Blog
Visit my blog for life hacks and commentary on useful literature. Like what you read and want to discuss more? Schedule a call!
Beware the Precarious “yes:” Real-Life Leadership Lessons
No one likes broken promises. But it’s not because people are inherently evil (though some might seem like it). Rather, the discrepancy lies between intent and actual execution. And the most frequent offenders in this category are people-pleasing high-achievers like John. So why not learn from his situation?
The Uncomfortable Cost of Biblical Miracles
People love biblical miracles. Whether Jesus is feeding thousands of people with 2 loaves and 5 fish, or raising people from the dead, or turning water into wine, people love receiving acts that increase their quality of life. But what if there’s more to it than that? Let’s look at John 9 for the REAL intent and cost of biblical miracles.
Oct 19: Save the date!
Run it back - we’re doing another salsa dance/leadership workshop! Come learn how to dance and walk away with possibilities of how leading on the dance floor helps you lead beyond it.
Learn To Show Up Without Showing Off
No one likes a showboat. But quiet accomplishments don’t guarantee a promotion. So how do we show up without showing off? Read on to learn how to remove the fear and shame of speaking up when sharing your wins.
Coaching By The Book: How To Castrate A Bull
How does ranch work make you a better businessperson? Dave Hitz makes a compelling case in his memoir, How to Castrate a Bull. If you don’t bother with this summary, I understand. But what’s the harm in watching even a few minutes to be pleasantly surprised?
Event: Spice Up Your Leadership with Salsa Dancing
Do dancers make better leaders? I’ll give a resounding “Yes!” Personally, my leadership abilities grew around the same time I got competent on the dance floor. And the workshop I’m hosting THIS JUNE will combine moves and mindset in a unique approach to help you lead well both on and off the dance floor!
From the Coaching By the Book Archive: Play Bigger
How do companies like Amazon and Uber get the lion’s share of their respective markets? What are the secrets to their dominance? Play Bigger explores the concepts of not just positioning, but scaling in such a way to crowd out competition.
From the Coaching By The Book Archive: The Charisma Myth
What does it mean to have charisma? In her book “The Charisma Myth,” Olivia Fox Cabane discusses the concept of charisma and whether it is a quality exclusive to some or if it’s a skill attainable by anyone who is willing to work at it. This is the first of several re-released “Coaching by the Book” summaries - invest just 12 minutes of your time to get the best of the book!
5 Symptoms Revealing Insecure Leadership
How well a leader owns his mistakes and handles criticism is directly proportional to the level of security in his leadership identity. Unfortunately, we’ve seen that just because someone holds a title doesn’t mean they have the respect of the people they lead. In this blog post, we’ll study how Jake’s insecurities are getting in the way of being effective - and how we can avoid becoming just like him.
How Unwashed Washcloths Demonstrate Effective Leadership
Effective leadership doesn’t have to be heroic. And it definitely doesn’t allow destructive habits to fester and petrify itself in your organization. So how do dirty washcloths fit into the principle? Mike Vrabel has a wonderful example of how to lead not by asking, but by pointing toward consequences and giving his people the freedom to choose whether or not they are okay with them.
Why Your Cultural Background Is a Career Asset (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It)
Filmmaker Bao Nguyen (Be Water) once said you spend the first half of your life running from home, and the second half running toward it. The turning point? The things that made you feel like an outsider when younger are the same things that will help you stand out in a crowd. Let’s unpack how to leverage your background to be your biggest advantage.
The Unspoken Rules of Leadership in Western vs. Eastern Cultures
Many cross-cultural leaders feel the tension and conflict of when to speak up. It feels like a risk either way: do I risk looking passive by staying silent, or risk looking incompetent by saying something that falls flat? The shift happens when you stop thinking “either-or” and start thinking “both-and.” Read this post to find out how to get the best of both instead of the worst.
Books To Add To Your 2026 Reading List
Taylor Tomlinson might tease that books are the safest way to travel, but they’re still awesome! Whether you’re looking for nonfiction or fiction, here are five titles worth considering for your 2026 queue.
How to Influence Decision-Makers Without Losing Yourself
You want to feel seen and heard because you care and you matter. You want your voice to matter. And yet, you don’t want to resort to some of the tactics you see others use to push their agenda forward. So how do you adapt yourself without losing your identity? Read on to find out how to navigate this challenge.
Twenty Blessings Not Typically Acknowledged
What do you consider blessings? Is the benefit immediately evident? Sometimes it isn’t. Here are twenty atypical blessings that you might not appreciate at first glance. But maybe they are more helpful than you’d like to admit. At the very least, it’s good discussion fodder.
Adapting Leaders Celebrates 5 years!
Thank you for helping me reach 5 years since launching my business! This post shares a few of the bigger lessons learned as I continue to get my name out there and see how the world responds.
When Promotion Feels Like Punishment: Reframing Leadership Stress
Getting promoted can feel like you’re finally heading to the greener side of the fence. Until you realize that you’re just getting started with a different set of challenges. But take heart! Even if you’re not able to coast like you thought you would after getting the pay bump, new title, and bigger desk, the promotion is still a blessing. Read the full post to learn how.
From Overwhelmed to Inclusive: How Emotional Intelligence Transforms New Leaders
How do empathy and burnout relate? If you don’t have empathy, you’ll get burnt out because you won’t be able to rally, equip, and motivate your team well. Mei had to learn about the importance of emotional intelligence the hard way - and you have the opportunity to learn from her story so you can spare yourself having to make the same mistakes.
Guest Post on TCEA.org about Powerful Questions
How can powerful questions rescue you from burnout? Read my guest blog post at TCEA.org.
Leading When You're the Cultural Minority: Strategies That Work
What do you do when you’re in an environment where you have to prove yourself over and over as a leader? You have to think force, not finesse. At the same time, how do you adapt yourself without compromising who you are? This blog post will provide you some actionable strategies to increase your chances of success.
No one likes broken promises. But it’s not because people are inherently evil (though some might seem like it). Rather, the discrepancy lies between intent and actual execution. And the most frequent offenders in this category are people-pleasing high-achievers like John. So why not learn from his situation?