Between Promise and Performance In the professional realm, our most transformative moments exist in the delicate space between the emergence of recognition and realization of a reward—where potential vibrates with unrealized energy and institutional promise takes shape. The Threshold of Professional Possibility Standing before an audience at the Library of Congress, receiving the
When Paradise Calls I was twelve when my father first floated the idea of moving to St. Thomas permanently. We owned a condominium there—a rental property that doubled as our family's annual escape hatch from frigid Midwestern winters. The year was 1979. Gas lines stretched for blocks. Inflation was crushing
The Invisible Cost of Assumptions In the mission-driven world, there exists an exhausting tension: the chasm between the Program team, who are the beating heart focused on direct service, and the Development and Admin team, who are the survival engine focused on funding and compliance. The stakes are structural. Our organizations rely on how skillfully
Knowing and Not Knowing A reflection on staying grounded when everything feels fluid I was in a meeting last week where a simple question derailed everything for twenty minutes. We were discussing outreach using some new communication tools, and someone asked: "So for the contact collection—are we supposed to gather everyone'
When Fear Comes Into Work The text alert comes in during your Tuesday morning meeting: "Active shooter situation, 2 miles from your office building. Shelter in place." Within minutes, you notice the change—employees checking their phones, whispering in hallways, some quietly leaving for the day to pick up their children. This is
Too Much Compassion Hurts Everyone Let's be honest: writing about compassionate leadership is way easier than actually doing it. Especially if you're naturally empathetic. You've either been there or seen it happen—saying yes to every request, absorbing your team's stress as your own, making exceptions that
Building Institutional "Wabi-Sabi" There's a concept in Japanese aesthetics called wabi-sabi that traditionally refers to the beauty of imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete things. While it's often applied to ceramics or architecture, I've been thinking about how it might help us understand and appreciate our evolving institutions. Consider
Navigating the Constant Current Life, as we all know, is a perpetual state of becoming. One moment we’re tending a garden with hopeful anticipation, the next we’re adapting to unexpected weather patterns. This truth that change is not an anomaly but the very fabric of our existence is at the heart of
News Featured Follow Compassion Compassion is feeling together with others. It's not passion, and it's not empathy, but the perfect balance between these two essential states. Compassion is a condition that directs us not just to care, but to act. While passion fuels our energy and commitment, it is compassion
Featured Lead with Reflection Reflection is essential when working with others, activating executive thinking so we respond with intention rather than reacting impulsively. It helps us prepare for meetings thoughtfully, and afterward, assess not just outcomes but the layers of meaning in every exchange—with coworkers, stakeholders, and clients. Unlike rumination, which is repetitive
Featured Serve with Commitment Acting with commitment means throwing yourself wholeheartedly into a project—not for personal recognition, but to bring a vision to life that others can believe in too. True commitment is contagious; when people see that you genuinely care and are willing to do the work, they’re inspired to join
