Two Powerful Questions...
The quality of our lives is determined by the quality of the questions we ask ourselves (or that are asked of us). Asking powerful questions is the basis of all great coaching.
That's probably why I vividly remember this scene in “The Bucket List”. Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson are in Egypt overlooking the pyramids. Morgan’s character shares the following...
“You know, the ancient Egyptians had a beautiful belief about death. When their souls got to the entrance to heaven, the guards asked two questions. Their answers determined whether they were able to enter or not.”
These were the two questions:
-Have you found joy in your life?
-Has your life brought joy to others?
He then pauses and presses, pushing Jack’s character to reflect and answer.
I remember this scene so well because I loved these questions and thought they were such a powerful way to look at our lives. I think about these questions often.
Today, I encourage you to take a moment to pause and reflect on your own answers to these important questions. Are you living the life you want to live? Are you making the difference you want to make? If not, what can you do, right now to move forward towards the life you want to live?
I hope you have a beautiful day!
P.S. If you haven't already, please connect with me on Linked-In, Facebook, and Instagram
After years of coaching leaders through change - and navigating plenty myself - I’m excited to share my latest Forbes Coaches Council article:
Change Leadership Made Simple: How Great Leaders Can Inspire Teams Through Uncertainty.
Change is everywhere - at work and in life.
New initiatives. New strategies. New technologies. Shifts in leadership, roles, objectives. Career transitions, promotions, layoffs.
Sometimes we choose it. Sometimes it chooses us. But we’re all experiencing something new.
We all think we know ourselves. But do we really? In this article I wrote for TalentCulture, I discuss how leadership self-awareness isn’t about good intentions or taking one personality test—it’s about consistently understanding how your behavior affects others.
If you’re thinking, “I’ve done the work”, here’s the catch: you may think you know yourself. Odds are, you mostly do. But real self-awareness isn’t static. And the blind spots that held you back five years ago? They may still be showing up in subtler, more impactful ways.
When leaders fail to recognize that they might be the problem, their teams suffer—and so does business performance.
One of the more undervalued and less frequently discussed behaviors of great leaders is the ability to pause— to step back and stay calm under pressure. Pausing is a critical yet often overlooked skill that allows a leader to block out the noise, chaos, and competing opinions of others and identify the best way forward.
In this Forbes article, you’ll learn to master the power of the pause with one of my favorite leadership tools --- the AHA Method.
Where can you start using the power of the pause in your leadership and life?
Many of us have experienced the murky waters of a work culture gone wrong. In this article on Forbes, I unpack the signs—and impacts—of a toxic work environment and what to do if you find yourself there.
We all know that collaboration is critical, but many leaders struggle to harness it effectively. Leaders can't simply tell their team to “Be more collaborative!” They must dedicate time and intentionality to making it happen. This Forbes piece is chock-full of tips and strategies to get back to basics and effectively foster a collaborative environment.
Creating A Collaborative Workplace: Six Strategies That Actually Work
I was thrilled to be contacted by the team at Katie Couric Media to weigh in on a timely topic called, “Lucky Girl Syndrome.” I had a wonderful discussion with the reporter on the benefits of positive thinking, the downfalls of toxic positivity, and how “luck” plays a role in creating the lives of our dreams. We talked about the seductive and trendy nature of "manifesting" and the importance of "putting in the work".
Looking for ways to build your confidence? Check out this podcast and article to help you - and your kids -have the confidence to seize opportunities, take chances, embark on the next steps in your life or career, and live a life you love.
If you’re considering making a move or looking to develop your career further, this is a great time to take a step back, and reflect on what’s most important to you and what you want for your future. In this article, you’ll learn what’s going on with this seismic shift in careers, why it can be so hard to make a move, and five clear and simple steps to take if you’re ready to make a change.
We all know social media is a wonderful tool for connecting and opening our minds and hearts; it’s also a great outlet for creativity, gathering information, learning, and doing business. However, if we don’t manage it well, it can also be highly detrimental to our mental health and well-being. In my latest article on Lifehack, I share the 5 most common problems you may be facing from social media misuse and overuse - alongside strategies you can easily implement to reclaim your mental health, well-being, and joy.
A trend is evident across organizations: budgets are tightening, and talent development is often one of the first areas to take a hit. As investment in AI climbs, budgets for training, leadership development, and teambuilding are decreasing.
It’s logical on paper. AI is the future. It promises speed, efficiency, scalability, and cost savings. Organizations are transforming to meet future demands, and AI investments are vital for long-term success.
However, there’s a risk quietly building beneath the surface: we’re optimizing organizations through AI while underinvesting in the humans doing the work. That’s a dangerous tradeoff.
What happens when we inadvertently deprioritize the growth, development, and human connection of the people managing these AI processes – and everything else that keeps organizations running smoothly? The unintended consequences may not show up on a dashboard, in OKRs or KPIs today or tomorrow. But they will. Disengagement, eroded trust, and talent loss often don’t announce themselves until it’s too late.
As budgets shift and AI investment accelerates, the real question isn’t: How much can AI replace? Instead, it’s How can we best-equip humans to succeed and thrive in an AI-powered workplace?
The answer is not to slow AI development, but to match it with an equal and continued commitment to the human-forward development of people.