It’s hard to write right now. Not because I don’t have words—but because words feel thin compared to the weight of this moment. 2025 was, without question, one of the hardest years of my life. And I’ve lived through plenty. Health challenges hit from multiple directions and didn’t let up. Clients I care deeply about were navigating their own storms. It felt relentless. So, when we turned the page to 2026, I…
When you have a challenging message to deliver, a sensitive conversation to have, a crucial conversation waiting to happen, it’s better to ask yourself how much trust you have in the relationship than plan the right words to say. If trust is high, you can use the wrong words, muck up the details, and basically enter into it unprepared because you are afforded the…
I’ll be honest with you – I’ve pursued perfectionism too often, and it’s typically not a pretty story. I’ve been on a relentless quest for perfection more times than I’d like to admit. It’s what makes me a firm believer in prioritizing completion over perfection and part of the driving force behind our book Chasing Perfection – Shatter the Illusion; Minimize Self-Doubt & Maximize Success. You see, perfectionism often drags us into a never-ending cycle of edits and…
Extending grace offers new pathways. When you can remain curious during challenging times, keeping an open mind and an open heart, a new space for trust emerges. The world is not either/or. The mindset necessary to traverse great divides in opinion, perspective, and beliefs is a tricky balance of suspending what you believe long enough to consider an alternate point of view. Are you…
As a leader, you have the honor of caring for the tone of your culture daily. Some days, that may feel like a privilege and other days it may seem like a burden. What’s the difference? It’s how you’re relating to the complex beings around you and the interpretation you have about how they “should” be versus how they “are.” I often say, business is easy, humans…
Have you ever had a really challenging person in your life? Of course you have. We all have. The great news about being in their presence, especially if it’s with frequency, is that they are showing you exactly what NOT to do on a daily basis. Some may get exasperated, but if you come from a space of gratitude, they are the perfect role model for you.…
How are you leading? Many believe we need to be confident, positive, and directive as leaders, especially given the amount of change we continue to face in our world. It’s a good combination, until it’s not. Sometimes, you are uncertain too. It makes you human. Sometimes, you’re challenged and it’s hard. That doesn’t mean you’re not confident. In that moment, it means you’re human. Your vulnerability makes you accessible to each of us struggling with you. It…
Communication is more art than science. And when you dissect the nuances of how we all communicate, it’s no wonder there are rough intersections, touchy moments, and challenges between us. Here are four scenarios to consider: When a question is asked of a more analytical person, there is a noticeable and predictable silence that follows. Don’t fill it. Stop talking. Don’t re-ask the question another way. When you interrupt a results-oriented, GSD person…
Have you ever noticed that when you put off challenging conversations you suffer? One of the best principles I live my life by is to handle things promptly when they go wrong. Whether it’s family, work partners, teammates, employees, friends, or the service professionals you encounter in life, the rule of thumb is 24 hours. Whether it’s good news or corrective feedback, don’t wait. When you wait, your feedback has…
“Hard is not the end, it’s just hard.” This is a quote from a parent when his daughter was struggling in every way in her life. What a powerful statement. If you rely on feelings, hard is an end. It’s the end of an interpretation, the end of a way of being in the world that isn’t serving you, the end of working against the abundance…