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What Changed When I Stopped Fighting Reality

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I’m now in the fifth week of what I confidently called a “four-week flare-up” in my earlier article, The Health Debt from Overwork. I laugh a little when I think about that now. Apparently, my body didn’t get the memo.

For the first three weeks, I was mostly in denial. I knew I was hurting, but I kept telling myself it was minor.  I thought if I just cut back on my phone and computer, rested a little more, went to my chiropractor and acupuncture, it would pass. ...  read more

Who Is Actually Running Your Life?

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A few weeks ago, during a group coaching call, one woman said something that stayed with me. I’ll call her Rachel to protect her privacy.

Rachel is around 40, a first-time mom with a three-year-old, and she’s worked hard for her career. Lately, though, she’s been feeling less motivated at work and dealing with some health challenges. Part of her wants to slow down, maybe take a break or even shift to part-time for a while. ...  read more

Let it Feel Sucky

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I cried almost every day last week. Not on purpose. I wasn’t sitting around thinking about sad things or trying to work myself up. It would just happen. I would wake up anxious, think of something in the afternoon, or have a small interaction with my daughter that normally would have irritated me, and suddenly I would need to go into my room and cry. ...  read more

Own the Outcome, Not Just the Task – The Necessary Mindset Shift for Career Growth

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Have you ever walked out of a presentation you led thinking, “That was such a waste of time. I spent hours preparing, yet somehow what I had been asked to prepare wasn’t even what the senior leader wanted to discuss. Worst of all, I walked away with feedback that I needed to become a better presenter.” ...  read more

Proud, Yet Heartbroken

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Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how it’s possible to feel two completely opposite emotions at the same time. As the parent of an 18-year-old entering adulthood, I’ve discovered that pride and heartbreak can exist side by side.

My daughter turned 18 in May and graduated from high school. She is standing at the edge of adulthood—excited for college, independence, and the life waiting ahead of her. ...  read more

What to Do When Saying No at Work Doesn’t Work

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overwhelmed at work

When “No” Doesn’t Change Anything

A reader I’ll call Kate recently asked me an important question that I think many high performers quietly struggle with.

Kate had been feeling increasingly overwhelmed at work. Over the last six months, her responsibilities had grown significantly. She had taken on more projects, more coordination work, more decision-making, and more “small” tasks that often accumulate around strong performers because people trust them to get things done. ...  read more