Essays on creative leadership,
culture, and the human side of work.
Published weekly, with an original illustration. Two series: Becoming and Advisory Notes.
In Bellingham, 10 AM to Noon, Limit ten people, cost $25, two spots left. Subject: Getting work in 2024 How and where should I put my limited time, energy, and money to get the best results? The topic of getting new clients and more business from existing clients never gets old. It comes up weekly…
Mutual Mentors, Bellingham, 10 AM to Noon, Saturday, December 2, 2023 New Business: Why we resist taking action I find myself hesitating, procrastinating, delaying, stalling and resisting acting when it comes to new business. Always have. I could do something, but I don’t. I know what to do, but don’t do it. Or worse, I…
Unrestrained pride in your abilities or achievements can lead to shame, humiliation, and—without correction—disaster. Excessive pride can sabotage your career. But unfortunately many of us experience a similar pattern: First we are strivers, then we are achievers, and then hubris takes hold. I’ve experienced this pattern more often than I care to admit. Maybe you…
If you’re any good at all, you know you can be better. And teams make us better. I’ve been a runner off and on over the course of my life. Being adopted and fostered left me with a tendency to be a loner. Yes, I could relate to people. I wasn’t only a loner, but…
I’m writing a series of short stories. Some of them will become part of a serialized novel. I’ve long known that getting comments, feedback, and insights from a group is a huge help for writers. But I guess I’ve been afraid to ask. Not afraid of the feedback, but afraid that no one would be interested.…
Change is underway. Brie and Tommy were sitting on the big bench in Miss Ann’s pilothouse as Arial skillfully guided them through the maze of small boats, past the breakwater and into the Strait. Gray skies reflecting into large glassy rollers. Sea and sky joined in Paynes Gray monotone. Bright enough that squinting was required…
More smoke. No visible flames now, but that didn’t mean anything in this hilly landscape. Fire could be in full force just beyond the ridgeline. “Wind must be turning,” Brie said to Arial as she grabbed another wet gunnysack to beat out the embers on the line. “If it does, we’ll have to run for…