What if Nobody Likes it? Here goes nothing. I talk a lot about leading with your heart, trusting your internal worth, and shedding the mind games we play to reveal a more authentic version of ourselves. Easier said than done. I know! Well, here I am. On full display. An unimaginable loss of a child has become a legacy of hope and love for others. Max left us far too early, but his love of art lives on through scholarships supporting young artists. Make It for Max is an annual fundraiser...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Are You a Quitter? I woke up to a Focus Five email from Dave Stachowiak. His message resonated, particularly this one: Know When to Quit. I want you to take this in. It's important. In the podcast episode, How to Quit Bad Stuff Faster, Dave talks with Annie Duke, a former professional poker player, about the importance of knowing when to let go and change course. It got me thinking. According to Annie Duke, there's a striking difference between professional and amateur poker players:...
15 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, just because you can, should you? Many coaching conversations begin with a focused challenge. As if there is a magic wand that needs a quick spin and then everything will be right again. Unfortunately, this is not how it works. More often than not, I will redirect and ask for introspection. The challenge you bring to the conversation is usually a symptom. It is the accumulation of stories you have told yourself, conversations you have avoided, expectations you have accepted, and...
22 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, what part of you do people see? Great leadership requires awareness of your unconscious thoughts and behaviors, and the willingness to examine how others experience them. Alignment is the goal. Are your intentions and actions aligned with how others experience you? If not, what gets in the way? Fear: Unconscious or consciously, we are always navigating safety. Protecting our fears and eliminating threats. Childhood: Many of the defense mechanisms that we developed were extremely...
28 days ago • 1 min read
Reader welcome back. Let's get started! My goal this year is to give you fewer solutions and more ideas that make you stop, question, and think. Because something has changed: AI has arrived. When answers become cheap, questions become valuable. Type in a question and bam. Answer! I worry that the convenience and speed of answers will allow complacency and dull our thinking. The scarce resource is no longer information. It is the ability to ask a really good question. AI can synthesize...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Thousands of conversations with leaders have taught me this: Great leadership is not a destination. It is not found in the latest framework, model, slogan, or strategy. Great leadership begins with a state of being. Most leaders do not need more information. They need a deeper understanding of themselves: the beliefs, stories, fears, and patterns that quietly shape how they lead. Because what you believe to be the question is rarely the real question. The real questions are often harder: What...
4 months ago • 1 min read
How to Make New Habits Stick Some people wonder what it’s like having a coach, so I thought I would give you a behind-the-scenes look. Many think of coaching as solving problems, developing skills, or navigating challenges. While that's certainly part of the process, some of the most meaningful work happens after progress has already been made. Recently, I was working with a client who realized that constantly reacting to misalignment, mistakes, and imperfections was creating stress for him...
5 months ago • 3 min read
Pressure Builds Strength My latest book: Think Like a Monk Stay with me. This book was recommended to me and honestly, I cannot put it down. Jay Shetty does a phenomenal job integrating insights from his years as a monk into the world most of us actually live in. Shetty articulates concepts like fear, judgment, and values in such a beautiful way that you naturally begin contemplating and rethinking your own internal narrative. There are numerous powerful concepts, but one I will share today...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Proximity changes perspective. I used to love the show Undercover Boss. The CEOs would disguise themselves as a new employee and quietly discover the subtle mishaps, missed opportunities, and underutilized superstars hidden inside their own organization. It was a lesson in humility and an opportunity to set hierarchy aside in pursuit of excellence. Recently, “Operation Hard Hat” took New York by storm. Police officers disguised themselves as road workers to experience firsthand the dangers...
6 months ago • 1 min read