Shifting away from the drama a team has come through and resetting energy and perspectives toward a more positive future can be a challenge. Occasionally rehashing war stories to relish the bonds formed under pressure can be instructive if done to inform future actions. However, focusing on these times as a way to hold on to the connections formed can keep you (and those you lead) stuck in the past, failing to move forward.

Here's some simple advice on imbuing those connections with generative energy and repurposing them for the future you're working toward.

Are you a drama addict? Ask yourself whether anything in this video sounds familiar. If so, it may be time to get the monkey off your back. Becoming aware of your habits - especially those that keep you entangled in webs of drama - is a starting point for addressing how you may unknowingly contribute to an unhealthy environment.

There is a path to healing. Moving from conflict to reconciliation requires two main elements, but within each, there is real work to be done. In this video, I delve into what they are and why they are important. The critical takeaway to note is this: acknowledging a problem and how you contributed to it must be accompanied by a meaningful investment in a sustainable solution for a true reconciliation to exist.

What is servant leadership? Aside from it being my favorite approach to leadership, it is the truest form of responsibility to others and is in service of their growth. It builds trust by creating a culture of honesty, transparency, humility, empowerment, and support, and always has a collective goal as the North Star. In this short video learn why it’s so important in organizations today and how to make it a daily practice.

Trust allows us to feel secure and confident in our interactions with one another.  It creates a foundation of safety and reliability, making it easier for us to open up, communicate, and collaborate effectively.  It’s the key to intimacy and emotional connection, while in professional relationships, it’s essential for teamwork, productivity, and effective problem-solving. So when it’s in need of repair the challenges can be endless. Watch this video to learn the most important steps in the rebuilding process.

We’ll never have all the answers, but that’s a positive! Uncertainty provides an opportunity for us to try new things without needing all of the pieces to be in place. It also helps us focus our energy and resources where they make the most impact by teaching us to identify and invest in the variables we can control, and avoid wasting time on the ones we can’t.

We're accustomed to investing heavily in one or two relationships (careers, marriage, children, etc.) with the expectation of gaining complete satisfaction from the experiences connected to them. If we're not fulfilled, we can become dissatisfied and begin to feel stuck. I've found that a healthier (and more appropriate) approach to designing a fulfilling life requires taking a portfolio approach and looking beyond the one or two main relationships we anchor to. Instead, explore inside (yourself) and out, and allow yourself to add what works to your portfolio!

We all have a relationship with money.  What’s yours, and do you know where it originated? (Hint, go back – way back.) What emotions come up when you talk (or don’t talk) about money, and what impact does this have on your professional and personal lives? Unpacking your story of money so that you can write a mature and intentional next chapter will give you a tremendous sense of clarity and agency.

Each of us is a mosaic comprised of myriad parts. Instead of trying the suppress them (and present only one aspect of ourselves), embrace the whole as a unique and powerful combination of traits, experiences, perspectives, talents and insights that help us navigate new opportunities and challenges.

When you feel stuck, it can be tempting to yearn for a big change. However, before taking a deep plunge, it’s sometimes worth doing an inventory and take stock of what isn’t working.  And what is. You may find that there is more value left if you make some tweaks and reframe the situation. Alternatively, if moving on is indeed the best option, a better understanding of what did and didn’t work will serve you as you design the next chapter.  

We’re better together. Working in peer groups can be a valuable learning and growth experience, helping you to build relationships, and gain new perspectives. In both the act of giving value to and receiving value from others, we become better versions of ourselves and create opportunities to develop rich communities. In this video, I share more on how best to leverage these valued cohorts.

Disagreements or varying perspectives in decision-making don't have to end in an all-out war. In fact, it can be very productive if you commit to achieving the intended outcomes. On this episode of BLABBIT with Paul Geiger and Glen Ingram, we dive into WHY and HOW to embrace disagreements and turn them into positives.

Enoughness is a sense of fulfillment that comes from within and is bolstered by a deep connection to our natural environment, rather than through material things. When embraced, it becomes the mindset that propels you forward, avoiding the traps of perfectionism. When you are firmly rooted in this, you can move through your life with a calm sense of intention and purpose. Here’s a video on how it can impact your life, along with a special mantra to remind yourself of the power and value within you.

There is endless talk about how to achieve success, but very little on how to define it for yourself. After watching this short video, take time to reflect on what might be an authentic definition that not only resonates but inspires you.

Making mistakes isn’t a bad thing. But the fear of making them keeps us small and not learning from them keeps us stuck. If you haven’t made a mistake then you haven’t tried to GROW beyond your boundaries. In this short video, I share how not getting it right the first time around can be immensely valuable.

