Lynn U. Stewart and Chérie Carter-Scott, sisters and business partners have been  conducting the Inner Negotiation Workshop since 1975. In this particular workshop  people are invited to come with objectives (goals), and to create their own unique way  to experiment with new ways of behaving. Our Inner Negotiation Workshop is like the  yellow brick road in The Wizard of Oz. Diverse people come together with various  objectives and through the group process everyone eventually finds their “Oz,” the  realization of their dreams. 

“We were especially touched by the story The Wizard of Oz. In the story, Dorothy travels  down the yellow brick road in search of home. On her journey she meets the scarecrow who  shares that he wants a brain. Dorothy and the scarecrow team up and as they head down  the road they run into the Tin man who yearns for a heart. The Tin man joins the other two  and further down the road they stumble onto a lion. The lion more than anything wants  what he lacks, which is courage. Each one is searching for some part of themselves that they  believe is missing. They all admit their deficiencies to each other, extend support for their  individual missions, and empathize with the challenge presented. They become a team of  individuals who all yearn for something, and they hold the possibility that they might  somehow actually get what they want. As they travel down the yellow brick road they  encounter adversity, challenges, and obstacles. Through their determination, teamwork,  and commitment to get what each of them wants, they overcome all of the challenges and  persevere to the end of their journey. They are all very different in appearance; their wishes  are all quite diverse; and even though their capabilities vary greatly, they band together,  capitalize on their strengths, focus on their common goal of getting to Oz, and support each  other in getting their individual wishes fulfilled. This model for living implanted itself into my  mind at a very young age. 

Whether they want to find their heart, to discover their brain, to reveal their courage,  find their way back “home,” or to find themselves, all things are possible. We invite  participants to believe, to trust, and to overcome the obstacles, challenges, and blocks that they experience. 

When I was five years old I fell in love with the theatre. From the time I could sit in a chair  and focus, I attended every play, musical, or theatrical performance that was available. I  sang with my family in piano bars, and I auditioned for every play that had any part that I  might possibly be cast; and when nothing materialized I created my own productions. I  dressed up, sang, scripted, danced, put on make-up, and performed. My nickname was  Tallulah!