One of my earliest memories of selfishness is when my dad gave me a stick of gum and asked me to share it with my sister. I took 3/4s of it and gave her the rest. (Sorry, Jenni.) I was probably 5 years old then. What motivated my selfishness? I’m sure it was a scarcity … Learn More
The gorillas are the emotional barometer in a zoo. I learned this recently from a leader at an engineering design firm. He was talking about a project he led inside a zoo; construction would stop and start based on the gorillas’ moods. If the gorillas were happy, the construction would commence. If the gorillas weren’t … Learn More
My well-intentioned mom told me to marry rich. She often hinted that many girls go to college to get their “MRS” degree and it wouldn’t hurt to study at the law library. (Subtle, mom!) For some reason, she believed personal ambitions were best achieved through someone else. Fortunately, my mom was highly supportive of me … Learn More
Sometimes our natural tendencies do not serve us well.
No more “brand in a box” – be authentic!
Some people like puzzles. Others like games. For me, I love writing … there’s no greater joy than getting a piece to a place where you can hit “send.” Take the time to read this piece I penned for Fast Company. This article offers career advice to professionals who feel stuck to supercharge their work/life … Learn More
“Can I make you more comfortable as you insult me?” So, I’ve never actually said that. Yet, my behavior in the past might have communicated that. You see, I’m a recovering people pleaser. While I still aim to make my interactions with others positive, I don’t do so at my own expense. I used to … Learn More
I used to live in Los Angeles and, due to good luck, would land invitations to fancy Hollywood movie premieres and after parties. While all these experiences were memorable, one in particular stands out. It was rumored that Christian Slater was going to be at this premiere. I had a massive crush on him growing … Learn More
“You don’t look like a Marine.” If I had a dime for how many times I’ve heard that statement, I’d probably have a personal chef and own a coin-operated car wash. (My dreams aren’t fancy. The car wash is really about passive income.) Anyway … When I was an active-duty Marine, that comment made me … Learn More
I’m not too proud to admit that I’ve been jealous before. The earliest memory I have is when I went to summer camp in elementary school with a friend, Mindy. Mindy was the life of the party – all the camp counselors gave her attention. Fellow campers wanted to sit next to her during campfires. … Learn More
I remember when my son, Judge, was in middle school. On one particular day, I felt guilty about all of my work-related travel; I knew I was missing out on key events that were important to me. As a working mom, I didn’t know my absence’s impact on him. “Judge, don’t you wish we had … Learn More
In our binary win/lose world, how can you create a win-win? My oldest son, Judge, and I were talking the other day about how everything in our society feels so divisive – sports competitions inevitably produce winners and losers, the election where you’re either blue or red, pro or anti-TikTok, and so on. We discussed … Learn More
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