I’m feeling the pull of project season. The last 100-day push of the year. I love the time before the season. A few weeks of dreaming. What project do I want to take on? What will be different 100 days from now? I typically think about 2 projects – one for work and...
We all keep lists. Grocery lists. Bucket lists. Idea Lists. But the to-do list is in a category all its own. Done well, it keeps us focused, motivated, and sane. Done poorly, it leaves us staring at a mountain of undone tasks. My Perspective To-do lists are one of...
We spend countless hours cleaning up after. This can apply to so many things: Cleaning up after dinner. After a party. After a busy week. Even electronic cleanup. After a big project. After a day off. Flip the Script What if we thought about this differently. Instead...
Many of us have lists. To do lists. Grocery lists. To be read lists. Home improvement lists. Used to organize our lives. While I’ve written about the usefulness of lists, I’ve not written about the tools I use. I realize that much of our “personal work” is hidden from...
On average, companies have a 13% attrition rate each year. Replacing an employee can cost 2x the annual salary. So, for a company with 100 people who make an average of $80K, the cost could be over $2M/year. Retention matters. Boston Consulting Group conducted...
Recently, I listened to a TED talk that Daniel Lubetzki gave in April of 2024. The title of the talk was “Why the World Needs More Builders – and Less Us vs. Them”. You can listen to the podcast here or watch the video here. I recommend you click the link and listen...
We’ve been told that productivity starts with a system. That a better planner, app, or color-coded calendar will finally fix our focus. But here’s a problem with the systems: We’re managing more than tasks. We’re managing our energy, emotions, and intention. And when...
We all have waves of busy seasons. Even if we think our lives are full every day, we see the peaks and valleys. Sometimes we see a peak coming. Sometimes they creep up on us. Either way, taking an hour when one hits to think through a plan can relieve stress. Stopping...
I recently spent time with the 2025 World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report. There are many data points and charts throughout the report that it would be interesting to dive into and write more about. However, I was drawn to the two shown below comparing the...
I heard an interesting rule for meetings. The only reasons to have a meeting are to decide, debate, discuss, and develop. The item that is overused and rightfully missing from the list above is update. Professional days get quickly filled with status meetings. The...
In 2000, Faith Popcorn wrote the book EVEolution: The 8 Truths to Marketing to Women. At the time, I was working at GM and just started a Brand Character Manager role at Saturn. The book focused on how women make purchasing decisions and how that approach differs from...
Recent years have triggered more conversation around the shifts that are defining the future of work. The ability to work from anywhere is just one of the trends. Trying to adjust old systems may prove to be more difficult than setting aside “the way it was done” and...
I read a Fast Company article that highlighted an Amy Poehler quote from a year ago. “The Boomers are all about money. Gen X is like, ‘is it all about money’? Millennials are like, ‘where is the money’? And Gen Z is like, ‘what is money’?” – Amy Poehler (Gen...
I’ve always been focused on organization. Data. Trends. Customer Segmentation. Information. Closets. Pantries. You name it, I look for structure in chaos. I want to find ways to sort, group, and organize to make systems better. Throughout my career, an area that I’m...
Market research isn’t just about numbers, surveys, and focus groups. It’s about understanding human behavior, spotting patterns, and making informed decisions. My background in market research has given me a unique lens. For evaluating situations, reducing...
This time of year, we focus on many things. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Parties to attend. Holidays to celebrate. Gifts to give. Season’s greetings to send. The Clearing Season Yet, there are days in the middle of the celebrations that are quiet. We...
Since the time changed, it seems so dark in the house. The kitchen in particular has been a problem. I’m constantly turning on all the lights under the cabinets and above the sink. The main six bulbs above the island just weren’t cutting it. It bugged me, but I...
It’s wrapping season. We are wrapping gifts. The vibe is more relaxed. And we are preparing for the year ahead. This got me thinking that the gifts aren’t the only thing being wrapped. We are wrapping up the year. Tying up loose ends for a fresh start in the new year....
In the past, we’ve discussed how managers feel unique pressure in the middle of the organization and they aren’t getting the support they need. Gallup even wrote a book on the topic called It’s the Manager. They highlighted the role managers play in the engagement of...
Losing a job shakes more than your schedule. It can rattle your identity, your confidence, and your sense of security. The early days are often a blur of emotions including shock, anger, grief, and uncertainty. There’s no single “right way” to navigate this. I believe...
How do you organize your life? That is a big, and vague question. These days, the answers are interesting. Tools – digital and physical come up: A calendar. A planner. A to-do list. A physical “in box”. A software system like Trello. The opportunities are endless. My...