The career narrative I inherited growing up went something like: It’s called work for a reason, so do well and suck it up. The work-work-work, study-study-study mentality is common, especially in U.S. immigrant families, it made me successful to a point, and I completely understand in my family’s case where…

Sales. Profit margins. Performance ratings. Bonuses and promotions. Assuming you take part in the economy, your business/career performance measures are externally defined. And with the “Great Reset,” industry booms as well as a tight labor market (though that is changing in some sectors), there has been more and more attention…

Our beliefs about ourselves are our own, right? Not necessarily. Our minds are thought factories, and geniuses at finding ways to protect us. It might be counterintuitive that disempowering ourselves can be one. If you find yourself holding back or staying smaller than you’d like to, below are some “quick…

Change is uncomfortable — and sometimes comfort, and not changing, is the least comfortable thing we do. This can be true of anyone, but particularly those who tend to be creators of their own destinies — and extremely driven. Comfort, and staying consistent, are uncomfortable when we think we ought…

If you’re a creative type (or curious, or a questioner), you probably dislike being boxed in by “rules.” Including rules about when stuff gets done. After all, can’t you trust the process and your instincts to get where you want? There is infinite creative possibility in allowing time and space…

We all have blind spots and masks we wear. Awareness and choice around both dramatically impacts the quality and resonance of our relationships, including how we lead. A Johari window is a simple awareness building tool for doing this exactly, organizing traits/habits (and/or whatever it is about you that you…

If you’re entrepreneurial or creative, chances are that some of your dreams have felt a bit on the weird and wild side. If they stick around for a while there’s a good chance I think you should go for it. Here’s why: If you don’t scratch the itch at some…

Imagine setting an ambitious vision, working hard for results, and halfway through (or post goal realization), realizing it’s not what you wanted at all? That the vision was set on assumptions, emotional hangups or felt obligations that weren’t right for you or others? Been there, done that. It’s Joseph Campbell’s…

Spiritual journey 2-step: See the matrix (and distinguish it from reality). Re-enter. In the Matrix movie, Neo volunteers to go back in to save the (real) world — and it’s a personal test. Is he The One? He is when he believes. Like most people, in my teens, 20s and…