Listen to this content as a podcast: Seeking a diagnosis for mental health or learning challenges can be life-changing. It offers the chance to better understand one’s struggles and unlock doors to support and success. Yet, for many, the prospect is deeply uncomfortable. This resistance, while frustrating for loved ones, often has understandable roots. A...Read More
Most capable people have learned that persistence is a strength. You stayed with hard things. You didn’t quit at the first sign of difficulty. You pushed through uncertainty before and it worked. Often, that capacity is part of how you became competent, reliable, or successful in the first place. So when something important feels stalled,...Read More
Many people I work with know exactly what their next step should be. They can describe it clearly. They’ve thought it through. They may even have done similar things successfully in the past. And yet, starting feels strangely difficult, and they resist. This moment is often misdiagnosed as procrastination, a lack of motivation, or avoidance....Read More
I learned something important about systems design while getting my groceries crushed by a teenager who didn’t want feedback. Here’s what happened: A cashier bagged my groceries with no regard for weight or logic—bread underneath chicken, potatoes, water, and lettuce. When I kindly asked him to repack the bag and explained why it mattered to...Read More
In a recent thread I complained at ChatGPT for sounding like itself, and failing to follow my carefully designed power-user informed prompts. Its response? I know–you’re allergic to generic advice. While this was a rather hilarious response to feedback from AI, it is true. I’m betting that you are right there with me: When you want...Read More
Which do you prefer when a deadline or appointment is missed: a breezy “Sorry I’m late,” or a drawn-out apology paired with an explanation? Stay with me while I explain why neither is ideal in most contexts—and what to model (and encourage) instead. Politeness ≠ Trustworthiness and –> Stuckness Chronic apologizing is often framed as...Read More
There’s a concept in urban planning called the curb-cut effect: when we make things better for one group, we often improve the experience for everyone. Curb cuts were designed for wheelchair access—but they also help parents with strollers, travelers with luggage, and delivery workers. The same thing happens when we design systems and supports for...Read More
If you’re welcoming recent grads to your team, you might feel optimistic. You’ve hired smart, motivated people. They bring fresh energy, curiosity, and a strong work ethic. They’re excited to start—and on paper, they’re ready. But what happens in the first few months off paper—in the meeting rooms, Slack channels, deadlines, and shifting expectations—will determine...Read More
When nothing hits the target, do you pay attention to where the darts did land? I had a week that just didn’t go as planned. Maybe you’ve had one of them, too. The kind where the schedule gets scrambled, communication misses the mark, and effort doesn’t quite match the desired result. Where barriers feel as...Read More
Are you an enthusiastic multitasker? Carlos Alós-Ferrer’s The Power of Single-Tasking presents a compelling, neuroscience-backed argument against doing multiple things at once—and I mostly agree, especially when it comes to trying to handle everything simultaneously. Our brains simply aren’t built for that. But after decades of working with brilliant, overwhelmed learners, busy professionals, and caring...Read More
