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COVID's Impact on Mental Health // How Quarantining Is Impacting Companies

When COVID happened, many companies responded by sending teammates home to work remotely. Now, telework options are exploding with no end in sight with big-name companies like Google, Capital One, and Zillow leading the charge. For some, this technological age has been a long time coming. But for many, the shift has been hard. 

 

THE TELEWORK CHALLENGE

Though teleworking during the pandemic has successfully kept workers apart physically, protecting their physical health, it has also led to high lev…

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Clarity Break

Back in January, I updated my autoresponder to let everyone know I was taking the month off. I specifically shared that the time away was for me to build an overarching strategic plan for the next year as well as plan ahead for each of my companies for the next three years. Not knowing at the time that just a few months later the whole world would be changing, I returned from this time away feeling refreshed and recharged. Obviously much has changed since then, but I still strongly feel the valu…

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Reducing Overwhelm for Self and Team

Imagine, you wake up, open your laptop, and see over 10,000 emails. How do you feel? Either you think you’ve hit the jackpot, and those social media ads have finally landed, or you feel like you never should have taken that “no tech vacay” during busy season. Or maybe you’re somewhere in between. 

With the world falling down around us in addition to the standard pressures of life, kids, family, and self-care, it is no wonder more and more individuals are reporting feelings of anxiety and overwhel…

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Where Is Your Head?

Do you remember the old Superman comics where the only noticeable difference between Clark Kent and Superman was a pair of glasses? Of course, his bright leotard also comes to mind, but all he had to do was hop into a phone booth, and then, despite walking out with the same facial structure, hair, and even the same voice, suddenly no one knew who he was. 

I always wondered about this until recently, when my daughter was watching a cartoon where the little girl transforms herself with the use of a…

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What We Want

Last week, I did an exercise where I wrote “What do you want?” at the top of a page. My brain-dumped list of answers turned into a personal article, which is now posted on Medium (in case you’d like to read about my vision for the world, as we now know it).

I found this little exercise both revealing and cathartic. Especially in the professional world, but really in either personal or professional life, it is so easy to get caught up in day-to-day metrics: P&L details, annual growth goals, compet…

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Go Where You Are Wanted

Last week, I had the pleasure of trying to invest energy back into a relationship that had gone through a rough patch last year. Prior to the rough patch, the relationship meant a lot to me, so I went into the conversation with an open heart. I allowed myself to be vulnerable and hopeful. Unfortunately, not only did it not go well. I am pretty sure the childish reaction I received in response to my efforts means we’ve moved well beyond the past, to a point where we may no longer have a chance at…

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Puppy Mindset Lessons

I have a new puppy. Until today, the only things he has really known in his young life have been our home and our family. For everything outside of that, his instinct thus far has been to fear and bark. But today, it was time to introduce him to a little more of the world. 

At first, he was nervous, fearing everything new, barking and growling at strangers. But once he settled into the new environment and began to relax, he started experiencing positive interactions with those around him, receivi…

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Writings from my 11-Year-Old Self

While doing some organizing this weekend, I found an old journal from my childhood. Inside were entries ranging from second grade all the way up to middle school. Towards the end of the journal, I noticed two pages sticking out. As I read them aloud, I was astonished at the words I found. 

Scribbled at the top of the first of the two loose pages was a line that read, “Quotes and Inspirations from Stephen King’s The Eyes of Insanity.” 

Beneath, I had written, “Do other people know more about you th…

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I Cannot Be an Entrepreneur

“My position was cut on Friday. Now, I am not sure what I want to do. I feel like I could finally do my own thing, but at the same time, I am just not sure I’m cut out to be an entrepreneur.” 

This is a narrative I have heard over and over again in conversations with friends, peers, and clients. I always push back and ask, “Well, why not?”

After so many years, I think I’ve heard every answer. Most of them are largely untrue. Allow me to just bust up some of those myths right now. 

Here are the most…

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What You Need to Know About PPP

I’ve lost count of the number of emails I’ve received with “PPP” in the subject line. I’m not sure about you, but the constant promotion of the Paycheck Protection Program is beginning to wear on me, almost as much as the phrase “unprecedented times.” 

Don’t get me wrong: the idea behind the PPP program is awesome. But once June 30th rolls around, there are three P’s that we will still need to focus on. In fact, if we’re really serious about making an impact, we should already be focusing on thes…

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