As a consultant, I regularly work with managers who want predictability. To get that predictability, they want to remove “all” of the risk. They do a lot of up-front planning and estimation. They try to predict how things will go. Then, “Something Happens.” That Something requires adaptability and resilience to manage the risk. Some of […]
What’s Your Tolerance for Risk vs Resilience? Read More »
You might have noticed I missed writing last week’s question-of-the-week. I definitely noticed. Why did I miss a post? I’m not traveling. I have a handle on my client work, workshops, and writing. (A tenuous hold, but I’m still hanging on.) No, it was this website. I posted last month’s newsletter, and then I realized
Are You Yak-Shaving or Creating More Value? Read More »
Do you ever reflect and realize you didn’t accomplish something you wanted to? I don’t regret much in my life. I have one big exception to that—when my mouth says something before my brain realizes I’ve even said anything. (Some of us extroverts have the mouth-engage-before-brain problem. Infrequently, introverts also have this problem.) If I realize what
What Do You Want to Accomplish so You Don’t Create Regrets? Read More »
How often do you feel courageous? I don’t wake up in the morning and say, “Today, I’ll be courageous.” No, it doesn’t work that way for me. As I discover ways to work and live that fit for me, I write about them. I don’t expect other people will work or live in the same
How Can You Encourage Bravery Today? Read More »
Every community contains “messy” humans. We are all imperfect in many ways. Too often, we show these imperfections in our communities. That’s when our professional contributions collide with our personal messiness. Let me confess right now: I am not perfect. At all. I have a healthy ego. I often wonder when my ego crosses the
How Do We Reconcile a Person’s Professional Contributions with Their Personal Behaviors? Read More »
Many of us make short-term decisions right now. Totally understandable given the chaos around us. However, we have a number of wicked problems. When we only think for the short-term, we make decisions that don’t solve those wicked problems. We need to use long-term thinking to influence our short-term decisions. You might wonder about where
Where Do You Want to Be Long-Term, Say in 50 Years? Read More »
Many of my colleagues and clients continue to focus on the short-term right now. They need to make money to keep their businesses afloat. I understand and empathize. And, they need to manage their family’s various pulls on their time. Some of my colleagues have moved to one parent in charge of home and schooling.
How Do You Balance the Short Term and the Long Term? Read More »
When Do You Choose to Continue or Stop? As I write this, we’re in the midst of uncertainty about the 2020 election. Have no fear. This newsletter is personal, not about the election. (Yes, I thought I should say that up front!) I continue to experiment with all kinds of things. This month, I’m experimenting with a
When Do You Choose to Continue or Stop? Read More »
I drive a combination gas/hybrid car. Last year, I bought gas 4 times. Maybe. It might have been 3 times. In general, I don’t drive that much. I’ve worked from home for many years. This year, since I drive even less, I decide to use up the old gas. I finally needed gas this past
When Do You Notice Your Context Changed? Read More »
You might have heard the phrase, “May her memory be for a blessing,” when people discuss Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s death. Molly Conway wrote a wonderful essay. I encourage you to read it. You also might like Rabbi Sacks’ essay about tshuvah, tfilla, and tzedaka. And, I hope you join me in mourning the loss of
How Will Your Memory Be For a Blessing? Read More »