Ugly Pretty

They’re unflattering. They’re unfashionable. They’re unflappable. I’m not one for comfort zones. But comfort brands continue to make their mark long after we were holed up in our homes during a pandemic. Pretty Ugly seems to be the new Ugly Pretty. Hard-on-the-eyes — but soft on our feet — brands such as Birkenstock, Crocs, and […]

Statler, Waldorf & The Sideline

Guilty pleasure alert: I gush over The Muppets. I always have. Even now, I eagerly anticipate the release of a new movie, often waiting a decade at a time, just to nostalgically marvel at Jim Henson’s Muppet creations that once graced my television set during my youth. Each new flick is a delightful time machine […]

Now Step

We’ve all sat in those team meetings that wrap up the same way. “Ok, it looks like we’re at time, what are the Next Steps?” This usually results in collective silence or another 10-15 minutes recapping what was already discussed without a clear plan. When we create our Next Steps, we feel productive because we […]

Thank You, Obstacles

Thank you, Right-Handers. You designed a world for the 90% on the globe who “go right”. In China? It spikes to 97.4% (1.3 billion people). Because of righties, I had to build up neural muscles to overcome smudgy handwriting, mediocre results with scissors and Coaches who didn’t know how to get the most out of […]

Be smALL In

Reading this post? Then it’s confirmed: You have big things to do. You do. Perhaps you haven’t figured out what flag you want to fly quite yet. Or maybe you know the exact metaphorical mountain you crave to climb but that first step seems so daunting, that you find yourself regularly looking up at that […]

Fighting For The 5%

I went to Television-Radio school. While I could tell you the differences between when to cut between “Camera 1” and “Camera 2”, naturally, I had less clarity on what happened in my body when it, unbeknownst to me, cut between my parasympathetic nervous system (“rest and digest”) and my sympathetic nervous system (“fight or flight”). […]

Be “Professional”

Are your parents like my parents? If so, then you know about the unspoken rules and etiquette of how my generation was taught to navigate business. It goes a little something like this: Get in somewhere. Put your head down. Bite your lip (a lot). Grind it out for 40 years. Get a watch. Retire. […]

We Created Problems

Flashback with me to earlier this month in Michigan. My team and I went out of our way to create problems. In fact, my partners and I created a — not behind a closed door — but a public forum for 140+ leaders to come together to scoff and serve up their companies largest problems […]

You Are What You Ist

Do tell. What is your Ist? When you review the “IST List”, you start to recognize that some “ISTs” are more hobby than job: Artist. Adventurist. Bicyclist. Pianist. Mixologist. Tourist. Hobbyist. Spiritualist. Some “Ists” are more job than hobby: Anthropologist. Dental Hygienist. Botanist. Journalist. Environmentalist. Economist. Scientist. Some “Ists” can be extreme and take years […]

Fear of Rejection

You weren’t looking for a new job when the recruiter reached out. But here they are. Showing up with that seemingly perfect brand and title to match that would look so good on paper. So into the interview process you go… First round. Second round. Final round. Then? The call you had been waiting for…. […]