Top 8 most popular posts

June 23 2016

Dig back into the vault and don’t miss any of the good stuff: 12 questions to turn small talk into real talk 5 rules of hustling What brings people together? A coffee riddle 10 questions to ask at a dinner party (instead of “What do you do?”) The people in your life will make or […]

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Not every day is inspirational, not every work inspired

June 18 2016

This month I’m participating in an artist residence program. It’s my first experience like this, and I’m surrounded by trees and beauty and very talented creative people. When I first arrived, I was intimidated. Listening to the other artists’ stories and experiences and seeing their work made me feel like the outsider. I never went to […]

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Do the work

June 09 2016

There’s no substitute for hours put in. Good work requires commitment and emotional investment. You can try to make shortcuts, but your audience will know. More importantly, you will know. If you don’t feel like it’s risky, it’s probably not worth doing. Don’t take shortcuts, no matter how tempting they may seem. Do the work.

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Keeping the flame alive

June 02 2016

A student saw KEEP THE FLAME ALIVE on a movie poster and asked me, “What is flame and why does it need to be alive?” The movie was about a married couple inviting a stranger into their home to try to spice up their fizzling love life. I described fire, from the moment you flick a match until the last wisps of smoke float […]

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Relax, everything is going to be OK

May 24 2016

If you knew everything would be OK, would you spend more time with your close friends? Take more time for yourself? Eat differently? Leave the office earlier? If you knew the outcome would be OK, would you relax, ease up? Work harder? How would your strategy change? If everything was going to be OK, would you […]

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“It’s not my job.”

May 18 2016

Taking responsibility inevitably sets you up, while watching from the sidelines gives you that head start should an anvil hit. There’s always the option to run. When you step in to do a little more and claim ownership (no matter how small), the work becomes personal. This is where thoughtful decisions are made and jobs are performed with integrity. “It’s […]

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If you’re in a funk (31 ways to destroy a bad mood)

May 12 2016

Go sit in a different room. Take 5 minutes to be quiet and still (turn off your phone, set an alarm if you must). Walk outside. Search for your favorite artist’s playlist on youtube. Invest in an essential oil you love. Two drops can do wonders. Write a list of 5 things you are thankful […]

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One shot

May 06 2016

When you only have one chance, it matters. Your heart races, your mind scans all the outcomes — what if I fail? what if I make a mistake? what if I lose? what if I win? — and you do your best not to blow it. Faced with twenty shots, however, you start to relax. Your breathing levels out as there isn’t […]

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What entrepreneurs don’t really talk about

April 29 2016

Last week: This sucks! What am I doing? Why am I here? This week: This is awesome! We’re doing so good! Look, it’s working! And so forth. Up and down, up and down, up and down. I know I’m not the only entrepreneur with these rollercoaster moments. The trick is managing these “low” moments just long enough while trusting […]

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The value of meeting new people (offline)

April 21 2016

Hectic schedules and limited time pushes “meeting new people” down priority lists. But new people can add spark to your life. From work strategies to personal motivation, even brief encounters can leave a lifetime mark. A meaningful conversation can inspire you to try something new, do better work, become a more thoughtful person, or keep going down […]

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