Design. Hear mom Miri talk about how to raise amazing sons like Josh. 

Perspectives From My Deck

The last 3 months have included perspectives from London, Paris and Marrakesh. This month my observations are from a chair on my deck, no Passport required.

1. The Value of an Expert



Every year I tackle the pots by myself: the pots on the deck: outside of the deck, in front of the house, on the side of the house. I select the plants, plant them, and water, all summer. So every failure is all mine. Every year I replace through-out the summer half as much as I purchase. I over water, I under water, I over feed, under feed, it is not pretty.

Lesson Learned: I started the season by attending a Saturday morning class on how to put together a pot using perennials. The real value was in meeting Carli and Isaac who taught the class. Between what I learned in the class, and how they have assisted me on my numerous visits in the pursuit of the perfect pots, progress has been made.

Can you benefit from outside coaching?

2. Little Thing - Big Difference

I believe there is no such thing as “little things”. As in little things that have little meaning. Anything and everything has the potential to have a big impact at any time. Each summer I had problems with my rail riders, the 3’ boxes that “ride the railing”. Too much water would accumulate no matter how hard I tried to not over water.

Lesson Learned:  Carli recommended holes in the bottom of the riders, and offered to have Isaac make them for me. I dropped off 5 rail riders with no holes, and a week later picked up rail riders with holes. It has made a huge difference. If insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results, this was an example of doing differently.

Is there a change you can make?

3. I Love My Deck

I suppose the idea is to relax on the deck. This seems a difficult concept as I am typing away at the moment. This past weekend I have read on the deck, cut out paper horses, bedazzled the horses, bedazzled my holiday cards, decorated the deck for the 4^th, put away the decorations, and blew away debris twice a day.

Lesson Learned: People relax differently. Some may play golf, others like to ride around on a tractor. Some watch TV while others don’t own a TV. I enjoy the deck even if I don’t actually sit still on it very often. Back to the honest mirror, can you shut out the noise and identify what you like to do?

After taking my dogs to “obedience” training for decades, I recently tried Rally class. It is like parkour for dogs. Except that the human has to read the 14 signs and then ask the dog to do correctly what the sign says. My first problem was correctly reading the signs!

I practiced with Tevi daily. Benji would watch as Tevi and I made figure eights, serpentine, made 360 degree circles and 180 degree turns. One day I decided to assess the value of observation. What did Benji learn as he watched?



I was delighted to discover that Benji could do everything I asked. Day after day he would watch and learn. When Tevi graduated from the course, I decided to take Benji. We started on Monday and he definitely has a head start over the other 4-legged participants.

Is there something you have learned or can learn by observing?

Video and Vino

July 31, 5pm - 7pm

September 11, 5pm - 7pm

We would be excited to have you join us at this unique session. Each participant will be taped, we will play it back, make suggestions, and tape you again. You will see immediate improvement!

You learn by doing and by observing others. Guess what? You have fun throughout the process!

• This session will prepare you to be ready for your time in the spotlight whether it is in person, on TV, a podcast, Tik-Tok, YouTube or Zoom.
• Leave with VINO and a gift bag!

HorseTalk: Lessons in Leadership

Next Session

August 23, 9am - 4pm

Welcome to the wonderful world of HorseTalk where magnificent 4-legged creatures will teach you more about your communication and leadership skills than you could learn in a decade . . . or even a lifetime.

If you can lead a horse, you can lead anyone.

• Are you ready to learn something new in a new way?
• Are you tired of zoom sessions and getting continuing ed credits through remote learning?  

This hands-on day of educational escapism will help you see yourself through someone else’s eyes. This someone else just happens to be a horse.

Awesome Group of Adventurous People!

You could be one of a carefully chosen group of special people who will share this day together. We keep this a small group so: 

1. You get much individual attention
2. You receive the benefit of observing others and learn through these observations
3. You have the ability to learn at your own pace

When: Friday, August 23 9:00 AM – 4 PM

Come yourself or come with a team.

Where: An Arabian Horse Farm in Richfield, Oh

HorseTalk is offered two more times in 2024:

• August 23
• October 11

Email us at [email protected] for more information or to RSVP to one of our events.

Ask me about my 10 in 10!