Blog

September is in the books, school is back in session (for the most part), and I have been thinking about the experience of being a student in the world today. With so much uncertainty, ambiguity, and fear going around, I can only imagine its impact on students of all ages. Navigating our formidable years is already challenging enough without additional pressure! 

I hope that as parents, mentors, friends, and leaders, we can be there for our students to give them the emotional support to...

Do you know your Why? I have wrestled with this question ever since Simon Sinek broke through with his books about Why ("Start With Why," "Find Your Why"). As people often say, it is simple but not easy. I have recently spent some time with Simon's team to get a better understanding and see if I could get some clarity. They did not let me down. 

As with many things in my life, I had to take it to the next level, so I took the time to refine my Why; I also uncovered my How's, and...

Comfort is overrated! Francesca Gino is one of my true kindred spirits when it comes to stepping out of our comfort zone and being a rebel! In Rebel Talent, she writes that rebellion stimulates creativity, nurtures professional relationships, and enhances your engagement with your work, but going against the grain isn't always easy. You have to be open to working with diverse and different perspectives, be willing to expose your flaws and vulnerabilities, and prepare for the backlash that...

I hope you have had a fantastic summer, and you made the best of your time, even though it was surely a departure from prior years. One of the things I noticed about my adventures this summer is that I had a greater appreciation for the little things. A simple moment dining outside made me smile a little wider than usual. 

I had the opportunity to get into the mountains, which was truly amazing. Being in nature rejuvenates my soul and puts things in perspective. As I traveled along, my...

The summer has been zooming-by (pun intended, I have been living on Zoom lately, you with me?). This has me thinking about how often I have truly stepped back from my work to recharge my batteries so I can be fully present in life. To be honest, it has not been as much as it should be. 

The summertime is usually when the world slows down, and we can take some time to connect with what is really important, but it seems like that has been getting harder to do now that most of us don't have...

"Life is not about finding the answers; it's about asking the questions." 

Brian Grazer is known as one of Hollywood's most successful producers (he is the one with the crazy hair). In the '80s, he teamed up with Ron Howard and eventually started Imagine Entertainment. With A Curious Mind, Brian reveals that curiosity has been the "secret" that fueled his rise as one of Hollywood's leading producers and creative visionaries and how all of us can channel its power to lead bigger and more...

Should I stay, or should I go? The classic song from The Clash has been running through my head lately as we come to terms with the mixed messages around the phased re-opening of the economy. Many leaders and employees are polarized right now around the decision to get people back into the workplace or to stay safe at home. According to a recent New York Times article (you can find it here), Google, Facebook, Amazon, Capital One, and others are extending work-from-home policies to September,...

Success requires a continuous influx of new ideas, new challenges, critical thinking, and the interpersonal environment to feel safe speaking up without fear of repercussions. Leadership expert Amy Edmondson defines a fearless organization as one in which people feel psychologically safe – being protected from ridicule or penalties when they share their ideas, feedback, and constructive criticisms. When this happens, firms benefit from better ideas, more risk-taking, increased learning,...

This time of year has me thinking about freedom. With the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, I have been challenging my view of what it means to be free. 

What is freedom, really? Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Based on this definition, I can think of so many examples of freedoms that are taken away from us on a daily basis. From the most basic freedom of a black man in fear of racial profiling to a woman...

My soul is aching for an adventure! As the days wane on and uncertainty continues to weigh heavily, I am anxious to plan my next escape. For me, traveling is much more than taking a flight to a beautiful beach to relax (however, I do enjoy that, too). I travel to get into new situations that stretch me, to transform the way I think and how I see the world. 

With my wanderlust in high gear and no current way to satisfy it, I have been reflecting on past adventures and how those...