I finally watched KPop Demon Hunters and found it surprisingly relevant to my work as a coach. Spoilers ahead if you haven’t watched it. After studying trauma-informed coaching last year, it’s not surprising that I see trauma everywhere. But it really is. All of us carry traces of past experiences, times when we couldn’t process…
I’m bad at writing hooks. Like… really bad.
I’m bad at writing hooks. Like… really bad. So I did something this week I’d never done before: I asked ChatGPT for help. It gave me 15 hooks in ten seconds. And most were better than mine. Why didn’t I try this sooner? Because I’m stubborn – I take pride in my writing, and asking…
Seppo Helava ‘s advice on writing resumes is so good and on point that I’ve stopped offering my own advice and just tell people to go read his resume guide.
Seppo Helava ‘s advice on writing resumes is so good and on point that I’ve stopped offering my own advice and just tell people to go read his resume guide. The key insight is that your resume is an advertisement, a tease to get the reader interested enough to reach out and learn more about…
I almost spent another sleepless night in the woods just to prove I could do it.
I almost spent another sleepless night in the woods just to prove I could do it. We went camping recently with other families from my kids’ school. The plan was to stay two nights. But the baby was miserable the first night – crying, restless, waking up every couple hours. I spent the night trying…
If somebody has to read your mind for them to do what you want, you’re the problem.
If somebody has to read your mind for them to do what you want, you’re the problem. I’ve seen many examples where leaders hint at what they want, then get upset when what is delivered is not what they expected. Everybody involved gets frustrated – the people who worked hard to deliver something that is…
Your brain is not helping you when it looks for reasons.
Your brain is not helping you when it looks for reasons. Think back to the last unpleasant thing that happened to you. How did you respond? If you’re like me, you probably spent a long time afterwards reviewing the whole sequence of events that led up to the thing, looking for what you could have…
“Pay attention to the question behind the question: not just, “What should I do?”—but “Who do I want to become?”
“Pay attention to the question behind the question: not just, “What should I do?”—but “Who do I want to become?” Because in the end, that’s what leadership is. Not control. Not certainty. But a way of being in the world.” I love this perspective from Jerry Colonna – so few of us take the time…
Sharing your truth can be a transformational act.
Sharing your truth can be a transformational act. I was feeling trapped this week. I had made too many work and family commitments, and was dreading the exhaustion that would come as I struggled through, because I am already feeling exhausted. But one of my core beliefs is to deliver on my commitments, no matter…
What have you been thinking, but not saying?
What have you been thinking, but not saying? Tension is created when there is a disconnect between what we are internally thinking and what we are sharing with others. They feel that tension, and come up with their own stories of what might be behind the tension, projecting their own worst fears. Releasing that tension…
“Yes, I can do that!” is a trap.
“Yes, I can do that!” is a trap. Early in your career, raising your hand to take on more is rewarded. It’s how you get faster growth and more scope, delivering on the gnarly projects that nobody else wants. But that can-do attitude becomes a trap as you grow more senior. Your time becomes more…