Lessons from Toni Morrison (and her father): Whatever the work is, do it well – not for the boss, but for yourself. You make the job; it doesn’t make you. Your real life is with us, your family. You are not the work you do; you are the person you are. “…since that conversation with my father I have never considered the level…
As a feeling person, when the vast array of feelings collide all at once, it results in numbness for me. I can’t process them all, can’t feel anything, and am left in a void, feeling empty and wanting to disappear. If not disappear, I’d like to run away. Only I can’t. I must breathe, regroup, and center myself in something bigger than my feelings. Finding…
This week, I worked with two of my teams in person. Since March 10, these are two of the three teams I’ve seen “live” beyond Zoom. In the most basic of ways, the spring of 2020 has stripped the pretense of formality and left us with clarity of the “real” priorities in life. While many of us have said time and again…
It’s lonely at the top. It’s not just a phrase if you’re the CEO, a leader, or a single parent. There are many situations in life where anyone can feel isolated, alone and unsure. What can you do when you’re in that situation, feeling vulnerable, scared and wishing for a lifeline? I’ve found several things which work well for me,…
If You Pay Attention #220 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 us exactly what NOT to do on a daily basis. Some may get exasperated, however from a space of…
The Guilt Of The Season #219 Why do we have guilt over not fitting everything and everyone in—especially at this time of year? I was asked this question during an interview and my take is this: many of us have bought into a “you can have it all” experience in life. We worry about others’ judgments, approval, and feelings, yet…
Being a female leader can be one of the most rewarding experiences any of us ever have. It can also be one of the most stressful, and at times, one of the most draining. It isn’t meant to be easy, but being women in business can be made easier through a variety of tips, strategies, and life hacks. Some of…
3 Ways to Be a Great Mentee As a young person in business, there is a lot to learn. I frequently say that I feel like I went to college twice with all the learning I’ve had during my years in the workforce. For us young professionals, most of the information we need to succeed gets taught on the job.…
It’s Always Easy #34 Friends for a lifetime. It’s been said before, but those people who you’ve known since childhood – perhaps since single digits- you can go months and years without seeing and when you reunite it’s as if you’ve never missed a day. It’s remarkable really. I had one of these days with my best friend and her…
Special thank you to the team of students who created this video through Minnetonka High School’s VANTAGE Program. Blake, Ray, Hannah and Lauren- you all are amazing! Cheers to shattering illusions together.