The boy who hung the curtain rod

February 25 2015

I went downstairs to bring the workers coffee. When I returned, the boy, age 16 or 17, was standing on a table hammering enthusiastically. He had set three fixtures in place, and the curtain rod rested squarely upon them. Great work — except he was standing outside. “What are you doing?” I asked, somewhat perplexed […]

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Fear and places we connect

February 17 2015

On Valentine’s Day, I gave roses to strangers in Nepal. It sounds beautiful, but it began as a terrifying experience. I couldn’t bring myself to hand the first rose to an adult, I was too petrified. “What will she think? What will I say? What if the gift isn’t appreciated?” Instead, I approached a ten-year-old sitting beside […]

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Lead with your art

February 09 2015

I’ve been transfixed by the story of Vidal, the random kid photographed on the street and the subsequent events that have followed — over one million dollars raised, scholarships, field trips, a meeting with the President. Vidal’s principal, who publicly admitted to feeling discouraged and ready to throw in towel before this fantastic story unfurled, asked President Obama, “When […]

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What if it felt like heli-skiing from your desk?

February 04 2015

James Altucher recently interviewed Seth Godin on fear, anxiety and doing work that matters. They discuss the separation between the Do-ers and the Sitters, those who put themselves in the game and those who watch from the sidelines wishing they could play. One of the main categorical differences is fear: the Do-ers don’t let it stop them. They find […]

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It doesn’t have to be great.

January 26 2015

In fact, it doesn’t even have to be good. We put so much expectation and pressure on ourselves to do something amazing, to be really incredible and innovative and caring and original and… We stop ourselves from doing any thing at all. We’re not just stopping ourselves. We’re stopping our teams. Our employees, our children. […]

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A conversation can change your life

January 21 2015

When life gets uncomfortable, it’s easy to run. We bury our noses in our phones when we’re bored or anxious. Waiting in line at the store, riding the train to work, even walking around town. A kind word can redirect a bad day, but we’re afraid to say hello. It’s become too easy to hide. “I’m busy!” […]

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Everything I learned is wrong.

January 14 2015

Somewhere along the way, I was taught: Doing nothing is bad. FAST is always best! Rice is bad for your health. You will marry your soul mate. My time in Nepal has caused some major reassessment. There are certain beliefs we hold onto. They damage our progress, our potential, even our relationships. And we don’t always realize it. It’s […]

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Think less, act more

January 08 2015

There’s a fine line between analysis and paralysis. It’s important to ask questions and consider facts. Too much dwelling and interpreting and hypothesizing and strategizing, however, can lead to stagnation. We can stop progress before we even begin. Trust positive actions yield positive results. A certain element of heart must come into play, a powerful […]

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The Invitation

January 01 2015

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing. It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for […]

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Thoughts become things

December 24 2014

Several months ago I made clear what I would do if I had $40,000. I’m no stranger to the power of making dreams known. There is a creative force behind intention. Set your mind to it, and seemingly distant aspirations become achievable. This is where we sell ourselves short. It’s terrifying to announce what we want. […]

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