Regardless of where you are on the political spectrum, the US appears to be in chaos. I’m not even going to try to list everything, because that list would be out of date even before I publish this post. Let’s agree on this: Life is full of change. Sometimes, it’s change we want. Sometimes, it’s […]
How Do You Manage When “Everything” Is In Chaos? Read More »
This is Johanna Rothman’s January 2025 Create an Adaptable Life Newsletter. The unsubscribe link is at the bottom of this email. In general, I like structure in much of my life. I eat the same (or very similar) breakfasts and lunches every day. I extend that structure to my clothing. If you watch my YouTube
How Do Rules or Structure Help You Decide Which Decisions to Make? Read More »
I’m writing this on Christmas day in 2024, which coincides with the first night of Hanukkah. Kwanzaa is tomorrow. The solstice was a few days ago. I feel as if the calendar gave us all a big present: “We’re all on this little rock together.” I hope that all your gift acquisition and receiving experiences
What Present(s) Do Both Your Heart and Mind Desire? Read More »
This is Johanna Rothman’s December 2024 Create an Adaptable Life Newsletter. The unsubscribe link is at the bottom of this email. I’m doing my version of planning for next year. I set not more than three big, overarching goals. Then, I develop tactics I can use—but I do not have to use—to accomplish that goal.
Which Essential Questions Will Help You Start Next Year Right? Read More »
Do you feel lucky? I do. I’ve been able to work at jobs I (mostly) love and with people I (mostly) enjoy. My family loves me, even if they do roll their eyes often. (That’s totally fine. I often deserve that eye-rolling.) I also feel as if I’ve benefited from a ton of serendipity, especially
How Can We Create More Luck and Serendipity In Our Lives? Read More »
This is Johanna’s November 2024 Create an Adaptable Life Newsletter. The unsubscribe link is at the bottom of this email. Many of my professional colleagues and dear friends are in chaos right now. They can’t seem to find jobs. No company or hiring manager seems to want what these people have to offer. This is
How to Pivot When Too Few People Want What You Have to Offer Read More »
We’ve all had terrible disappointments in our lives, personal, professional, and societal. Somehow, most of us find ways to live with the personal disappointments. I’m not going to discuss those because I’m not a therapist. Professionally, I’ve experienced several project-based disappointments. We either didn’t deliver what the customer wanted or we didn’t deliver it when
How to Acknowledge Our Disappointment and Decide How to Restart Read More »
(Warning: This post contains a discussion of US politics.) When was the most recent time you had to choose between doing what was right instead of what was easy? At work, people—not just leaders—make these decisions all the time. Too often those decisions disappoint the people with the most power. What happens? Sometimes, the powerful
How Can We Find the Courage to Do What’s Right, Not What’s Easy? Read More »
(Warning: this post discusses the upcoming US Presidential election.) Our identities mean we identify with many possible different tribes. By tribe, I mean a particular affinity group. I have professional tribes, such as software people, managers, and consultants. Personally, I have my family tribe and my position in that tribe. I also have social tribes,
How Much of a Hold Do Your Various Tribes Have on You? Read More »
How often do you notice inconsistencies? We are human, so we are all inconsistent at times. But the more often I see these inconsistencies, the more they confuse me or make little sense to me. In fact, they confuse me so much, that this is my fourth attempt to write this post. Sigh. I suspect
What Confuses You or Makes Little or No Sense to You? Read More »