We may have done ourselves a great disservice by overemphasizing the notion that only efforts that resonate with our deepest desires and highest purpose are worth pursuing. Not everyone knows (or even has) one specific passion that they should dedicate themselves to fulfilling. Sometimes, in work, in particular, doing a task or job well, being fairly compensated for it, and working with people you respect (and who respect you!) is more than enough. However, if you want to give finding purpose and passion a go, it may require looking back -- at moments when you felt joyful, fulfilled, or found meaning. Therein you can find clues that point towards the right direction.

It’s mono-tasking. It’s the time when you let go of everything else, anchor yourself in one thing you choose to focus on, and commit to being all in for a stretch of time. And, flow has a number of benefits. It’s associated with increased happiness, higher intrinsic motivation, greater creativity, and better emotional regulation, among other positive effects.

The seminal book, Flow, by Mihaly Csikszentmihaly, goes deep – really deep - if you want to learn more about the psychology behind this state of being.

In the meantime, let me share with you what it is and why it works. Try it. You’ll thank yourself!

For anyone new to coaching, welcome!

Coaching is a process by which we choose, with real intention, to see ourselves clearly; discern patterns in thinking, speaking, and acting; identify our core values and talents, and then develop practices that align these elements with what we want to do and how we want to be. There are varying types of coaching - professional, life/personal, public speaking, wellness...you name it. However, in my practice, I take a unique approach that focuses on integration. For those who are curious, here's the short answer to what I do and why it should matter to you.

Usually considered unsavory and sometimes forbidden vocabulary, four-letter words can have myriad meanings depending on who you're talking to. The word 'wait' is exactly that for me. It's a word that most people give no special attention to, but in my case, it goes against the essence of how I want to move in the world. Watch this short video to understand why. And afterward, think about words that represent and spark a key characteristic of who you are and how you want to move through the world.

We tend to live our lives in a constant holding pattern, waiting for circumstances to be "perfect" or for us to feel certain and comfortable about moving forward. Uncertainty is a part of life. The truth is waiting for “certainty” will paralyze you. And we don’t need it to move forward or to take the necessary steps toward the things we want to accomplish. Here's my take on how to embrace the natural and healthy ways our bodies communicate to us that something new is happening. It’s a natural part of the life experience and we don’t need to change it - we just need to understand it and move forward.

In order for any transition (professional or personal) to be successful requires a few important elements. Truly owning the decision to make any change in your life is the starting point. From there it's a journey of iterative learning, occasional laughs to help soften rough patches, and finding effective ways to gather the feedback that becomes invaluable in informing your path. These are just some of the ingredients needed to support your individual growth, ensuring that you reap value in the process, and end up in a position that's better than where you started.

Waiting for external validation to pursue what's in alignment with your values won’t make the challenges you come up against any easier. Instead, it delays your learning process along with the deep satisfaction you have to gain from living on your own terms and choosing the potential adventures that interest and excite you. Start by knowing that you have permission to do what feels right for you.

Each time you say no, consider what you would like to say yes to. Getting intentional about where we direct our valuable energy and resources is the only way to create the space to enthusiastically embrace all the yes’s when the opportunities present themselves.

Balancing the need to measure results with the satisfaction that can come from engaging with the process allows us to harness the full breadth of value available in achieving our goals.

Choose how you want to start the day and prepare for it.

Identifying goals, and knowing that we’ve successfully reached them, is highly dependent on how results are measured - which can vary by task, organizational culture, and even individual beliefs. Correctly identifying, and then finding meaningful ways, to keep track of what matters is key to ensuring you're making the right impact.

The key to dismantling discomfort is to get curious about it. Most discomfort lives in the moments between actions - it’s where we can listen, feel and get more connected with ourselves. Instead of rushing through those moments and avoiding the discomfort, get curious and ask ourselves why? There’s so much to learn about ourselves and everything to gain.

Situations can at times feel difficult, bring up internal resistance, or make you want to turn in the opposite direction and avoid interacting. Instead, decide to get familiar with the discomfort. Let it teach you about yourselves and how you interact with the world.

Making a mission possible isn't an exact science. It includes trying things out and sometimes realizing that they don't fit. It's absolutely normal - and expected - to make mistakes or to learn that something served a purpose for a time, but no longer has a place on your journey.

Start the New Year off right by doing a little house cleaning. Take a moment, take stock, and decide if now is the time to let go of what doesn’t serve you and get realigned with what does.

