Is this real? I find myself asking that question more and more. It started when I shared a video with my sons. They laughed at me, the same way I used to laugh at my parents when they fumbled with technology. The video was completely fake. I didn’t know. Worse, I couldn’t read the signs. … Learn More
I remember the first time I read Toni Morrison’s Beloved. It was late at night in my college apartment, a stack of other assigned books glaring at me from the desk, each one adding its own quiet pressure to the evening. But I couldn’t move past Morrison’s sentences: the way she set a scene, the … Learn More
I have a 15-year-old son, which basically qualifies me to teach a master class on what it feels like to be ignored. The other day, on the way to school, I was mid-”mom”alogue – covering the holy trinity of mom concerns: grades, laundry, and the ever-popular “what are you going to do with your life?” … Learn More
Three words. That’s all it took to ruin my friend’s weekend. Her manager sent a note Friday afternoon: “Can we meet Tuesday?” No context. No subject line. No clue what it was about. She spiraled the entire weekend.. What did I do? Is this about the client meeting? Am I getting let go? I kept … Learn More
Why Your Team’s Disagreement Might Be Your Greatest Asset Disagreement can be the catalyst for change — or it can be the problem that halts progress entirely. We all have the power to disagree, but do we use that power wisely? Let’s start by defining “I Dissent.” It’s more than simple disagreement. Dissent is using … Learn More
Two days ago, at 5:00 AM on a Saturday morning, I found myself already deep into preparation for my 8:00 AM CNN appearance. I was about to discuss the Department of Defense’s recent decision to disband the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS)—a topic that’s both timely and divisive. While I speak … Learn More
We’ve all been in that meeting. Someone shares, “Well, I just spoke with Mitch (the CEO) yesterday, and I can’t share everything he told me, but he did mention…” The room shifts. Eyes roll. Name-dropping your boss is one of the fastest ways to undermine your professional reputation. Yet it happens constantly, creating an unhealthy … Learn More
We’ve all been there. Five people clear their calendars, join a conference room or Zoom call, and settle in for what they hope will be a productive meeting. Then the leader arrives—unfocused, agenda-less, and seemingly convinced that their presence alone justifies monopolizing the conversation. What follows is a painful exercise in organizational inefficiency that costs … Learn More
The problem with SMART goals isn’t that professionals don’t understand the acronym—most can recite “Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound” without missing a beat. The real challenge lies in creating goals that genuinely align with business needs and drive meaningful career advancement for you – the goal creator. The Telephone Game of Goal Setting At the … Learn More
There’s nothing worse than listening to a story that you’ve lost interest in. Or watching a movie that bores you to tears. Or reading a murder mystery novel you’ve already solved in the first chapter. In situations like these, you disconnect, disengage, or put down the book. As a leader, you’ve heard that storytelling is … Learn More
During my time in LA, I witnessed something extraordinary at a comedy club that transformed how I coach leaders. The host announced a surprise guest: George Carlin. He was conducting “spring training” – warming up material before his tour. The legend walked on stage carrying a stack of notecards, each containing a single joke. He … Learn More
