Great leadership is rarely taught, but it can be mastered. I break down complex topics and offer insights, resources, and challenges to help you strengthen your skills, build confidence, refine your mindset, and lead high-performing teams.
What if Nobody Likes it?
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 inviting people to create something to auction off. So, I did. Creativity has always been important to me. But putting it out into the world? That's vulnerable. What if someone hates it? What if I pour my heart into something and nobody buys it? I had a choice. Honor my insecurity or honor Max and the mission of love and abundance? I spent weeks exploring techniques, buying paints, experimenting, and playing without knowing where it would lead. It was liberating. Exciting. Uncomfortable. And wonderful. It's easy to stay in our lane. Choose safety. Ignore that little itch to try something new. But here's what struck me. Children create with abandon. They don't begin with the question, Will someone like this? They simply lead with curiosity and excitement. Max loved art. So he made art. The joy was in the expression, not the evaluation. When did we start caring more about what others think than what brings us alive? What might happen if we loosened our grip on perfection, gave ourselves permission to experiment, and followed our curiosity without needing to know the outcome? I chose Max. And in doing so, I rediscovered a little piece of myself. The Make It for Max auction goes live November 11. May it inspire you to give generously, create courageously, and perhaps rediscover something you've been holding back. |
Weekly Wisdom
Great leadership is rarely taught, but it can be mastered. I break down complex topics and offer insights, resources, and challenges to help you strengthen your skills, build confidence, refine your mindset, and lead high-performing teams.
The Loud Silence Tacit agreement: Leaders spend a lot of time crafting responses but little time appreciating the interpretation of silence. Silence surrenders control and allows others to establish meaning. Why might you choose not to voice an opinion? You're still processing. You agree. You haven't formulated a thoughtful response. You're not invested in the outcome. You fear the repercussions of speaking up. All legitimate reasons. But here's the problem. Others don't know why you're...
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:...
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...