We're All in This Together

Being grateful doesn't mean everything is great, it means we're willing to look for, find, and acknowledge the gifts, lessons, and blessings in our life.  Doing this in an authentic and effective way can be challenging for a number of reasons, especially these days.  In the spirit of our Thanksgiving holiday this week here in the US, I talk about the importance of gratitude in this episode, and sh...

Many years ago, I heard Dr. Michael Beckwith say, "Don't waste a good crisis."  At first, I thought this was a bit strange and even harsh, but the more I thought about it and experienced it, the more I understood the importance of this paradoxical wisdom.  On this episode, I talk about how we can authentically reframe difficulty and I share some specific things we can do to navigate crises as effe...

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential in business and life.  They can be challenging to understand, discuss, and implement for many reasons.  My friend and colleague, Ray Arata, is an expert in inclusionary leadership and the founder of the Better Man Conference.  He joins me  again on the show today to talk about these important topics and about his upcoming event. Resources: We're All i...

Even though things are much "better" these days in terms of our ability to gather with others, travel, go into the office, and more…it still feels weird in so many ways, doesn't it?  As I speak to people, leaders, and teams throughout the country and world, I'm hearing a lot about exhaustion, awkwardness, and difficulty, given all that we've been through the past few years.  On this episode, I tal...

At 44, Sarah McDonald was newly married, newly promoted, and planning pregnancy. It felt like a time of new beginnings in her life when suddenly she was diagnosed with a rare, incurable cancer. Two months later she was diagnosed with another, unrelated cancer.   Ten years later, Sarah is healthy, the mother of a beautiful daughter, and the author of a brand-new memoir called The Cancer Channel: On...

This is the 300th episode of this podcast.  As a way of acknowledging this milestone, I reflect back on some of the journey over the past six years - both with the show and my work, and with all that has happened in the world. I also discuss the importance of marking occasions in our lives and our work, and the impact celebration has on us personally and collectively.    Resources: We're All in Th...

I was quoted in a recent New York Times op-ed entitled, "Do Not Bring Your 'Whole Self' to Work."  While I appreciated being mentioned in this piece, as you can imagine, I disagree with it on many levels.  On this episode, I talk about some of the misconceptions and challenges of bringing our whole selves to work.  I also discuss some of the specific reasons why it's important to do so these days....

My guest on this episode, Tyler Merritt, believes that proximity breeds empathy…and that with empathy, humanity has a fighting chance. I agree and am so inspired by him, his work, and his books.  Tyler is an actor, activist, founder of the Tyler Merritt Project, and the author of the remarkable memoir, I Take My Coffee Black , as well as the brand new children's book, A Door Made for Me .  In our...

Change may be inevitable, but it definitely can be tricky, especially these days.  Most of us seek and fear change at the same time, which is part of what makes it so complicated to navigate.  On this episode, I talk to my friend and colleague, Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, about her new book, The Change Guidebook .  Elizabeth shares some specific things we can do to more effectively embrace change...

Self-reflection is an important and necessary part of growth.  Self-criticism, while common and understandable, is almost always detrimental to us and those around us .  On this episode, I talk about the important difference between self-reflection and self-criticism, why we can sometimes collapse them together, and ways we can truly create positive change.   Resources: We're All in This Together...

Trust and surrender are two things that I've found challenging for much of my life.  I've recently been reminded of both the difficulty and importance of both of these…and have been working on embracing them more deliberately.  On this episode, I talk about why trust and surrender can be so hard, especially these days.  I also discuss how essential they are for our own wellbeing, as well as the he...

I've often thought of vigilance as just a more intense version of discipline.  And while there is some truth to this in a practical sense, as I've been unpacking it more for myself recently, I'm now realizing that there's a big difference between these two which is important for us to understand.  On this episode, I talk about this essential distinction and how we can shift from fear-based vigilan...

For a number of reasons, especially these days, it's easy to feel like we're alone.  When things get hard, scary, and even painful, many of us, myself included, have a tendency to judge and isolate ourselves.  However, one of the best things we can do when things are challenging (and even when they aren't), is to remember that we're not alone and to reach out to those around us.  On this episode I...

I've been dealing with some setbacks recently - both personally and professionally.  I'm also aware of the collective struggles many people and groups are dealing with these days.  The nature of progress is often messy, and it can be hard to navigate for a number of reasons.  On this episode I talk about this phenomenon and why it can be so challenging.  I also offer some specific things we can do...

The level of collective anxiety seems pretty high these days.  The accumulation of stress related to the pandemic, violence, political divisiveness, uncertainty, change, and more can take a real toll on us - individually and collectively.  On this episode, I talk about some of the key reasons we may be feeling anxious these days and some specific techniques we can use to cope with it as best as po...

With the United States Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe vs. Wade, I've been feeling angry, sad, and deeply concerned about the impact this decision will have.  I've also been thinking about the importance and power of choice - both in terms of this specific decision and also in terms of how we react to challenging circumstances.  Viktor Frankl famously said, " Between stimulus and response the...

As a lifelong Golden State Warriors fan I am, of course, fired up that they recently won another NBA championship - their fourth in the past eight seasons.  However, as impressed and excited as I've been about their sustained success, what I find most inspiring is the incredible culture they've built.  On this episode I talk about some of the key elements of creating a championship team.  And whil...

An essential element of any strong team is their ability to lean on one another.  This takes trust, willingness, and safety…it is foundational to individual and collective success.  On this episode I talk about why this is so important, especially these days, and some specific things we can do to lean on those around us, make ourselves available for people to lean on us, and enhance the culture of...

In response to the devastating tragedy last week in Uvalde, TX, I've noticed my own tendency to want to blame certain people, groups, and policies (or lack thereof).  I've also noticed how much finger pointing and blame seems to be flying around in conversations, on social media, and in society as a whole - related to this mass shooting and in general.  On this episode I talk about why it is both...

I'm someone who likes plans, goals, and visions.  For us to be successful individually and collectively, both in business and life, effective planning can be essential.  However, when things are challenging and uncertain (and even when they're not), all we can really do is the next right thing.  On this episode, I talk about this simple but powerful concept - why it can be challenging, and why it...

Resting and relaxing are two things I enjoy but find challenging to do.  Living in a world that is obsessed with hard work, productivity, and results, it can be difficult for many of us to find the time and feel like we deserve to relax.  On this episode, I talk about some of the specific reasons resting can be hard for us.  I also share some tips for how we can embrace relaxation more effectively...

There are a lot of things I don't understand or know how to do.  However, I sometimes find not knowing to be quite frustrating, vulnerable, and uncomfortable.  On this episode, I talk about why we have a hard time with not knowing, some specific things we can do to embrace this, and what the benefits are of doing so - for us and those around us.   Resources: We're All in This Together (new paperba...

With all of the stress and uncertainty that we've been through these past few years (and continue to experience today), it can be challenging to stay grounded.  I've noticed my own difficulty to stay calm in the midst of challenges has increased recently.  On this episode, I discuss five specific things we can do to stay grounded, even and especially when things are hard. Resources: We're All in T...

In a recent session with my counselor, Eleanor, the themes of acceptance, surrender, and embracing powerlessness came up once again.  These things are both very important and  incredibly challenging for me and so many of us.  On this episode, I talk about why each of these are essential, especially right now, and also why they can be difficult for us to embody.  I also share a specific technique f...

I tested positive for Covid this past week.  Thankfully, my symptoms were pretty manageable, my family members have all tested negative, and I'm feeling better.  Getting the positive test results, being sick, and isolating myself in my office has been interesting and challenging, particularly mentally and emotionally.  On this episode, I share some of this experience and what I've been learning…an...