I attended a workshop where the co-host opened with a simple question:“ What do you want to get out of this? ” One participant said: “ I want my work to be my life’s work. I don’t know if it really is. I can’t tell if it’s me — or something I picked up from …
Category Archives: Creativity
How Do You Learn?
On a recent trip to Trader Joe’s, I picked up two nearly identical bags of dried prunes. Same origin, no sodium, no added sugar.One difference: “Non-Sorbate.” Curious, I asked a staff member. He explained it means no preservatives.Placed side by side, the non-sorbate prunes looked darker, drier, and “older,” while the other appeared shinier, juicier, …
How Do You Make Decisions?
What words come to mind when you hear “Africa”? I recently spoke with a friend who has spent over 40 years in global finance and investment, focused on emerging markets and sustainability. In a season when headlines highlight funding cuts and anxiety, it was refreshing to hear him say that Africa holds “a lot of …
¿Qué es avanzado? ¿Qué es real?
Cuando estaba en Argentina, recibí un mensaje de una amiga: “¿Qué impresión te da Argentina? Su economía está en crisis. Estados Unidos está enviando ayuda en dólares. ” Entendí de dónde venía su comentario — probablemente de las noticias recientes. Le respondí: “Todos los países tienen aspectos positivos y otros que pueden mejorar. Disfruté y aprendí …
What’s Advanced? What’s Real?
When I was in Argentina, a friend texted me: “ What are your impressions of Argentina? Its economy is in dire straits. The U.S. is providing substantial aid in dollars. ” I understood where her comment came from — news headlines often shape our view from afar. I replied, “Every country has its strengths and …
Too Busy to Think?
I was chatting with a friend and said, “It’s awesome that you’re doing what you love and making a real impact.”She smiled and replied, “The work is meaningful — but I’ve got five projects at once. I gave my all, felt completely depleted. Then more came. I don’t even have time to think.” Are you …
How are you taking risks?
People often admire my aunt for her calmness under stress and her cleverness in real estate investing — all without formal training. Her friends say she has a big appetite for risk. She disagrees. When facing a decision, she thinks through the best and worst outcomes and asks herself, “Can I handle it?” If the …
How would you Communicate Kinks at Work?
A friend asked, How can we encourage people to communicate “kinks” — uneasy topics — at work? I suggested asking yourself:• What do I want to achieve by bringing it up?• What’s holding me back?• Which one feels more true or important? Then, make your choice.Beyond kinks, it’s how we make decisions. How would you …
What Are You Shedding Off?
Last weekend, I went hiking and accidentally touched a spiky plant. “Aks!”I pulled the splinter out of my finger and kept walking. Later that night, while showering, I noticed a tiny black piece still stuck in my finger. I tried to remove it with a knife but couldn’t. So I asked my friend for help. …
What Is Your Superpower?
Several months ago, a good friend asked me, “What’s your superpower?” I couldn’t answer. I love learning and trying new things. I make friends wherever I go, and people often call me a connector. But those feel more like interests than superpowers. Over the years, I’ve worked across products, marketing, strategy, operations, user research, and …