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 »
This is Johanna Rothman’s July 2026 Create an Adaptable Life Newsletter. The Unsubscribe link is at the bottom of this newsletter. (Looking for the video? Go to the bottom of the newsletter for the video link.) We’ve all had strange days, when we just could not get anything done. When we have days like that,
How Do We Choose Between a Straight Reset and Starting Anew? Read More »
This is Johanna Rothman’s June 2026 Create an Adaptable Life Newsletter. The Unsubscribe link is at the bottom of this newsletter. We have no end of problems to solve or manage these days. Some problems are “today” problems, where we have an immediate need to solve that problem. In the Eisenhower Matrix above, that’s the
How Can We Assess Risks to Solve Both Today’s and Tomorrow’s Problems? 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 »
Long ago, a manager told me that I needed to socialize the changes I wanted to make. She recommended I meet with people before the decision meeting. That seemed like a waste of time to me. Why should I meet with people in advance? Couldn’t I just explain what I wanted, we would discuss, and
How Do We Find Our Support System for the Changes We Want to Make in the World? Read More »
My wrists started to hurt a few weeks ago. At the time, I thought it was all the walking I did outside while I was in Florida. Then, I went to my doctor for a checkup. I lost another inch of height! (I was too damn short (TDS) to start with.) But now? Oh. I
What New Thing (Data, Event, Emotion) Surprised You This Week? Read More »
How do you decide what to do next? Most of us find it quite tempting to continue whatever we have done, up until now. When we continue, we don’t need much adaptability or resilience. But what do you do when Something Happens? That something might be wonderful, such as a lifecycle event, or when you
How Can You See Your Adaptability and Resilience as You Make Decisions? Read More »
This is Johanna Rothman’s March 2026 Create an Adaptable Life Newsletter. The Unsubscribe link is at the bottom of this newsletter. I’ve been drinking green tea in the morning since 1998, when a fellow workshop participant introduced me to it. It’s now part of my delightful morning tradition. Before then, I drank coffee or black
How Can You Create a New Perspective on a Problem? Read More »
I’ve had several lovely conversations over the past couple of weeks with friends and colleagues of long standing. (They’re not old people, which is why I’m not calling them old friends.) Each of them wants to do something different with their lives, something that matters more than what they are doing now. They often said,
How Can We Stop Waiting to Do What We Say Matters to Us? Read More »
Everyone I know wants to do good work with fair compensation. Often, that work gives them purpose and fulfills their need to do something that matters. However, everything is changing. Managers feel pressure, and that pressure flows down to the people they are supposed to lead and serve. Then, there’s AI, in the form of
How Will You Reinvent Yourself and Your Work So You Can Do What Matters? Read More »