Not Random at All

Not Random at All

I am in awe of all that God does in my life every single day that could seem random but isn’t. Here’s the latest in seemingly random connections that bring joy and blessing.  I’m in the copyediting phase of my author journey and had the opportunity to meet my...
Taking Next Steps: Imagining What Comes Next

Taking Next Steps: Imagining What Comes Next

When I talk to friends and family members lately, a common question is “How is the book coming?”  I’ve been a bit stuck lately on the book because of my angst about the title, since my working title bombed in the title survey. Because I structured the chapters...
The Author Journey: When Did It Begin

The Author Journey: When Did It Begin

I’ve loved books my whole life, both reading and writing.  I participated in Young Authors’ contests and camps as a child, and majored in creative writing in college. I have stacks of cloth-bound journals in my basement and keepsake boxes with dot-matrix printed poems...
1715 W. Dean: An Open Letter to Al

1715 W. Dean: An Open Letter to Al

Dear Al, I found out late Friday that you are declining to pursue my offer to purchase your building. An investor wants to buy several buildings from you.  Admittedly, I know very little about the commercial real estate business. I don’t know how long you’ve owned...
Is the Process Flawed?

Is the Process Flawed?

The word that most often comes out of my mouth with my team as we seek to continually improve our service to clients is process. If there’s a problem, my default is always to ask about the process. Is a process refinement needed? How can we update our process to...
It’s Always Something

It’s Always Something

It’s always something: a sick mother, a dying aunt, a relationship breakdown, or a baby on the way. If it’s not happening in my life, it’s happening in someone else’s, and if it’s not happening today, it will be happening tomorrow. In my company: two dozen people,...
On Mothering and Work

On Mothering and Work

I got an email this morning from a woman who is interested in exploring work with my company. She asked if she could bring her 3 month old baby to a coffee meeting. I wonder if it took courage for her to ask, or what she expected my answer might be. As often as...
Self-Talk, Limits, and Finishing Strong

Self-Talk, Limits, and Finishing Strong

I’ve run 7 marathons in 5 years. When I first started training for distance, I had a favorite mantra: all I have to do is finish. I didn’t entertain the possibility that I would quit, but I also didn’t set any strict expectations on myself for finishing times....