I had a wonderful time with Pauline Brown and Paula Oriol on their fun and innovative podcast, “The Other AI” which is all about aesthetic intelligence. Developing aesthetic intelligence is understanding how we perceive the world through all of our senses, and making deliberate choices to increase the delight we experience. On this episode we discussed everything from how play impacts productivity, to healthy ways to get out of a rut, and accessing your authentic self.

It’s that time of year - growth and renewal are in the air! Cleaning out things that don’t serve us in order to create needed space or bring in the things that do can be an iterative process. I had a wonderful conversation with my good friend, Gal Yaguri, founder of Balaboste, about how we both accompany our clients during the transitions in seasons and chapters in their lives, assisting the spring cleaning of their physical, mental, and emotional spaces.

Being curious and open to learning throughout life – not just when we’re in school - can be exciting, bring immense fulfillment, and serve as a tool for growth, personal and professional development, and deep satisfaction. Now, more than ever, embracing lifelong learning as a mindset and an approach to both life and work is crucial. As we face ongoing uncertainty, our ability to acquire not just information but knowledge will help us navigate uncharted territory.

How do we calm the storms that at times build inside us as a result of the chaos happening in the outside world? In this episode of "Tastemakers w/ Pauline Brown," we discuss the challenges of maintaining a healthy inner balance. I share perspectives, alongside Ranji Nagaswami, a 30-year investment executive, on how important it is to develop practices that help us to stabilize when we feel ourselves spiraling out of control.

In early March 2020, I had a chance to sit down with my friend, Deborah Burns, author of the memoir Saturday’s Child, to discuss why obstacles are necessary in narration – and in life! We unpacked some great insights, including the fact that without stressors we don’t evolve, and that overcoming challenges confers not only knowledge but confidence. I invite you to listen to our conversation and hope that you’ll be inspired to climb some of the figurative (and literal) mountains you encounter.

A healthy mindset is crucial to managing stress, making important decisions, and building the resilience needed to get through trying times. I've been fortunate to work with some amazing professionals and companies focused on providing resources for increased mindfulness and guidance towards overall mental wellness. I'm proud to share that I have joined the ranks of other notable, inspirational teachers and guides on the Meditation Studio platforms. I've shared a handful of brief talks on topics affecting life and work and the elements that integrate them.

I had a great time speaking with Pauline Brown, host of Tastemakers, and Maryam Banikarim, former Chief Marketing Officer for Hyatt Hotels, about reinvention, identity and core values. They both have such rich and fascinating backgrounds as corporate executives, and it was a treat to bring my own experience and perspective to a conversation that touched on careers (especially those that span decades and chapters in our lives), family, priorities and evolving notions of success.

Another fun day in the studio with Pauline Brown and fellow guests, Kathryn Chalmers (CHANEL) and Regina Glocker (SHE Globl). We had a great conversation about games…yes, games! You know the ones you played when you were young. Believe it or not, games can reveal and revise what we think we know about ourselves and others.

I recently joined my friend, Harvard faculty member and previous Chairman of North America for LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Pauline Brown, on her SiriusXM radio show, Tastemakers.

In times like this, we can become frustrated by an overwhelming feeling of helplessness. We want to act and make a difference but aren’t sure how. Finding ways to give not just money or things, but of ourselves can be one of the most empowering acts we can take. In this way, YOU become the contribution - demonstrating how valuable your unique attributes, ideas, and experiences can be in supporting others. Most importantly, it unifies us in the notion that each and every one of us has something powerful to give. Ourselves!

We can easily get caught in a cycle of connecting to only those people that are part of our daily lives. However, this pause in our lives presents a powerful opportunity to reconnect with those who aren’t always on our radar or go deeper with others that tend to be only brief encounters.

It’s business as UN-usual.

We’ve stopped in our tracks and are being asked to work and live in new ways. So, why not explore the unexplored? Step away from the unending flow of news and commentary except for high-quality information from trusted sources, and even then, only check in once or twice a day. Use this time to let your curiosity take you where you haven’t had the time to go. This is an opportunity to broaden your possibilities and nurture ideas that have been shelved for way too long or have yet to surface.

Staying healthy isn’t just about watching what you eat. It’s being mindful of everything you take in - what you watch, read, listen to, who you spend time with, and even the thoughts you entertain. Take the time to edit your surroundings (as much as you can) in order to ensure you’re maintaining an environment that will nourish your mind, body, and your spirit.

When our normal routines are turned upside down, creating a new BETTER reality starts with healthy routines. Set yourself up for great days, weeks and months - and for the future you want to create.

When our world is in upheaval, the ways we communicate matter more than ever. The language of crisis is intentional. Choose your words carefully to ensure you manage emotions, expectations and instill a sense of calm that will support getting through the turbulent times.