Reader I want to talk about something that is a constant struggle for me: Vulnerability. I’ve been asking myself why it feels like such a battle, and I finally uncovered the "programming" behind it: As a child: I was celebrated for being "smart and competent." That competence earned me freedoms and opportunities others didn't get. In school: Getting it right the first time was praised; getting it wrong and learning was seen as a failure. At work: As a woman, I often felt I had to disprove the...
8 days ago • 1 min read
Reader I have to brag a moment. Tracy is one of my favorite client leaders, and it’s because she understands a fundamental truth that many business owners miss: Technical knowledge is not the same as leadership competency. When she was filling the head position in Client Services Operations, Tracy didn't look for a niche-industry insider. Instead, she hired someone she respected from outside her sector—someone with deep customer service roots and a proven track record of day-to-day team...
16 days ago • 1 min read
Reader I have the worst experience with Google Maps in Europe. It's our last day on Capri. My husband and I are headed out to explore the island and visit several tourist destinations. We bought an e-SIM data plan that's loaded onto my phone. One of the main uses is accessing Google Maps for directions. The problem is that it doesn't work as well on foot as it does in a car. I've had several instances of walking in the opposite direction I am supposed to travel without Google Maps alerting...
23 days ago • 3 min read
Reader I don't know how it happened. I'm leaving my girlfriends after a lovely meet-up for dinner. I'm thinking about my colonoscopy prep tomorrow and feeling anxious after all the grim stories I have heard from others. With the snowmageddon prediction for the weekend, I'm debating whether to go to the grocery store on my way home. I'm driving in an unfamiliar area. It's dark, and the pavement is wet. I need to turn right at the upcoming light, so I move into the far right lane. BOOM! I hear...
30 days ago • 5 min read
Reader I was struggling as 2025 came to a close. It was hard to find energy and focus. My battery was running low. 🪫 It was such a vicious cycle of guilt, as my inner critic judged me lacking for being unproductive. As I looked at my sales and revenue for the first quarter of 2026, I knew I had work to do, but I felt defeated before I even started. Then I made three vital shifts that changed everything for the better. ONE. I started working on Season 2 of The Story I'm Telling Myself Podcast....
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Reader I made it past Quitters' Day. How about you? The second Friday in January is called Quitters' Day because a quarter of us have already abandoned our New Year's resolutions. However, the good news is you are allowed to hit the reset button and get a do-over.{ Reader, I know your 'Polly Perfect' is trying to tell you otherwise, but ignore her. If you have a dream you are unleashing for yourself in 2026, you need to know that there isn't one straight path you have to follow to achieve it....
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Reader I couldn't believe I was hearing these words: There's an abnormal spot. I'm going to refer you to a specialist. I try not to panic. I think of my sister's cancer diagnosis. Is it my turn? I think of my Dad, subcumbing to cancer on his third battle. Is that my fate? I get in my car. Anxiety has me in it's grasp. Cancer is the drumbeat pounding in my head. Stop, I think. This isn't going to help. If it is cancer, stress won't help. You feel fine. You play pickleball five times a week....
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Reader I am my harshest critic. Or, the Miranda that lives inside my head is. You might recognize her Her constant refrain is "still not good enough." Reader, I'm curious. What challenge of your worthiness does your inner critic play constantly in your head? Shame Rejection Unworthiness I have considered myself a strong, confident, and accomplished person throughout my life. Yet, the smallest glimmer of negative feedback can unleash the look from Miranda and I am in a spiral of shame,...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Reader I had a profound moment over Thanksgiving thanks to my eldest daughter. It's after 8 PM on Thanksgiving. I'm in the front passenger seat. My husband is driving, and my daughters are in the back seat. We are in an upscale neighborhood where we've been enjoying our Thanksgiving feast at a friend's home. Many homes are already lit with Christmas lights. We turn onto the main thoroughfare and there are four houses in a row with the same commercial style lights outlining the front of the...
3 months ago • 2 min read