Last weekend my wife and I went to a three-year-old’s birthday party.You know the scene. Frosting everywhere. Balloons. Kids sprinting full speed with zero awareness of furniture or the adult legs they’re slamming into. In the middle of all that, I started talking with some new friends and, like these things usually do, the conversation drifted to work. There must have been fifty people in the house, but I had real, honest conversations with four of them. Here is who I met:

I’ve moved more times than I can count. Each new home has its own story - its quirks, its corners, its “almost perfects.” And each time, when I walk into a new kitchen, I notice the backsplash.  There’s something satisfying about those clean, deliberate lines.  The soft sheen of tile, the light grout perfectly placed to brighten the space. Subway tile is a popular choice for a reason. It’s timeless, functional, and easy to clean. The design is straightforward - neat rows, rep

Developing others is often depicted as guiding someone through a smooth, well-paved road to success. But for the damaged leader, the journey is far from a flawless highway. It’s more like navigating a well-worn vehicle down a rugged, winding road full of potholes, detours, and unexpected breakdowns. As leaders, we’ve been behind the wheel when the engine sputtered, seen warning lights flicker, and had to steer through rough terrain using nothing but grit and a little bit of h

Working at Minus 5 Ice Bar in Las Vegas taught me an unexpected lesson about leadership and pain. Picture this: I'm handling crystal-clear blocks of ice, crafting experiences for guests in a venue where everything – from the walls to the glasses – is made of ice. Then it happens. A tiny shard of ice, no bigger than an eyelash, finds its way under my skin. The initial shock is sharp and intense. My hand reflexively recoils, and for a moment, all I can focus on is this minuscul

Last week was one I used to look forward to every year: our annual summit. Coming together as a sales leadership team, spending coveted...

It might seem strange at first—comparing leadership to a “silly old bear” with a penchant for honey and simple-minded wisdom. But if you really think about it, Winnie the Pooh, with his unassuming charm, embodies the essence of what it means to be a damaged leader. His imperfections, his moments of uncertainty, his deep reliance on those around him—these are not weaknesses. They are what make him an exceptional leader. As damaged leaders, we often find ourselves learning from

The first time I heard the term, I thought it was just another corporate buzzword. A flavor-of-the-month idea cooked up in some boardroom...

Prayer for Mercy   There were 42 assorted pills, different sizes, different colors contrasting brightly against the whiteness of my hand, on a different day it would have reminded me of skittles, or maybe M&M's after they added some new colors.  The square bottle of water was sweating on my nightstand and for some reason that mattered, I did not want a water stain on the wood.  Now I look back and wonder why it mattered to me so much.  I shook the pill slightly, dropped one a

The Monday Practice That Helps Me Lead Without Losing Myself Leadership will always ask for more. More time. More energy. More...

Natalie’s post last week got me thinking.   I sat at my desk, staring at the corkboard (shoutout to The Container Store for designing me...

Ever packed up your desk?   Unpinned the pictures, peeled off the Post-its, tugged that last pushpin out of the corkboard? It’s a dusty walk down memory lane - the job you’re about to leave, whether by choice or not. And there you are, with a box of belongings in your hands. All the sweat, effort, and maybe a few tears… now neatly packed away.   I’m preparing for my next move. I’m a pro at this by now.  New York City will be my eighth city in 15 years. Florida. St. Thomas. St

I’ve been missing New York City lately. Maybe it was watching And Just Like That - the skyline glinting like glass dreams, the pace of...

Leadership is often shrouded in mystery and prestige—wrapped in layers of influence, power, and the tantalizing idea of success. It reminds me of an ancient Egyptian mummy, bound tightly in linen, then sealed inside an ornate sarcophagus. Admired from a distance. Untouched.  Even Untouchable. Many are drawn to leadership imagining it to be a place where authority reigns and every decision lands perfectly. But peel back the layers, and the truth is much more human than we care

I took a photo the other day.  Just a small thing, some flowering plants growing through a cracked sidewalk.  But it stopped me in my...

As I stand here today, something new is coming, and while I’m not ready to share the details just yet, I can say this: I’m filled with...

You show up with a smile, even though your insides feel shredded. You deliver the vision, even though you’re unsure you believe in it...

My front porch sits on the corner of a large pond. It’s a marvel to watch the seasons change from the steps of my front door. This year,...

Not long ago, I set out to do something hard.  Something no one forced on me.  No manager’s deadline, no team goal, no performance review...

WE'RE NOT OK! Not really. You can feel it in your team’s energy. It’s not just low, it’s hollow, deeply hollow. Like the spark left. Like...

Nearly five years ago, I stood in front of a mirror… for two straight hours. Just me, my reflection, and a blue dry erase marker.   On...