Being With It
I’m writing less than 24 hours after the election was called. If I didn’t owe my wonderful assistant Robin this newsletter by tonight, I’d be tempted to hide out. I [...]
Making Room for Grief this Election Season
It’s a big week for all of us. I haven’t used this platform to talk about the election, but it’s too much on my mind this week to pretend I’m [...]
Last Prayer of Summer
I’m reading Luther Allen’s book of poems, The View from Lummi Island, a poem a day from the San Juan Islands. As fall begins, he says, the days shorten [...]
I Have Edges
Several years ago, a colleague gave me some unforgettable feedback. We had been vetting a potential client together over coffee, listening to this leader’s challenges and building a rapport. Walking [...]
Intermittent Recovery
I’m fascinated by this tidbit from an HBR article on energy management: “Without intermittent recovery, we’re not physiologically capable of sustaining highly positive emotions for long periods.” If you’re working [...]
Don’t Clear the Decks
One of the most impactful books I’ve read in the last 5 years is Oliver Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. You can download some tidbits from it [...]
Lessons from my 50th Birthday
I turned 50 a few days ago, and the event felt like a joyful project. I’ve struggled with my birthday in my adult life—not planning anything, and then regretting it. [...]
Fierce with Reality
Yesterday I had the extreme honor of hosting a virtual retirement party for my friend, colleague, and mentor Pat Vivan. Hearing the impact she has made in the lives of [...]
Walk With Me Awhile
In Parker Palmer’s book On the Brink of Everything, he says, “When I’m asked for the ‘elevator speech’ that sums up my work, I always respond, ‘I always take the stairs, [...]
Don’t Wait for a Funeral
One of the things I’ve been preaching to clients for years is, “Don’t wait until a funeral or retirement party to talk about why you like someone.” And then I [...]