
Finding Common Ground: Lessons from a Philly Cheesesteak
I never thought a Philly cheesesteak would teach me a lesson about humanity, but life is funny like that. Turns out my favorite cheesesteak west of the Liberty Bell comes from a little food truck in Hillsboro, Oregon, practically in my backyard. The first time I...

Navigating Toxicity: Balancing Curiosity with Self-Protection
We often hear that curiosity and empathy are essential in bridging divides. In fact, I talked about just that in my last blog post. But what happens when the divide includes toxicity? When someone’s actions aren’t just different from ours but harmful? It’s crucial to...

Curiosity as a Bridge: Finding What Unites Us
“We have so much more in common than what separates us.” That assertion from Vice President Kamala Harris is one we can all agree with, regardless of politics — but I am surprised how often it’s dismissed. Why? Perhaps, because our brains are wired to seek danger,...

Overcoming Overwhelm: One Small Habit at a Time
When you’re buried in responsibilities, even the smallest task can feel monumental. One of my clients described this feeling perfectly (and I’m paraphrasing here): “It’s like I’m adding more to my list just to manage the list!” Sound familiar? Overwhelm often stems...

Stop-Start-Keep: A Simple Path to a Meaningful 2025
The new year is here, and it brings with it that universal urge to reset, refresh, and reimagine. January has a way of feeling like a blank slate, even though life doesn’t really work that way. Still, there’s power in collective momentum. The world pauses, takes a...

Clarity in the Chaos: A Holiday Reflection
Have you noticed the darker the night, the brighter the stars? Their gentle twinkle, their pinpoints of light? Their magic upon which we wish as a child as the “starlight, starbright, first star I see tonight” comes gently, unrushed into view. Brightening as the day...

Permission to Feel: The Ted Lasso Approach
Sometimes life gets heavy. Deadlines pile up, to-do lists overflow, and it feels like you’re treading water. (This rings especially true around the holidays, doesn’t it?) When this happens, there’s a tendency to push through, suppress emotions, and plaster on a smile....

Sharpen the Saw: Reframing Productivity
Have you ever felt like every productivity tool adds more to your plate rather than lightening the load? That was the exact frustration of a client I recently worked with. He had tried every time-management technique, yet none stuck. They all felt like extra tasks,...

Beyond Good Intentions — Redefining Leadership Support
Even the best intentions can fall short in leadership. In my last blog post, I shared a story about one of my recent clients, a business owner who deeply cared about his general manager (GM) to whom he was transferring leadership of the business. Their friendship...

Supporting Beyond the Task List
Leadership is more than overseeing tasks and managing performance — it’s about supporting people. A recent conversation I had with a business owner highlighted this critical distinction. The owner had promoted a general manager (GM) to oversee the organization while...