When someone names a toxic work experience, why is our first instinct so often to question their judgment? What if—just for a moment—we started from a place of belief? A former client once told me that the hardest part wasn’t surviving the dysfunction—it was the moment she finally worked up the courage to name it out loud… and someone said, “Are you sure it’s not just a tough boss?” She had receipts. Patterns. A history Read more…
This month has felt like the winterest of all winters. I don’t know about you, but the pull to hibernation has been strong for me this year. A friend sent me this Instagram post at the beginning of the month and it has really stuck with me. Here’s the punchline: If January feels heavy, slow, or resistant – nothing is wrong with you. You are listening to the Earth. Leaning into that idea, I’ve been Read more…
It’s that time again – time for my annual reading recap! I just took a moment to go back and read last year’s recap. And it was yet another marker to signify my journey this year. Last year I wrote about why I read. And yes, all of those things are still true. This year, I uncovered the science behind why I read – which is something I probably knew intuitively last year but didn’t Read more…
Here we are – in that “in between” time. Thanksgiving has passed and the year-end holidays are on the horizon. If you don’t pay attention, it will go by in a blink. And yet, it’s a whole month of the year! For many years, Thanksgiving has felt like the weekend I wish all my weekends could be. I would wake up Saturday and Sunday thinking, “Woo hoo! Another day!!” And then I’d go back to Read more…
It’s been seven months since Promises Broken was released into the world. (Isn’t that wild?) The most common feedback I’ve received from readers is: “I saw myself in these women.” That’s the power of story. It mirrors us back to ourselves—and reminds us we’re not alone. When I first started writing, I simply wanted to do justice to the stories that these brave women were willing to share. I knew toxic work culture was a Read more…
Have you ever walked through an open office space and not been greeted by a single person? How about being in a meeting when it’s clear that people are “side-chatting” over text? Maybe you’ve even side-chatted yourself? What about hearing the same generic critical feedback tossed out in group settings over a period of months and suddenly realizing the person is referring to you? Culture isn’t built by slogans or slide decks. It’s built in Read more…
On a typical Monday morning (or Tuesday after a long weekend), you might be asked, “How was your weekend? Do anything fun?” If I worked in an office and was asked this question today, I would say “Great! I went to a college hockey game. I cooked a meal for my son and his roommates. I rooted for all of my teams, made some chili, and baked banana bread. And during yesterday’s storm I went Read more…
If you speak to people who used to work on my teams over the years, I think they would tell you that I prioritized health, wellness, and family over work demands. If someone had a sick child, I encouraged them to focus on the child rather than worry about the work. If someone had a personal crisis, I worked with them to cover their responsibilities so that they could manage the crisis and not let Read more…
I am married to a person who doesn’t read. 😱 Not that he can’t read, but he doesn’t. He’ll read nonfiction books occasionally, and he consumes lots of information through other means. But he does not read fiction. I, on the other hand, read a lot of fiction. Reading fiction isn’t just a leisure activity—it’s exercise for your brain and your body. Check out some of the research on the benefits of reading fiction: I Read more…
Sometimes I wake up and wonder whether I am on the wrong path. Does that ever happen to you? Not on an existential level, like “am I on the wrong path in life?” But more like “Have I taken a wrong turn with a project or an aspect of my life?” It happened when I was writing my book. Should I really be doing this? Is there something else I should be spending my time Read more…