Reader, I love being a coach. And I value being coached by a coach. One of my coaches shared with me *Littlewood's Law of Miracles...* 💫 Littlewood was a famous mathematician at Cambridge University who defined a miracle as a hugely significant event with a one-in-a-million probability of occurring. Makes sense, right? Littlewood's Law of Miracles states that in a normal person's life, miracles occur at a rate of roughly one per month. How is that possible, you ask? Well, we see and hear...
13 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, My first week as Chief Revenue Officer at Fast Company included representing the brand at ‘The Magazine of the Year’ awards, standing at the podium before 500 industry peers—including a former boss who had fired me. The voices in my head warned that these ‘not-so-friendly’ peers would judge my ability to lead this prestigious business innovation media brand. ...The brand is cool. I am not cool... “And the award goes to…” I walked carefully to the stage, praying not to trip. Climbed...
20 days ago • 3 min read
Reader, "Your vibe is your value." This struck a chord when Erin King shared it on the Earn Your Happy podcast. I lived the opposite for years. As a media CRO, I was the poster child for powering through: Closing magazine issues, managing ad layouts, filling last-minute holes Juggling a dozen client meetings with tricky personalities Leading 1:1s and team meetings to inspire and set expectations Forecasting through market pressure Hosting industry fireside chats Fighting a never-ending battle...
27 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, The most recent season of The White Lotus is set in Thailand, a country steeped in Buddhism. It's got me thinking about the Buddhist teachings around our tendency to overcomplicate situations and overthink problems. Papancha is a term in Buddhist philosophy referring to 'mental proliferation, conceptual elaboration', or, the mind's tendency to overcomplicate things. I learned about this concept in The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. Our minds go to great lengths to...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Reader, FREEDOM relates to the self-determination theory, which identifies autonomy and possibility as a core human need. Unlike the temporary feeling of happiness, the emotion of freedom has a sustaining quality that persists even through challenges. The emotion of freedom can create: A sense of breathing more easily or fully An energetic openness to possibilities Relief from perceived constraints A heightened connection to your authentic self An inner permission YES! This is why so many...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Reader, I tried to outwork everyone around me for most of my corporate career. I hoped I'd be recognized and valued if I worked harder than anyone else. This relentless pace became part of my identity. Then came that moment. Two months before I ended my 19+ year tenure at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, they hired yet another new leader—the fifth in six years who was well-known in media circles. I asked him what he needed from me the night before his company-wide introduction. His response?...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Reader, I've been called resilient, and it makes me cringe. Divorce with three kids 5 and under. 60+ days in the hospital with frightening side effects from 5 rounds of chemo. Losing jobs... While I've weathered storms, so have you and countless others. Why is resilience a thing...why does it matter? On the other side of struggle, what I've felt wasn't some grandness of resilience. I'd never, ever have that thought. Instead, my mind asks why? And other questions... -What's wrong with you?...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Reader, I'm frequently asked on coaching calls: “I want to build my confidence.” This is a thought that most of us have at one point or another and has us staying in wait. Waiting for it to come. Waiting for it to give you permission to do the thing. Waiting for the magic of confidence to go for it or for things to change. This pressure to "feel confident ready" intensifies. It doesn’t matter if you are an accomplished CEO, Entrepreneur or successful sales manager.We all want confidence. [We...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Reader, "You do not belong here." I remember her telling me like it was yesterday. Sixth grade, new town, new school system, new town, and the friend groups had already formed their impenetrable walls. Those words cut deep, carving a memory that would last my entire life. We've all heard them – those words that create deep fissures in our souls and cracks in our confidence. The whispers that keep us from believing we are somebody. The somebody we want to be. "You're too direct." "I don't even...
2 months ago • 2 min read