In a post on LinkedIn, communications teacher and expert Vinh Giang asserted that people no longer seek mastery. Instead, they seek easy. That concept admittedly isn’t all that positive. But he points out that, because taking the easy route is the norm, those who are willing to work hard have the opportunity to stand out….
Blog
The Importance of Learning Jazzing
This morning, I got up at my usual before-the-sun time. This blog was on my calendar to do. I had good intentions. Yet, 15 minutes slipped away. 15 more. Two hours later, I still had nothing. The logical side of me knew I should just call it a morning and do something else. But the…
YOY Social Media Growth 2024
Social media platforms are the main way I share my content. Because I believe so much in transparency, as the year comes to a close, I’d love to share the YOY brand growth results I’ve achieved for 2024. Social media managers and strategists out there, correct me if I’m mistaken here. But my understanding is…
It Only Takes One Hand
One of the most profound books I’ve ever read — which I’ve mentioned many times in previous posts — is Henri Nouwen’s The Wounded Healer. The book is an exploration of the duty spiritual leaders have and how they might serve well, the concept being that a person’s pain can be the point of empathy…
Focus Time Is Great. Be Prepared to Do Battle for It
I’m on LinkedIn just about every day. As a result, I’m barraged with tips for how to be more efficient and successful — that’s just the nature of the platform’s content. But one of the recommendations I see constantly is to carve out focus time. By itself, carving out focus time is a fantastic piece…
Fixing Academic Performance Is Not (Only) About the Department of Education
A few weeks ago, my social media feeds lit up with posts about President-Elect Donald Trump shutting down the Department of Education. His general plan is to send regulation of education back to the states. Supporters argue that the Department of Education has done a poor job. They cite the fact that American children don’t…
The Power of a Good Day
For almost a year now, my son has been struggling with depression and anxiety. I’ve been doing the best I can to support him, constantly checking in on him, encouraging him to engage in basics like self-care and chores, and sending scores of emails to his teachers and care team. For weeks, school has been…
On Hearing My Own Story
Two weeks ago, my daughter came to me with a question: Could she interview me for a school assignment? I figured what the heck. The assignment was for her English class. She was supposed to write about events that had shaped someone else’s life — that is, to find and share one of the core…
Look Up
About This Whole Idea of Crafting the Life You Want
Are you crafting the life you want? Look online or talk to professionals these days and you’ll come away with the idea that that’s what you’re supposed to be doing. But lately, I’ve struggled to craft much of anything — not even a Popsicle stick figure. I have a pile of papers (affectionately referred to…