Reader, I went to Scotland a few weeks ago, spending time in Edinburgh and St. Andrews—one of my mother's favorite places in the world. In St. Andrews, we toured a Scotch whisky distillery to sample what the Scots affectionately call the country's "mother's milk." I'm a bourbon fan, but when in Scotland... I learned about barrel aging and the Angel's Share—the portion of whisky that evaporates each year as it matures—more on that in a future post, but what intrigued me is what happens before...
2 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, After Martha returned from prison, we were rebuilding the business and advertiser confidence, trying to convince the market and disbelievers that our best days were ahead of us. We wanted to make a splash at one of the industry's biggest conferences. Where the entire market was hoping to capture attention, generate meetings, and win new business. The pens, tote bags, and giveaways of the day were all a part of it. The pressure to perform often results in everyone looking the same....
9 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, I asked several people who spoke to me after a recent keynote what their biggest takeaway was — and I heard the same answer from all of them: my 20% impact. It's also how you responded. A few weeks back, I asked what you wanted me to write about, and 37% of you said the same thing: Identifying the 20% that creates 80% of my results. We all want more impact. To feel we are doing meaningful work, even significant work. But the pressures of the day often pull us away from the work that...
16 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, I've been watching some of the World Cup. I'm not a soccer fan, but when it's being played in the U.S. alongside my kids' fandom, I've joined in. I asked my son what's up with the pink cleats [in other parts of the world they are called boots]. Pink is all over the pitch. He shared that it's not just one brand but many sneaker brands in pink. Nike. Adidas. Puma. New Balance. Skechers. Five competitors, one color across the pitch. Turns out, five brands read the same trend forecast and...
23 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, This week I facilitated a leadership offsite in San Diego. I wanted it to land, to stick, to speak to exactly what that team needed — so in the days leading up to it, I was hyper-focused. Locked in creating content. Head down. Borderline obsessive, if I'm honest. Before I left for the airport, my husband started telling me about something real — a hard issue with someone on his team, the kind of thing that could make or break his summer. I was sitting right there. I was nodding. I...
30 days ago • 3 min read
Reader, "It's a Good Thing" was Martha Stewart's signature catchphrase. Each issue of Martha Stewart Living featured a one-page column after the Editor’s Letter called Good Things. A hero photo with a short inspiration and information showcasing a smarter, simpler solution—a better way to do something. A moment in the issue celebrating everyday ingenuity. The column always finished with: It’s a Good Thing. It became her signature. SNL even parodied it. That’s when we knew ‘we’d arrived.’ What...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Reader, Help me help you. There's a quick poll at the end of today's email. Please give me your quick feedback. I was giving a keynote to a small group of CEOs when I noticed a woman sitting about five rows back. She was asleep. I wanted to be compassionate, telling myself she must have been up late watching the Knicks. At least that's what I hoped. But it really rattled me. My mind then went straight to the negative:Maybe this isn't landing.Maybe I'm not good at this. Maybe I can't hold the...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Reader, On Wednesday night, the Knicks were down by 27 points at halftime. No team had ever come back from a deficit that large in an NBA Finals game. I looked at my husband at the half and confidently announced, "We're going to bed." I had a keynote the next morning and needed sleep. "It would be impossible for them to come back," I confidently said. The next morning, I woke up to discover the Knicks had won. The impossible had happened while we were was sleeping. What struck me wasn't that...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Reader, The problem with status meetings is right there in the name. Status. Meetings designed to discuss where we are and likely talk around the status quo. You have status meetings, status reports, progress updates, and quarterly reviews. You spend so much time managing the current reality that you've forgotten to schedule time to create a new one. We're halfway through the year. You can read that and feel stress — not enough time, too much ground to cover, goals that feel further away than...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Reader, On the rainy Memorial Day weekend, my husband and I visited a casino. I hadn't played blackjack in years. A few good hands in, and you feel like you're on a streak. The cards are landing. Confidence rises. You start thinking you've 'got this.' A few hands later, the table humbles you. Bad cards, wishing I hadn't made that bet. But emotions quietly whisper, "Just one more hand, Christina." You can't force a winning hand at the blackjack table or in life. Winning has less to do with...
2 months ago • 2 min read