A client recently wanted to problem-solve for working four days a week — but when she started explaining the problem, it wasn’t about the load of her days or how many days […]
Self-Improvement
Self-Worth and the Floors and Ceilings Metaphor
I’d like to float the idea that self-worth is a fundamentally different thing from self-esteem or confidence. People talk about these ideas as if they were each one and the same. But […]
What’s the Real Goal Here?
Last month I shared how I had been struggling to establish a daily writing practice. It’s a goal that I’d put on my monthly project list again and again but never seem […]
Is Your Goal-Setting Including Your Dreams?
As you can probably imagine, I end up in a lot of goal-setting conversations with our clients, PFA members, and team. I love these conversations because of how much they reveal about […]
Empower Your Team (and Yourself) by Asking for Help
Ever since I was a child, I’ve put the needs of others before my own. I’m a Type Two on the Enneagram — the Helper — and I’ve always been highly sensitive […]
How to Push Through a Plateau
Picture this: You’re on a hike, gradually going up and up and up… and it’s getting hard. Sweat is dripping down your back, your hamstrings are on fire, and you already wish […]
Do You Resist Projects That Are Easy?
A lot of people struggle not because they can’t imagine how what they’re struggling with could be easy, but because they’re uncomfortable with it being easy. So I ask: what’s wrong with […]
Unleash Yourself: How To Make Your Next Interview Your Best Interview
All too often, we make ourselves fit available options rather than making options fit us. It’s true of job-searching, partner-seeking, or life-building. I believe that we are better served when we flip […]
Here’s How to Mindfully Stay Present When Under Pressure
There’s a lot of talk these days about mindfulness and the importance of staying present. But when you’re in the throes of deadlines and emergencies, it’s extremely difficult to pause and really […]
Finishing Strong Part 3: Clean-Up on Aisle…
Last time, I talked about the importance of taking a pause between projects, and the important between-project work that needs doing: from just getting rest, to catching up with people, to enjoying […]
Preparing to Go All-In for the Holidays
The holidays are around the corner, and there’s no doubt that they will look like nothing we’ve seen before. Socially distanced Secret Santa parties and menorah lightings by the blue light of […]
Courageous Is Vulnerable Is Courageous
To be vulnerable takes courage. You’ve probably heard something along these lines before. And, to be courageous takes vulnerability. This is likely something you’ve heard less often, but it is also true. […]
You Got This
Last week I shared about one of the biggest gifts I’ve gotten from this year of COVID: an ability to focus more of my energy on the things that really matter. I’ve […]
How Do You Sing in the Morning?
I was listening to the audiobook version of Mark Nepo’s More Together Than Alone the other day. The following passage struck me: In an elemental way, empathy and connection are life-giving. Let’s […]
The First-Year of College Survival Guide
Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Ryan McRae. Most first-year college students have a startling realization around October, when Halloween decorations are being put up. It hits them as they walk […]
The Intersection of Bravery and Fear Is Beautiful
Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Jacquette M. Timmons. It takes a special kind of person to be an entrepreneur, business owner, or leader. Or, as is often described here at […]
A Musician’s Lessons on Leadership
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Breanne Dyck. Have you ever heard a piano that sounds tinny? Or one that sounds a little thin, cheap, or a bit like it came […]
Clarity, Commitment, and Community: The 3Cs of Successful Thought Leaders
The journey from having an idea to being a thought leader can be a long one. Those who walk that path learn very early that having a good idea to start with […]