I have lots of writing and other projects I want to start—and finish. I confident I can rank all that work, so I can start and finish what’s most important to me. While I rarely have trouble with starting energy, I sometimes have trouble with finishing energy. Here’s how that works for me, especially for
How Can You Use Which Kind of Energy to Start and Finish? Read More »
I love learning about tools and how to use them. Here are some of the tools I use often: Manual tools I use in the kitchen. Electronic tools for my work, such as visualizing the flow of work, systems thinking models, as well as the tools I use to write and publish. Thinking tools, such
How Can You Know the Right Tool to Use for Your Current Problem? Read More »
As I’ve processed the deaths of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry (fixed the bad reference) this week, I realized that I used the examples of their creativity and output as inspiration for my career. Not because I could ever “compete” with them and their careers, but to use their careers as inspiration for my own.
How Can You Tell the Difference Between Inspiration and Competition? Read More »
As I’ve challenged myself physically, I noticed I’m talking out loud, coaching myself. My most frequent word is “Okay.” Okay is short for: “Okay, you finished that piece. Now, it’s time for the next step so you can accomplish this entire thing.” I try to keep my self-talk positive because I want to reinforce finishing
How Do You Use Your Self-Talk to Finish Something You Want to Accomplish? Read More »
David Dame, in a LinkedIn post, said, “We are all going to be disabled one day. Some of us just beat you to it.” While he is correct, that is not the full story. I said, quoting his post, “I do not think of myself as ‘disabled.’ Instead, I think of myself as having ‘insufficient
How Do We Differentiate Between Being Disabled and Our Insufficient Abilities? Read More »
The Tartan Army has left Boston. They are bringing their joy to other locales. The local newspaper, the Boston Globe, took out a full-page ad, thanking the Tartan Army. While I can’t find the actual ad, there was a post on X showing the ad: https://x.com/BenVolin/status/2068384741313634405. (Somehow, I can’t embed that into this post, so
How Can We Find and Use Our Courage to Maintain Our Joy? Read More »
While I manage my alcoholic intake because of my vertigo, there is nothing like a great beer at just the right time. On vacation, or on a hot summer day, especially after something active. Right now, there are World Cup games all over the world, with several here, in Boston. And what happened in Boston?
How Could Anyone Run Out of Beer? (A Note on the World Cup and Culture) Read More »
Most of us have some form of inner critic. That critic tells us we are Wrong. Or Stupid. Or Bad. (This includes Imposter Syndrome.) My inner critic often shows up when I’m writing. You should see the blog post I’m not publishing because I’m writing and publishing this one. (If I can figure out how
How Can We Acknowledge and then Manage Our Inner Critic? Read More »
I’m questioning everything about my business. Not just my writing, but what I want to offer and to whom. (I do this on a regular basis because I don’t want to become bored with what I offer.) That means I’m going to start something new. Often, I don’t quite know how to start that thing.
Which Practices Help You Avoid Starting Paralysis to Try Something New? Read More »
This is Johanna Rothman’s May 2026 Create an Adaptable Life Newsletter. The Unsubscribe link is at the bottom of this newsletter. I’m in the midst of a gigantic life roll. That’s the name for when life picks you up, rolls you in a carpet, and throws you off a cliff, bumping down rocks all the
How Can We Use “What’s Next” and “Now What” to Offer New Options? Read More »