Sometimes You Need to Reinvent

You don’t need me to remind you we live in a world of constant change. I started to make a list, but it got ridiculously long. Instead, I’ll skip to the punch line. Assuming you want to compete and thrive . . . Market forces grind what’s unique and special into what is ordinary and […]

Why Reinvention is Hard

Reinventing yourself means the people in your life will have to think about and deal with you differently.  Their Jedi Mind Tricks will no longer work on you.  Their expectations will no longer be met in the same way.  They won’t know what box to put you in, and that rocks their world. In the […]

Five Reminders

We live in a chaotic, random, dynamic system. Order and control are illusions. We are biological. The condition and health of our bodies dictate how we experience every aspect of our lives. We are driven by deeply embedded programming. We are far more sensitive, intuitive, and easily influenced than we think. We are model makers […]

Is Transcendence Too Much to Ask?

Good is delivering what you promise. People get what they bargained for. You’re reliable. You deliver. Great adds surprise and delight. People come for the promise and leave with a story to tell. You’re remarkable. Transcendence adds connection and community. People come to you to “find the others.” You’re the North Star. Good is hard […]

We suffer from a lack of craft

Having a “craft” means bringing discipline and love to what you do. It’s thousands of hours of practicing your musical instrument so that when the time comes, you can play. It’s writing every day until you break through to something sublime. It could be making pots, writing poetry, learning martial arts, or being a transcendent […]

Vuolgŋagálbmi is more than just ice

There are at least seven major indigenous tribal people who have traditionally lived near or above the Artic region. And yes, it’s true. They have more than one word for ice. For example, the Sami of northern Scandinavia and Russia have 13 words: Gálbmi – Ice in general Čuohkkágálbmi – Lake ice Jávrregálbmi – River […]

We All Could Use Some “Sukha”

Language is powerful. If we use words with care, they help us make good distinctions and evoke helpful emotions. Language can also be a sedative, dagger, or prison. We create all kinds of mischief when we are sloppy with our words and the meaning we intend to make. Which brings me back to “Sukha.” It’s […]

Sometimes, What You Stop Doing is More Important

Innovation and reinvention are the lifeblood of healthy firms and happy professionals. Starting is the easy part. We struggle to innovate because we don’t know what to stop doing. If we don’t stop doing things, we can’t start doing other things. If you want to become more innovative, figure out what you need to keep (stay) doing and […]