Day one of my four-month journey to write my first book. I planned to get out of bed at 5:30 AM to make coffee, get settled into the couch, and begin capturing what’s in my mind. The alarm greeted me at 5:30 AM after an interrupted night of sleep. I stumbled out to make coffee.… Continue reading Give change a few days
Category: Reflections
Willingly embracing the identity of student
When we are young, we are labeled and identified as “student.” It is thrust upon us, forcing us to fit into a mold that we spend our formative years of life escaping from; we have no choice. If we aren’t good students, then we become defiant and rebellious. Desperate to find another way, to reveal… Continue reading Willingly embracing the identity of student
Becoming a better leader
I’ve been thinking about leadership for most of my life. From the early days of my life, I’ve been watching those around me make decisions for themselves and the family. Not to mention being a witness to the successes and failures of teachers and students through grade school into college. I wouldn’t have called it… Continue reading Becoming a better leader
Nobody Special: Finding Relief in an Exhausted World
I just got back to the computer after taking a week off. I didn’t really go anywhere—other than the beach, the coffeeshop, and the far away lands present in the books I read—but I did travel deep within myself and come face-to-face with a fear. Not just any old fear, but the deep kind Jay… Continue reading Nobody Special: Finding Relief in an Exhausted World
Misinterpreting my weaknesses
I’m stubborn, obsessive, and opinionated; I always thought these traits were weaknesses. Year upon year, day after day, I hid them from others and shoved those feelings aside in order to fit into a box, a genre, a lane. What I didn’t realize as I fought to find and blaze my own trail through life,… Continue reading Misinterpreting my weaknesses
Clarity is beautifully perplexing
When a question isn’t clear, the answer is equally unclear. You can replace “question” and “answer” with just about any word pairing and the logic remains true. Problem and solution. Process and outcome. Life and death. How do you find clarity? Now that is a question.
Email is the future…of what?
“They” say that email is the future of business. By cultivating an email list, you are able to sell directly to your customers, your fans, your loyal subjects. I get the emails daily from my mailing list provider: “Do these things if you want to grow your list and make a ton of money.” Of… Continue reading Email is the future…of what?
On emptiness, burnout, and dread
I fear being empty of creativity and curiosity. For me, this is the root of procrastination. If I never finish the work that truly matters, I won’t have to face the angels and demons deep within myself. So, I stay on the surface. I fill my days with easy wins. I become the rock that… Continue reading On emptiness, burnout, and dread
A New Story of Collaboration
Tonight I’m participating in a workshop led by my friend, Diane Gibbs, in which the participants answer the question, “What makes a great collaboration for you?” At first glance, my answer reveals an old story that finds its roots in events that happened decades ago: “I don’t collaborate. I’m not a good collaborator. I’m not a… Continue reading A New Story of Collaboration
What does it mean to listen?
I finished the chapter in See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love by Valarie Kaur about listening. It got me thinking: What does it truly mean to listen? To not only hear the words being said but to feel the emotions present—and simultaneously hidden—in the infinite moments of our lives. As a… Continue reading What does it mean to listen?