Writing

My daughter is a rule follower.   Teachers and coaches love her because she does what she's told and stays quiet while doing it. She's been recognized publicly by teachers numerous times hoping to make an example of her for the kids in the back. Over the years,...

"Steph, listen - sometimes you just have to fly it up the flagpole, alright?"   These words came from a vice president at the non-profit I was working for at the time. My direct boss, along with my co-worker and I were sitting in a tiny meeting room, advising...

Less just maybe is more   Yesterday, a group of LEAD.Well members and I gathered for a Leader Roundtable to discuss this month's theme of Nourish. Within a few minutes, heads were nodding along as one member said a version of, "The challenge I'm having with the...

Traction takes time.   With my kids back at school for all of seven days, I've found myself having a lot of conversations with them about how it takes time to settle in and make friends and get the hang of things. I think they both hoped that they'd return and...

"Adaptability is the simple secret of survival." ~Jessica Hagedorn It's been too long my friends! How are you? I'm writing this to you on day four of my kids being back at school after close to a year of online learning. I'll save you the details, but it has been HARD...

Before we begin, I'd love to invite you inside LEAD.Well - a community of smart, thoughtful leaders.   If you love my Leadership Letters, LEAD.Well offers you deeper analysis, behind-the-scenes insights, a private podcast feed, monthly events and a growing...

What a week.   I write this to you after wrapping up our first full week of online learning. I'm exhausted. I'm frayed. I'm thrilled tomorrow is a PD day even though they've barely started school. We chose this path to be sure, and I don't regret it. But that...

*Before we begin, may I take a moment to acknowledge the injustice and hardship this past week has brought including the horrifying shooting of Jacob Blake (and lack of accountability thus far for the officer who shot him) and ensuing protests that have left two dead,...

I am really tired of making decisions.   Small decisions: What should we eat for dinner tonight on this 7 bazillioneth meal at home? Is it best for me to tell the five people I saw today at Safeway that wearing a mask (now mandatory) means covering your mouth AND...