Dear Reader, January can feel like a list of things you “should” do. What if we erased our "shoulds" and used January as a blank canvas instead? The new year doesn’t need to come with pressure or perfection. I’m using January as a blank slate myself. I've decided to explorie small experiments both personally and professionally, noticing what feels good, and seeing what sticks. It’s an invitation for all of us to do the same. Start small: a new morning ritual, a tiny shift in your routine, or...
27 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, This time of year always feels like a pause between chapters, with one story winding down, another about to begin. Whether you’re celebrating, resting, or simply trying to keep the Wi-Fi strong enough for all the family that’s visiting, I hope you find a moment of quiet in the in-between. You don’t have to plan, produce, or perfect anything right now. Just breathe. Reflect. Maybe even do nothing at all (cookies and couch totally count). Here’s to softness, space, and starting the...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, I recently had a conversation with a client who said something I hear a lot: “I don’t really like the spotlight. I’d rather let the work speak for itself.” He mentioned that when he doesn't know how to solve a business problem on his own, he likes to get a group of subject matter experts together to explore various solutions. Not because it's on his to-do list, but because he sees a need and wants to help. (The kind of thing that doesn’t necessarily show up in performance reviews...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Dear Reader, This time of year, gratitude posts start flooding our feeds... All sunshine, family photos, and pumpkin pie emojis. And while I am deeply grateful for the big things, like health, family, and purpose, I’m also grateful for the small, real ones that don’t make it to Instagram. This year, I’m grateful for: ☕ The coffee that gets me through getting my kid on the school bus before 6:45 a.m. every weekday. 😴 The rare mornings when I actually get to finish that coffee while it’s still...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, Assumptions: they make reading a mystery novel fun, and make decision-making terrible. A client recently shared a story that I have heard from others (and lived myself) more times than I can count. Someone on his team was handed a new project. Their immediate response? “Nope, can’t be done.” Why? Not only did it sound too complex, it it had never been done before in their organization. Another teammate said, “Wait. Before we say no, let’s actually talk to the customer.” One quick...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, On paper, I was thriving. In reality? I was really, really stressed. (And oh so tired). Looking back on my corporate career, I see it so clearly: I wasn’t just ambitious, I was anxious. And because the results looked “successful,” I ignored the warning signs of burnout. Here are 3 big red flags 🚩 I missed: 1️⃣ I Mistook Busyness for Importance I said yes to everything. Meetings, side projects, “quick” favors. I felt valuable because I was busy and felt needed. But busy and...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, A client recently shared something with me that I felt deep in my bones, because it's so relatable. She works in an environment where being “always on” isn’t just expected, it’s the culture. So much so that she feels guilty if she ducks out at 6pm for an exercise class (even though she logs back in when she gets home). Think about that: leaving at a perfectly reasonable time and prioritizing her health felt like something she needed to apologize for. That’s what happens in a...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Be honest: does your leadership “backpack” feel like it’s carrying… 🎒 endless meetings, 🎒 constant change that keeps you guessing, 🎒 and just enough self-doubt to make you question if you’re doing it “right”? If so, you’re in good company. That’s why I’m hosting a free 60-minute virtual workshop: ➡️ What’s in Your Leadership Backpack? Rethink, Reset & Lead with Ease🗓️ Friday, October 17 at 12:00pm ET This isn’t another “do more, be better” session. It’s a chance to pause, unpack...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, I’ll be honest: I love a good year-end cleanup. The piles of sticky notes, the half-used notebooks, the “why do I still have this?” files on my desktop. But this year, my biggest cleanup didn’t happen in my office. It happened in my head. I realized I was still carrying around an outdated belief from my media executive days: “If I don’t push at 110%, I’ll fall behind.” At one time, I thought this belief helped me get through high-pressure launches, countless research studies, and...
4 months ago • 2 min read